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s cheek with his soft nose。 they did not try to fort one another with words。 it wasnt very easy to think of anything to say that would be forting。 tirian had never dreamed that one of the results of an apes setting up as a false aslan would be
to stop people from believing in the real one。 he had felt quite sure that the dwarfs would rally to his side the moment he showed them how they had been deceived。 and then next night he would have led them to stable hill and shown puzzle to all the creatures and everyone would have turned against the ape and； perhaps after a scuffle with the calormenes； the whole thing would have been over。 but now； it seemed； he could count on nothing。 how many other narnians might turn the same way as the dwarfs？
〃somebodys ing after us； i think；〃 said puzzle suddenly。
they stopped and listened。 sure enough； there was a thump…thump of small feet behind them。
〃who goes there！〃 shouted the king。
〃only me； sire；〃 came a voice。 〃me； poggin the dwarf。 ive only just managed to get away from the others。 im on your side； sire： and on aslans。 if you can put a dwarfish sword in my fist； id gladly strike a blow on the right side before alls done。”
everyone crowded round him and weled him and praised him and slapped him on the back。 of course one single dwarf could not make a very great difference； but it was somehow very cheering to have even one。 the whole party brightened up。 but jill and eustace didnt stay bright for very long； for they were now yawning their heads off and too tired to think about anything but bed。
it was at the coldest hour of the night； just before dawn； that they got back to the tower。
if there had been a meal ready for them they would have been glad enough to eat； but the bother and delay of getting one was not to be thought of。 they drank from a stream； splashed their faces with water； and tumbled into their bunks； except for puzzle and jewel who said theyd be more fortable outside。 this perhaps was just as well； for a unicorn and a fat； full…grown donkey indoors always make a room feel rather crowded。
narnian dwarfs； though less than four feet high； are for their size about the toughest and strongest creatures there are； so that poggin； in spite of a heavy day and a late night； woke fully refreshed before any of the others。 he at once took jills bow； went out and shot a couple of wood pigeons。 then he sat plucking them on the doorstep and chatting to jewel and puzzle。 puzzle looked and felt a good deal better this morning。 jewel； being a unicorn and therefore one of the noblest and delicatest of beasts； had been very kind to him； talking to him about things of the sort they could both understand like grass and sugar and the care of ones hoofs。 when jill and eustace came out of the tower yawning and rubbing their eyes at almost half past ten； the dwarf showed them where they could gather plenty of a narnian weed called wild fresney； which looks rather like our wood…sorrel but tastes a good deal nicer when cooked。 （it needs a little butter and pepper to make it perfect； but they hadnt got these。） so that what with one thing and another； they had the makings of a capital stew for their breakfast or dinner； whichever you choose to call it。 tirian went a little further off into the wood with an axe and brought back some branches for fuel。 while the meal was cooking … which seemed a very long time；
especially as it smelled nicer and nicer the nearer it came to being done … the king found a plete dwarfish outfit for poggin： mail shirt； helmet； shield； sword； belt； and dagger。
then he inspected eustaces sword and found that eustace had put it back in the sheath all messy from killing the calormene。 he was scolded for that and made to clean and polish it。
all this while jill went to and fro； sometimes stirring the pot and sometimes looking out enviously at the donkey and the unicorn who were contentedly grazing。 how many times that morning she wished she could eat grass！
but when the meal came everyone felt it had been worth waiting for； and there were second helpings all round。 when everyone had eaten as much as he could； the three humans and the dwarf came and sat on the doorstep； the four…footed ones lay down facing them； the dwarf （with permission both from jill and from tirian） lit his pipe； and the king said： 〃now； friend poggin； you have more news of the enemy； belike； than we。 tell us all you know。 and first； what tale do they tell of my escape？”
〃as cunning a tale； sire； as ever was devised；〃 said poggin。 〃it was the cat； ginger； who told it； and most likely made it up too。 this ginger； sire … oh； hes a slyboots if ever a cat was … said he was walking past the tree to which those villains bound your majesty。 and he said （saving your reverence） that you were howling and swearing and cursing aslan： ‘language i wouldnt like to repeat were the words he used； looking ever so prim and proper you know the way a cat can when it pleases。 and then； says ginger； aslan himself suddenly appeared in a flash of lightning and swallowed your majesty up at one mouthful。 all the beasts trembled at this story and some fainted right away。 and of course the ape followed it up。 there； he says； see what aslan does to those who dont respect him。 let that be a warning to you all。 and the poor creatures wailed and whined and said； it will； it will。 so that in the upshot your majestys escape has not set them thinking whether you still have loyal friends to aid you； but only made them more afraid and more obedient to the ape。”
〃what devilish policy！〃 said tirian。 〃this ginger； then； is close in the apes counsels。”
〃its more a question by now； sire； if the ape is in his counsels；〃 replied the dwarf。 〃the ape has taken to drinking； you see。 my belief is that the plot is now mostly carried on by ginger or rishda … thats the calormene captain。 and i think some words that ginger has scattered among the dwarfs are chiefly to blame for the scurvy return they made you。
and ill tell you why。 one of those dreadful midnight meetings had just broken up the night before last and id gone a bit of the way