CHAPTER NINE THE GREAT MEETING ON STABLE HILL（第2/2页）

Jill wondered for a moment if the Ape had gone mad. Was he going to tell the whole truth ？ A roar of horror and rage went up from the Beasts.“Grrr!”came the growls.“Who is he ？ Where is he ？ Just let me get my teeth into him!”

“It was seen last night，”screamed the Ape，“but it got away. It’s a Donkey! A common，miserable Ass! If any of you see that Ass-”

“Grrr!”growled the Beasts.“We will，we will. He’d better keep out of our way.”

Jill looked at the King：his mouth was open and his face was full of horror. And then she understood the devilish cunning of the enemies’ plan. By mixing a little truth with it they had made their lie far stronger. What was the good，now，of telling the Beasts that an ass had been dressed up as a lion to deceive them ？ The Ape would only say，“That’s just what I’ve said.”What was the good of showing them Puzzle in his lion-skin ？ They would only tear him in pieces.“That’s taken the wind out of our sails，”whispered Eustace.“The ground is taken from under our feet，”said Tirian.“Cursed，cursed cleverness!”said Poggin.“I’ll be sworn that this new lie is of Ginger’s making.”