CHAPTER TWELVE SHASTA IN NARNIA（第3/3页）

"I know,"said Corin.,Isn t it splendid !"

"Splendid or not,"said Thornbut,"I have the strictest orders from King Edmund to see to it that your Highness is not in the fight. You will be allowed to see it, and that s treat enough for your Highness s little years."

"Oh what nonsense !" Corin burst out. "Of course I'm going to fight. Why, the Queen Lucy s going to be with the archers."

"The Queen s grace will do as she pleases,"said Thornbut. ,But you are in my charge. Either I must have your solemn and princely word that you ll keep your pony beside mine-not half a neck ahead-till I give your Highness leave to depart: or else-it is his Majesty s word—we must go with our wrists tied together like two prisoners."

"I ll knock you down if you try to bind me,"said Corm.

"I d like to see your Highness do it,"said the Dwarf.

That was quite enough for a boy like Corin and in a second he and the Dwarf were at it hammer and tongs. It would have been an even match for, though Corin had longer arms and more height, the Dwarf was older and tougher. But it was never fought out (that's the worst of fights on a rough hillside) for by very bad luck Thornbut trod on a loose stone, came flat down on his nose, and found when he tried to get up that he had sprained his ankle: a real excruciating sprain which would keep him from walking or riding for at least a fortnight.

"See what your Highness has done,"said King Edmund.

"Deprived us of a proved warrior on the very edge of battle."

"I ll take his place, Sire,"said Corin.

"Pshaw,"said Edmund.,No one doubts your courage. But a boy in battle is a danger only to his own side."

At that moment the King was called away to attend to something else, and Corin, after apologizing handsomely to the Dwarf,rushed up to Shasta and whispered,

"Quick. There s a spare pony now, and the Dwarf s armour.Put it on before anyone notices."

"What for ?"said Shasta.

"Why, so that you and I can fight in the battle of course ! Don t you want to ?"

"Oh-ah, yes, of course,"said Shasta. But he hadn t been thinking of doing so at all, and began to get a most uncomfortable prickly feeling in his spine.

"That s right,"said Corin.,Over your head. Now the sword-belt. But we must ride near the tail of the column and keep as quiet as mice. Once the battle begins everyone will be far too busy to notice us."