The Voyage of the Dawn Treader Read Online Free PDF Page A

all grass and clover and soft sea air.”
    “I’d love to stretch my legs too,” said Caspian. “I tell you what. Why shouldn’t we go ashore in the boat and send it back, and then we could walk across Felimath and let the Dawn Treader pick us up on the other side?”
    If Caspian had been as experienced then as he became later on in this voyage he would not have made this suggestion; but at the moment it seemed an excellent one. “Oh do let’s,” said Lucy.
    “You’ll come, will you?” said Caspian to Eustace, who had come on deck with his hand bandaged.
    “Anything to get off this blasted boat,” said Eustace.
    “Blasted?” said Drinian. “How do you mean?”
    “In a civilized country like where I come from,” said Eustace, “the ships are so big that when you’re inside you wouldn’t know you were at sea at all.”
    “In that case you might just as well stay ashore,” said Caspian. “Will you tell them to lower the boat, Drinian?”
    The King, the Mouse, the two Pevensies, and Eustace all got into the boat and were pulled to the beach of Felimath. When the boat had left them and was being rowed back they all turned and looked round. They were surprised at how small the Dawn Treader looked.
    Lucy was of course barefoot, having kicked off her shoes while swimming, but that is no hardship if one is going to walk on downy turf. It was delightful to be ashore again and to smell the earth and grass, even if at first the ground seemed to be pitching up and down like a ship, as it usually does for a while if one has been at sea. It was much warmer here than it had been on board and Lucy found the sand pleasant to her feet as they crossed it. There was a lark singing.
    They struck inland and up a fairly steep, though low, hill. At the top of course they looked back, and there was the Dawn Treader shining like a great bright insect and crawling slowly north-westward with her oars. Then they went over the ridge and could see her no longer.
    Doorn now lay before them, divided from Felimath by a channel about a mile wide; behind it and to the left lay Avra. The little white town of Narrowhaven on Doorn was easily seen.
    “Hullo! What’s this?” said Edmund suddenly.
    In the green valley to which they were descending six or seven rough-looking men, all armed, were sitting by a tree.
    “Don’t tell them who we are,” said Caspian.
    “And pray, your Majesty, why not?” said Reepicheep who had consented to ride on Lucy’s shoulder.
    “It just occurred to me,” replied Caspian, “that no one here can have heard from Narnia for a long time. It’s just possible they may not still acknowledge our over-lordship. In which case it might not be quite safe to be known as the King.”
    “We have our swords, Sire,” said Reepicheep.
    “Yes, Reep, I know we have,” said Caspian. “But if it is a question of re-conquering the three islands, I’d prefer to come back with a rather larger army.”
    By this time they were quite close to the strangers, one of whom—a big black-haired fellow—shouted out, “A good morning to you.”
    “And a good morning to you,” said Caspian. “Is there still a Governor of the Lone Islands?”
    “To be sure there is,” said the man, “Governor Gumpas. His Sufficiency is at Narrowhaven. But you’ll stay and drink with us.”

    Caspian thanked him, though neither he nor the others much liked the look of their new acquaintance, and all of them sat down. But hardly had they raised their cups to their lips when the black-haired man nodded to his companions and, as quick as lightning, all the five visitors found themselves wrapped in strong arms. There was a moment’s struggle but all the advantages were on one side, and soon everyone was disarmed and had their hands tied behind their backs—except Reepicheep, writhing in his captor’s grip and biting furiously.
    “Careful with that beast, Tacks,” said the Leader. “Don’t damage him. He’ll fetch the best price of the