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see！鈥�
and then they were all at the top and did see。
it was a sledge； and it was reindeer with bells on their harness。 but they were far bigger than the witchs reindeer； and they were not white but brown。 and on the sledge sat a person whom everyone knew the moment they set eyes on him。 he was a huge man。 in a bright red robe （bright as hollyberries） with a hood that had fur inside it and a great white beard； that fell like a foamy waterfall over his chest。
everyone knew him because； though you see people of his sort only in narnia； you see pictures of them and hear them talked about even in our world … the world on this side of the wardrobe door。 but when you really see them in narnia it is rather different。 some of the pictures of father christmas in our world make him look only funny and jolly。 but now that the children actually stood looking at him they didnt find it quite like that。 he was so big； and so glad； and so real； that they all became quite still。 they felt very glad； but also solemn。
〃ive e at last；〃 said he。 〃she has kept me out for a long time； but i have got in at last。
aslan is on the move。 the witchs magic is weakening。鈥�
and lucy felt running through her that deep shiver of gladness which you only get if you are being solemn and still。
〃and now；〃 said father christmas； 〃for your presents。 there is a new and better sewing machine for you； mrs beaver。 i will drop it in your house as； i pass。鈥�
〃if you please； sir；〃 said mrs beaver； making a curtsey。 〃its locked up。鈥�
〃locks and bolts make no difference to me；〃 said father christmas。 〃and as for you； mr beaver； when you get home you will find your dam finished and mended and all the leaks stopped and a new sluicegate fitted。鈥�
mr beaver was so pleased that he opened his mouth very wide and then found he couldnt say anything at all。
〃peter； adams son；〃 said father christmas。
〃here； sir；〃 said peter。
〃these are your presents；〃 was the answer； 〃and they are tools not toys。 the time to use them is perhaps near at hand。 bear them well。〃 with these words he handed to peter a shield and a sword。 the shield was the colour of silver and across it there ramped a red lion； as bright as a ripe strawberry at the moment when you pick it。 the hilt of the sword
was of gold and it had a sheath and a sword belt and everything it needed； and it was just the right size and weight for peter to use。 peter was silent and solemn as he received these gifts； for he felt they were a very serious kind of present。
〃susan； eves daughter；〃 said father christmas。 〃these are for you；〃 and he handed her a bow and a quiver full of arrows and a little ivory horn。 〃you must use the bow only in great need；〃 he said； 〃for i do not mean you to fight in the battle。 it does not easily miss。
and when you put this horn to your lips； and blow it； then； wherever you are； i think help of some kind will e to you。鈥�
last of all he said； 〃lucy； eves daughter；〃 and lucy came forward。 he gave her a little bottle of what looked like glass （but people said afterwards that it was made of diamond） and a small dagger。 〃in this bottle；〃 he said； 〃there is cordial made of the juice of one of the fireflowers that grow in the mountains of the sun。 if you or any of your friends is hurt； a few drops of this restore them。 and the dagger is to defend yourse at great need。 for you also are not to be in battle。鈥�
〃why； sir？〃 said lucy。 〃i think … i dont know but i think i could be brave enough。鈥�
〃that is not the point；〃 he said。 〃but battles are ugly when women fight。 and now〃 … here he suddenly looked less grave … 〃here is something for the moment for you all！〃 and he brought out （i suppose from the big bag at his back； but nobody quite saw him do it） a large tray containing five cups and saucers； a bowl of lump sugar； a jug of cream； and a great big teapot all sizzling and piping hot。 then he cried out 〃merry christmas！ long live the true king！〃 and cracked his whip； and he and the reindeer and the sledge and all were out of sight before anyone realized that they had started。
peter had just drawn his sword out of its sheath and was showing it to mr beaver； when mrs beaver said： 〃now then； now then！ dont stand talking there till the teas got cold。 just like men。 e and help to carry the tray down and well have breakfast。 what a mercy i thought of bringing the bread…knife。鈥�
so down the steep bank they went and back to the cave； and mr beaver cut some of the bread and ham into sandwiches and mrs beaver poured out the tea and everyone enjoyed themselves。 but long before they had finished enjoying themselves mr beaver said； 〃time to be moving on now。鈥�
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CHAPTER ELEVEN
锛佸皬锛犺锛僼xt锛勫ぉ锛惧爞锛�
aslan is nearer
edmund meanwhile had been having a most disappointing time。 when the dwarf had gone to get the sledge ready he expected that the witch would start being nice to him； as she had been at their last meeting。 but she said nothing at all。 and when at last edmund plucked up his courage to say； 〃please； your majesty； could i have some turkish delight？
you … you … said …〃 she answered； 〃silence； fool！〃 then she appeared to change her mind and said； as if to herself； a 〃and yet it will not do to have the brat fainting on the way；鈥�
and once more clapped her hands。 another； dwarf appeared。
〃bring the human creature food and drink；〃 she said。
the dwarf went away and presently returned bringing an iron bowl with some water in it and an iron plate with a hunk of dry bread on it。 he grinned in a repulsive manner as he set them down on the floor beside edmund and said： 〃turkish delight for the little prince。 ha！ ha！ ha！〃 〃take it away；〃 said edmund sulkily。 〃i dont want dry bread。〃 but the witch suddenly turned on him with such a terrible expression on her face that he； apologized and began to nibble at the bread； though； it was so stale he could hardly get it down。
〃you may be glad enough of it before you taste bread again；〃 said the witch。
while he was still chewing away the first dwarf came back and announced that the sledge was ready。 the white witch rose and went out； ordering edmund to go with her。 the snow was again falling as they came into the courtyard； but she took no notice of that and made edmund sit beside her on the sledge。 but before they drove off she called maugrim and he came bounding like an enormous dog to the side of the sledge。
〃take with you the swiftest of your wolves and go at once to the house of the beavers；鈥�
said the witch； 〃and kill whatever you find there。 if they are already gone； then make all speed to the stone table； but do not be seen。 wait for me there in hiding。 i meanwhile must go many miles to the west before i find a place where i can drive across the river。
you may overtake these humans before they reach the stone table。 you will know what to do if you find them！鈥�
〃i hear and obey； o queen；〃 growled the wolf； and immediately he shot away into the snow and darkness； as quickly as a horse can gallop。 in a few minutes he had called another wolf and was with him down on the dam sniffing at the beavers house。 but of course they found it empty。 it would have been a dreadful thing for the beavers and the children if the night had remained fine； for the wolves would then have been able to follow their trail … and ten to one would have overtaken them before they had got to the cave。 but now that the snow had begun again the scent was cold and even the footprints were covered up。
meanwhile the dwarf whipped up the reindeer； and the witch and edmund drove out under the archway and on and away into the darkness and the cold。 this was a terrible
journey for edmund； who had no coat。 before they had been going quarter of an hour all the front of him was covered with snow … he soon stopped trying to shake it off because； as quickly as he did that； a new lot gathered； and he was so tired。 soon he was wet to the skin。 and oh； how miserable he was！ it didnt look now as if the witch intended to make him a king。 all the things he had said to make himself believe that she was good and kind and that her side was really the right side sounded to him silly now。 he would have given anything to meet the others at this moment … even peter！ the only way to fort himself now was to try to believe that the whole thing was a dream and that he might wake up at any moment。 and as they went on； hour after hour； it did e to seem like a dream。
this lasted longer than i could describe even if i wrote pages and pages about it。 but i will skip on to the time when the snow had stopped and the morning had e and they were racing along in the daylight。 and still they went on and on； with no sound but the everlasting swish of the snow and the creaking of the reindeers harness。 and then at last the witch said； 〃what have we here？ stop！〃 and they did。
how edmund hoped she was going to say something about breakfast！ but she had stopped for quite a different reason。 a little way off at the foot of a tree sat a merry party； a squirrel and his wife with their children and two satyrs and a dwarf and an old