小说园>纳尼亚传奇附录一凯斯宾王子主要内容 > chater eight hw they left the ind（第2页）
chater eight hw they left the ind（第2页）
“There’snogoodlosingourtempers，”saidPeter．“Let’sfithimoutwithfresharmourandfitourselvesoutfromthetreasurechamber，andhaveatalkafterthat．”
“Idon’tquiteseethepoint—”beganEdmund，butLucywhisperedinhisear，“Hadn’twebetterdowhatPetersays？HeistheHighKing，youknow．AndIthinkhehasanidea．”SoEdmundagreedandbytheaidofhistorchtheyall，includingTrumpkin，wentdownthestepsagainintothedarkcoldnessanddustysplendourofthetreasurehouse．
TheDwarf’seyesglistenedashesawthewealththatlayontheshelves（thoughhehadtostandontiptoestodoso）andhemutteredtohimself，“ItwouldneverdotoletNikabrikseethis;never．”Theyfoundeasilyenoughamailshirtforhim，asword，ahelmet，ashield，abowandquiverfulofarrows，allofdwarfishsize．Thehelmetwasofcopper，setwithrubies，andtherewasgoldonthehiltofthesword:Trumpkinhadneverseen，muchlesscarried，somuchwealthinallhislife．Thechildrenalsoputonmailshirtsandhelmets;aswordandshieldwerefoundforEdmundandabowforLucy—PeterandSusanwereofcoursealreadycarryingtheirgifts．Astheycamebackupthestairway，jinglingintheirmail，andalreadylookingandfeelingmorelikeNarniansandlesslikeschoolchildren，thetwoboyswerebehind，apparentlymakingsomeplan．LucyheardEdmundsay，“No，letmedoit．ItwillbemoreofasucksforhimifIwin，andlessofalet-downforusallifIfail．”
“Allright，Ed，”saidPeter．
WhentheycameoutintothedaylightEdmundturnedtotheDwarfverypolitelyandsaid，“I’vegotsomethingtoaskyou．Kidslikeusdon’toftenhavethechanceofmeetingagreatwarriorlikeyou．Wouldyouhavealittlefencingmatchwithme？Itwouldbefrightfullydecent．”
“But，lad，”saidTrumpkin，“theseswordsaresharp．”
“Iknow，”saidEdmund．“ButI’llnevergetanywherenearyouandyou’llbequitecleverenoughtodisarmmewithoutdoingmeanydamage．”
“It’sadangerousgame，”saidTrumpkin．“Butsinceyoumakesuchapointofit，I’lltryapassortwo．”
Bothswordswereoutinamomentandthethreeothersjumpedoffthedaisandstoodwatching．Itwaswellworthit．Itwasnotlikethesillyfightingyouseewithbroadswordsonthestage．Itwasnotevenliketherapierfightingwhichyousometimesseeratherbetterdone．Thiswasrealbroad-swordfighting．Thegreatthingistoslashatyourenemy’slegsandfeetbecausetheyarethepartthathavenoarmour．Andwhenheslashesatyoursyoujumpwithbothfeetoffthegroundsothathisblowgoesunderthem．ThisgavetheDwarfanadvantagebecauseEdmund，beingmuchtaller，hadtobealwaysstooping．Idon’tthinkEdmundwouldhavehadachanceifhehadfoughtTrumpkintwenty-fourhoursearlier．ButtheairofNarniahadbeenworkinguponhimeversincetheyarrivedontheisland，andallhisoldbattlescamebacktohim，andhisarmsandfingersrememberedtheiroldskill．HewasKingEdmundoncemore．Roundandroundthetwocombatantscircled，strokeafterstroketheygave，andSusan（whonevercouldlearntolikethissortofthing）shoutedout，“Oh，dobecareful．”Andthen，soquicklythatnoone（unlesstheyknew，asPeterdid）couldquiteseehowithappened，Edmundflashedhisswordroundwithapeculiartwist，theDwarf’sswordflewoutofhisgrip，andTrumpkinwaswringinghisemptyhandasyoudoaftera“sting”fromacricket-bat．
“Nothurt，Ihope，mydearlittlefriend？”saidEdmund，pantingalittleandreturninghisownswordtoitssheath．
“Iseethepoint，”saidTrumpkindrily．“YouknowatrickIneverlearned．”
“That’squitetrue，”putinPeter．“Thebestswordsmanintheworldmaybedisarmedbyatrickthat’snewtohim．Ithinkit’sonlyfairtogiveTrumpkinachanceatsomethingelse．Willyouhaveashootingmatchwithmysister？Therearenotricksinarchery，youknow．”
“Ah，you’rejokers，youare，”saidtheDwarf．“Ibegintosee．AsifIdidn’tknowhowshecanshoot，afterwhathappenedthismorning．Allthesame，I’llhaveatry．”Hespokegruffly，buthiseyesbrightened，forhewasafamousbowmanamonghisownpeople．
Allfiveofthemcameoutintothecourtyard．
“What’stobethetarget？”askedPeter．
“Ithinkthatapplehangingoverthewallonthebranchtherewoulddo，”saidSusan．
“That’lldonicely，lass，”saidTrumpkin．“Youmeantheyellowonenearthemiddleofthearch？”
“No，notthat，”saidSusan．“Theredoneupabove—overthebattlement．”
TheDwarf’sfacefell．“Looksmorelikeacherrythananapple，”hemuttered，buthesaidnothingoutloud．
Theytossedupforfirstshot（greatlytotheinterestofTrumpkin，whohadneverseenacointossedbefore）andSusanlost．Theyweretoshootfromthetopofthestepsthatledfromthehallintothecourtyard．EveryonecouldseefromthewaytheDwarftookhispositionandhandledhisbowthatheknewwhathewasabout．
Twangwentthestring．Itwasanexcellentshot．Thetinyappleshookasthearrowpassed，andaleafcameflutteringdown．ThenSusanwenttothetopofthestepsandstrungherbow．ShewasnotenjoyinghermatchhalfsomuchasEdmundhadenjoyedhis;notbecauseshehadanydoubtabouthittingtheapplebutbecauseSusanwassotender-heartedthatshealmosthatedtobeatsomeonewhohadbeenbeatenalready．TheDwarfwatchedherkeenlyasshedrewtheshafttoherear．Amomentlater，withalittlesoftthumpwhichtheycouldallhearinthatquietplace，theapplefelltothegrasswithSusan’sarrowinit．
