CHAPTER SEVEN OLD NARNIA IN DANGER（第3/3页）
“Then in the name of Aslan we will wind Queen Susan’s Horn，”said Caspian．
“There is one thing，Sire，”said Doctor Cornelius，“that should perhaps be done first．We do not know what form the help will take．It might call Aslan himself from oversea．But I think it is more likely to call Peter the High King and his mighty consorts down from the high past．But in either case，I do not think we can be sure that the help will come to this very spot—”
“You never said a truer word，”put in Trumpkin．
“I think，”went on the learned man，“that they—or he—will come back to one or other of the Ancient Places of Narnia．This，where we now sit，is the most ancient and most deeply magical of all，and here，I think，the answer is likeliest to come．But there are two others．One is Lantern Waste，up-river，west of Beaversdam，where the Royal Children first appeared in Narnia，as the records tell.The other is down at the river-mouth，where their castle of Cair Paravel once stood．And if Aslan himself comes，that would be the best place for meeting him too，for every story says that he is the son of the great Emperor-over-he-Sea，and over the sea he will pass．I should like very much to send messengers to both places，to Lantern Waste and the river-mouth，to receive them—or him—or it．”
“Just as I thought，”muttered Trumpkin．“The first result of all this foolery is not to bring us help but to lose us two fighters．”
“Who would you think of sending，Doctor Cornelius？”asked Caspian.
“Squirrels are best for getting through enemy country without being caught，”said Trufflehunter．
“All our squirrels (and we haven’t many)，”said Nikabrik，“are rather flighty．The only one I’d trust on a job like that would be Pattertwig．”
“Let it be Pattertwig，then，”said King Caspian．“And who for our other messenger？ I know you’d go，Trufflehunter，but you haven’t the speed．Nor you，Doctor Cornelius．”
“I won’t go，”said Nikabrik．“With all these Humans and beasts about，there must be a Dwarf here to see that the Dwarfs are fairly treated．”
“Thimbles and thunderstorms！”cried Trumpkin in a rage．“Is that how you speak to the King？ Send me，Sire，I’ll go．”
“But I thought you didn’t believe in the Horn，Trumpkin，”said Caspian．
“No more I do，your Majesty．But what’s that got to do with it？ I might as well die on a wild goose chase as die here．You are my King．I know the difference between giving advice and taking orders．You’ve had my advice，and now it’s the time for orders．”
“I will never forget this，Trumpkin，”said Caspian．“Send for Pattertwig，one of you．And when shall I blow the Horn？”
“I would wait for sunrise，your Majesty，”said Doctor Cornelius.“That sometimes has an effect in operations of White Magic．”
A few minutes later Pattertwig arrived and had his task explained to him．As he was，like many squirrels，full of courage and dash and energy and excitement and mischief (not to say conceit)，he no sooner heard it than he was eager to be off．It was arranged that he should run for Lantern Waste while Trumpkin made the shorter journey to the river-mouth．After a hasty meal they both set off with the fervent thanks and good wishes of the King，the Badger，and Cornelius．