elf,"Illpayyoualloutforthis,youpackofstuck-up,selfsatisfiedprigs.”

    "Wherearewegoinganyway?"saidSusan,chieflyforthesakeofgingthesubject.

    "IthinkLuoughttobetheleader,"saidPeter;"goodnessknowsshedeservesit.Wherewillyoutakeus,Lu?”

    "WhataboutgoingtoseeMrTumnus?"saidLucy."HestheniceFaunItoldyouabout.”

    Everyoneagreedtothisandofftheywentwalkingbrisklyandstampingtheirfeet.Lucyprovedagoodleader.Atfirstshewonderedwhethershewouldbeabletofindtheway,butshereizedanoddlookingtreeononepladastumpinanotherandbroughtthemontowherethegroundbecameunevenandintothelittlevalleyandatlasttotheverydoorofMrTumnusscave.Butthereaterriblesurpriseawaitedthem.

    Thedoorhadbeenwrenchedoffitshingesandbrokentobits.Ihecavewasdarkandcoldandhadthedampfeelandsmellofaplacethathadnotbeenlivedinforseveraldays.Snowhaddriftedinfromthedoorwayandwasheapedonthefloor,mixedwithsomethingblack,whichturtobethecharredstidashesfromthefire.

    Someonehadapparentlyflungitabouttheroomaampeditout.ThecrockerylaysmashedontheflooraureoftheFaunsfatherhadbeenslashedintoshredswithaknife.

    "Thisisaprettygoodwash-out,"saidEdmund;"notmuinghere.”

    "Whatisthis?"saidPeter,stoopingdown.Hehadjustnoticedapieceofpaperwhichhadbeenhroughthecarpettothefloor.

    "Isthereanythingwrittenonit?"askedSusan.

    "Yes,Ithinkthereis,"answeredPeter,"butItreaditinthislight.Letsgetoutintotheopenair.”

    Theyallwen