PETERSFIRSTBATTLEWHILEthedwarfaeWitchweresayingthis,milesawaytheBeaversandthechildrenwerewalkingonhourafterhourintowhatseemedadeliciousdream.Longagotheyhadleftthecoatsbehindthem.Andbynowtheyhadevenstoppedsayingtooher,"Look!theresakingfisher,"or"Isay,bluebells!"or"Whatwasthatlovelysmell?"or"Justlistentothatthrush!"Theywalkedoninsilencedrinkingitallin,passingthroughpatchesofwarmsunlightintocool,greenthicketsandoutagainintowidemossygladeswheretallelmsraisedtheleafyrooffaroverhead,aodensemassesofflcurrantandamonghawthornbusheswherethesweetsmellwasalmostoverp.

    TheyhadbeenjustassurprisedasEdmuheysawthewintervanishingandthewholewoodpassinginafewhoursorsofromJanuarytoMay.Theyhadntevenknownforcertain(astheWitchdid)thatthisouldhappenwhenAslaoNarnia.Buttheyallkhatitwasherspellswhichhadproducedtheendlesswinter;andthereforetheyallknewwhenthismagicsprihatsomethinghadg,andbadlywrong,withtheWitchsschemes.AndafterthethawhadbeengoingonforsometimetheyallrealizedthattheWitchwouldnolongerbeabletousehersledge.Afterthattheydidnthurrysomudtheyallowedthemselvesmorerestsandlongeroheywereprettytiredbynowofcourse;butnotwhatIdcallbitterlytired-onlyslowandfeelingverydreamyandquietinsideasonedoeswhenoneisingtotheendofalongdayintheopen.Susanhadaslightblisterononeheel.

    Theyhadleftthecourseofthebigriversometimeago;forooturnalittletht(thatmeantalittletothesouth)toreachtheplaceoftheStoable.Evenifthishadheirwaytheycouldnthavekepttotherivervalleyohawbegan,