lse,itwassodarkinthisvalleyuhedarktrees.

    "Preparethevictim,",saidtheWitdthedwarfundidEdmundscollarandfoldedbackhisshirtattheheookEdmundshairandpulledhisheadbacksothathehadtoraisehis.AfterthatEdmundheardastrangenoise-whizzwhizz-whizz.Foramomenthecouldntthinkwhatitwas.Thenherealized.Itwasthesoundofaknifebeingsharpened.

    Atthatverymomentheheardloudshoutsfromeverydire-adrummingofhoofsaingofwings-ascreamfromtheWitch-fusionallroundhim.Andthenhefoundhewasbeingurongarmswereroundhimandheheardbig,kindvoicessayingthingslike-"Lethimliedown-givehimsomewine-drinkthis-steadynow-youllbeallrightinaminute.”

    Thehevoicesofpeoplewhowerenottalkingtohimbuttooher.Andtheyweresayingthingslike"WhosgottheWitch?""Ithoughtyouhadher.""IdidntseeherafterIkhekofherhand-Iwasafterthedwarf-doyoumeantosayshesescaped?""-Achaptmihingatonce-whatsthat?Oh,sorry,itsonlyanoldstump!"ButjustatthispointEdmuoffinadeadfaint.

    Presentlythetaursandunisanddeerandbirds(theywereofcoursetherescuepartywhichAslanhadsentichapter)allsetofftogobacktotheStoable,carryingEdmundwiththem.Butiftheycouldhaveseenpehatvalleyaftertheyhadgohinktheymighthavebeensurprised.

    Iterfectlystillalythemoongrewbright;ifyouhadbeenthereyouwouldhaveseenthemoonlightshiningonanoldtree-stumpandonafairsizedboulder.Butifyouhadgoneonlookingyouwouldgraduallyhavebeguntothinktherewassomethingoddaboutboththestumpandtheboulder.Ayouwouldhavethoughtthatthestumpdidlookreallyremarkablylik