daailsdraggedinthegrass,andtheirleaderpipedonhisslenderpipeamelancholytuhelitterlaywhatseemedlittlebetterthanadampheapoffur;allthatwasleftofReepicheep.Hewasstillbreathing,butmoredeadthanalive,gashedwithinnumerablewounds,onepawcrushed,and,wherehistailhadbeen,abaump.

    "Now,Lucy,"saidAslan.

    Lucyhadherdiamondbottleoutinamoment.ThoughonlyadropwasneededoneachofReepicheepswounds,thewoundsweresomanythattherewasalongandanxioussilencebeforeshehadfinishedaerMousesprangfromthelitter.Hishaoohisswordhilt,withtheotherhetwirledhiswhiskers.Hebowed.

    "Hail,Aslan!"camehisshrillvoice."Ihavethehonour-"Butthenhesuddenlystopped.

    Thefactwasthathestillhadnotail-whetherthatLucyhadfottenitorthathercordial,thoughitcouldhealwounds,couldnotmakethingsgrowagain.Reepicheepbecameawareofhislossashemadehisbow;perhapsitalteredsomethinginhisbalance.

    Helookedoverhisrightshoulder.Failingtoseehistail,hestrainedhisneckfurthertillhehadtoturnhisshouldersandhiswholebodyfollowed.Butbythattimehishind-quartershadturooandwereoutofsight.Therainedhisnecklookingoverhisshoulderagain,withthesameresult.Onlyafterhehadturnedpletelyroundthreetimesdidherealizethedreadfultruth.

    "Iamfounded,"saidReepicheeptoAslan."Iampletelyoutoftenance.Imustcraveyourindulgenceforappearinginthisunseemlyfashion.”

    "Itbeesyouverywell,SmallOne,"saidAslan.

    "Allthesame,"repliedReepicheep,"ifanythingcouldbedone...PerhapsherMajesty?”