“Good-bye, dear Puddleglum,” said Jill, going over to the Marsh-wiggle’s bed. “I’m sorry we called you a wet bla.”
“So’m I,” said Eustace. “You’ve been the best friend in the world.”
“And I do hope we’ll meet again,” added Jill.
“Not much ce of that, I should say,” replied Puddleglum. “I don’t re I’m very likely to e my old wigwam agaiher. And that Prince — he’s a nice chap — but do you think he’s very strong? stitution ruined with living underground, I shouldn’t wonder. Looks the sort that might go off any day.”
“Puddleglum！” said Jill. “You’re a regular old humbug. You sound as doleful as a funeral and I believe you’re perfectly happy. And you talk as if you were afraid of everything, when you’re really as brave as — as a lion.”
“Now, speaking of funerals,” began Puddleglum, but Jill, who heard the taurs tapping with their hoofs behind her, surprid him very much by flinging her arms round his thin ned kissing his muddy-looking face, while Eustace wrung his hand. Then they both rushed away to the taurs, and the Marsh-wiggle, sinking ba his bed, remarked to himlf, “Well, I wouldn’t have dreamt of her doing that. Even though I am a goodlooking chap.”
To ride on a taur is, no doubt, a great honour （and except Jill aace there is probably no one alive in the world today who has had it） but it is very unfortable. For no one who valued his life would suggest putting a saddle on a taur, and riding bareback is no fun; especially if, like Eustace, you have never learo ride at all. The taurs were very polite in a grave, gracious, grown-up kind of way, and as they tered through the Narnian woods they spoke, without turning their heads, telling the children about the properties of herbs and roots, the influences of the plas, the nine names of Aslan with their meanings, and things of that sort. But however sore and jolted the two humans were, they would now give anything to have that journey ain：to e tho glades and slopes sparkling with last night’s snow, to be met by rabbits and squirrels and birds that wished you good m, to breathe again the air of Narnia ahe voices of the Narnian trees.