They found a wide gateen and pasd through it into a paved courtyard. And it was here that they had their first indication that there was something odd about this island. In the middle of the courtyard stood a pump, ah the pump a bucket. There was nothing odd about that. But the pump handle was moving up and down, though there emed to be no one moving it.
“There’s some magic at work here,” said Caspian.
“Maery！” said Eustace. “I do believe we’ve e to a civilized try at last.”
At that moment Lucy, hot and breathless, rushed into the courtyard behind them. In a low voice she tried to make them uand what she had overheard. And when they had partly uood it even the bravest of them did not look very happy.
“Invisible enemies,” muttered Caspian. “And cutting us off from the boat. This is an ugly furrow to plough.”
“You’ve no idea what sort of creatures they are, Lu?” asked Edmund.
“How I, Ed, when I couldhem?”
“Did they sound like humans from their footsteps?”
“I didn’t hear any noi of feet—only voices and this frightful thudding and thumping—like a mallet.”
“I wonder,” said Reepicheep, “do they bee visible when you drive a sword into them?”
“It looks as if we shall find out,” said Caspian. “But let’s get out of this gateway. There’s one of the gentry at that pump listening to all we say.”
They came out a ba to the path where the trees might possibly make them less spicuous. “Not that it’s any good really,” said Eustace, “trying to hide from people you ’t e. They may be all round us.”
“Now, Drinian,” said Caspian. “How would it be if we gave up the boat for lost, went down to another part of the bay, and sigo the Dawn Treader to stand in and take us aboard?”
“Not depth for her, Sire,” said Drinian.
“We could swim,” said Lucy.
“Your Majesties all,” said Reepicheep, “hear me. It is folly to think of avoiding an invisible enemy by any amount of creeping and skulking. If the creatures mean t us to battle, be sure they will succeed. And whatever es of it I’d sooner meet them face to face than be caught by the tail.”