How long this voyage into the darkness lasted, nobody knew. Except for the creak of the rowlocks and the splash of the oars there was nothing to show that they were moving at all. Edmund, peering from the bows, could e nothing except the refle of the lantern ier before him. It looked a greasy sort of refle, and the ripple made by their advang proeared to be heavy, small, and lifeless. As time went on everyone except the rowers began to shiver with cold.
Suddenly, from somewhere—no one’s n of dire was very clear by now—there came a cry, either of some inhuman voice or el a voice of one in such extremity of terror that he had almost lost his humanity.
Caspian was still trying to speak—his mouth was too dry—when the shrill voice of Reepicheep, which sounded louder than usual in that silence, was heard.
“Who calls?” it piped. “If you are a foe we do not fear you, and if you are a friend your enemies shall be taught the fear of us.”
“Mercy！” cried the voice. “Mercy！ Even if you are only one more dream, have merry. Take me on board. Take me, even if you strike me dead. But in the name of all mercies do not fade away and leave me in this horrible land.”
“Where are you?” shouted Caspian. “e aboard and wele.”
There came another cry, whether of joy or terror, and then they khat someone was swimming toward them.
“Stand by to heave him up, men,” said Caspian.
“Aye, aye, your Majesty,” said the sailors. Several crowded to the port bulwark with ropes and one, leaning far out over the side, held the torch. A wild, white face appeared in the blaess of the water, and then, after some scrambling and pulling, a dozen friendly hands had heaved the stranger on board.
Edmund thought he had never en a wilder-looking man. Though he did not otherwi look very old, his hair was an untidy mop of white, his face was thin and drawn, and, for clothing, only a few wet rags hung about him. But what one mainly noticed were his eyes, which were so widely opehat he emed to have no eyelids at all, and stared as if in an agony of pure fear. The moment his feet reached the deck he said：
“Fly！ Fly！ About with your ship and fly！ Row, row, row for your lives away from this accurd shore.”