“Good m,” said Shasta. “But I’m not a neighbour. In fact I’m a stranger in the parts.”
“Ah?” said the Hedgehog inquiringly.
“I’ve e over the mountains — from Arland, you know.”
“Ha, Arland,” said the Hedgehog. “That’s a terrible long way. Never been there mylf.”
“And I think, perhaps,” said Shasta, “someone ought to be told that there’s an army of savage etag Anvard at this very moment.”
“You don’t say so！” answered the Hedgehog. “Well, think of that. And they do say that en is hundreds and thousands of miles away, right at the world’s end, across a great a of sand.”
“It’s not nearly as far as you think,” said Shasta. “And oughtn’t something to be done about this atta Anvard? Oughtn’t yh King to be told?”
“Certain sure, something ought to be done about it,” said the Hedgehog. “But you e I’m just on my way to bed food day’s sleep. Hullo, neighbour！”
The last words were addresd to an immen biscuit-coloured rabbit who head had just popped up from somewhere beside the path. The Hedgehog immediately told the Rabbit what it had just learned from Shasta. The Rabbit agreed that this was very remarkable news and that somebody ought to tell someone about it with a view to doing something.
And so it went on. Every few mihey were joined by other creatures, some from the branches overhead and some from little underground hous at their feet, till the party sisted of five rabbits, a squirrel, ties, a goat-foot faun, and a mou, who all talked at the same time and all agreed with the Hedgehog. For the truth was that in that golden age whed the Winter had gone aer the High King ruled at Cair Paravel, the smaller woodland people of Narnia were so safe and happy that they were getting a little careless.
Prently, however, two more practical people arrived itle wood. One was a Red Dwarf who name appeared to be Duffle. The other was a stag, a beautiful lordly creature with wide liquid eyes, dappled flanks and legs so thin and graceful that they looked as if you could break them with two fingers.
“Lion alive！” roared the Dwarf as soon as he had heard the news. “And if that’s so, why are we all standing still, chattering? E Anvard！ News must be nt to Cair Paravel at ohe army must be called out. Narnia must go to the aid of King Lune.”