“Ah！” said the Hedgehog. “But you won’t find the High King at the Cair. He’s away to the North troung tho giants. And talking of giants, neighbours, that puts me in mind —”
“Who’ll take our message?” interrupted the Dwarf. “Anyone here got more speed than me?”
“I’ve got speed,” said the Stag. “What’s my message? How many enes?”
“Two hundred： under Prince Rabadash. And —” But the Stag was already away — all fs off the ground at once, and in a moment its white stern had disappeared among the remoter trees.
“Wonder where he’s going,” said a Rabbit. “He won’t find the High King at Cair Paravel, you know.”
“He’ll find Queen Lucy,” said Duffle. “And then hullo！ What’s wrong with the Human? It looks pretty green. Why, I do believe it’s quite faint. Perhaps it’s mortal hungry. When did you last have a meal, youngster?”
“Yesterday m,” said Shasta weakly.
“e on, then, e on,” said the Dwarf, at ohrowing his thick little arms round Shasta’s waist to support him. “Why, neighbours, we ought all to be ashamed of ourlves！ You e with me, lad. Breakfast！ Better than talking.”
With a great deal of bustle, muttering reproaches to itlf, the Dwarf half led and half supported Shasta at a great speed further into the wood and a little downhill. It was a longer walk than Shasta wa that moment and his legs had begun to feel very shaky before they came out from the trees on to bare hillside. There they found a little hou with a smoking ey and an open door, and as they came to the doorway Duffle called out,
“Hey, brothers！ A visitor for breakfast.”
And immediately, mixed with a sizzling sound, there came to Shasta a simply delightful smell. It was one he had never smelled in his life before, but I hope you have. It was, in fact, the smell of ba and eggs and mushrooms all frying in a pan.
“Mind your head, lad,” said Duffle a moment too late, for Shasta had already bashed his forehead against the low lintel of the door. “Now,” tihe Dwarf, “sit you down. The table’s a bit low for you, but theool’s low too. That’s right. And here’s pe — and here’s a jug of cream — and here’s a spoon.”