They were on a green open space from which you could look down on the forest spreading as far as one could e in every dire—except right ahead.There, far to the East, was something twinkling and moving.“By gum！”whispered Peter to Susan.“the a！”In the very middle of this open hilltop was the Stoable.It was a great grim slab of grey stone supported on four upright sto looked very old; and it was cut all over with strange lines and figures that might be the letters of an unknown language.They gave you a curious feeling when you looked at them.The hing they saw avilion pitched on one side of the open place.A wonderful pavilion it was—and especially now when the light of the tting sun fell upon it—with sides of what looked like yellow silk and cords of crimson apegs of ivory; and high above it on a pole a banner which bore a red rampant lion fluttering in the breeze which was blowing in their faces from the far-off a.While they were looking at this they heard a sound of musi their right; and turning in that dire they saw what they had e to e.
Aslan stood in the tre of a crowd of creatures who had grouped themlves round him in the shape of a half-moon.There were Tree-Women there and Well-Women（Dryads and Naiads as they ud to be called in our world）who had stringed instruments; it was they who had made the music.There were freat taurs.The hor part of them was like huge English farm hors, and the man part was like stern but beautiful giants.There was also a uni, and a bull with the head of a man, and a peli, and an eagle, and a great Dog.Ao Aslan stood two leopards of whom one carried his and the other his standard.
But as for Aslan himlf, the Beavers and the children didn’t know what to do or say when they saw him.People who have not been in Narnia sometimes think that a thing ot be good and terrible at the same time.If the children had ever thought so, they were cured of it now.For wheried to look at Aslan’s face they just caught a glimp of the golden mane and the great, royal, solemn, overwhelming eyes; and then they found they couldn’t look at him a all trembly.
“Go on,”whispered Mr.Beaver.
“No,”whispered Peter.“you first.”
“No, Sons of Adam before animals,”whispered Mr.Beaver back again.
“Susan,”whispered Peter.“What about you?Ladies first.”
“No, you’re the eldest,”whispered Susan.And of cour the lohey went on doing this the more awkward they felt.Then at last Peter realized that it to him.He drew his sword and raid it to the salute and hastily saying to the other.“e on.Pull yourlves together,”he advao the Lion and said：