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The_Complete_Chronicles_of_Narnia_(volumes_1-7,_in_order_of_publication)

The_Complete_Chronicles_of_Narnia_(volumes_1-7,_in_order_of_publication)

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"Yes, yes. I made the Duffers <strong>in</strong>to Monopods," said the Magician. He too was laugh<strong>in</strong>g<br />

till the tears ran down his cheeks. "But watch," he added.<br />

It was worth watch<strong>in</strong>g. Of course these little one-footed men couldn't walk or run as we<br />

do. <strong>The</strong>y got about by jump<strong>in</strong>g, like fleas or frogs. And what jumps they made! as if each<br />

big foot were a mass <strong>of</strong> spr<strong>in</strong>gs. And with what a bounce they came down; that was what<br />

made the thump<strong>in</strong>g noise which had so puzzled Lucy yesterday. For now they were<br />

jump<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> all directions and call<strong>in</strong>g out to one another, "Hey, lads! We're visible aga<strong>in</strong>."<br />

"Visible we are," said one <strong>in</strong> a tasselled red cap who was obviously the Chief Monopod.<br />

"And what I say is, when chaps are visible, why, they can see one another."<br />

"Ah, there it is, there it is, Chief," cried all the others. "<strong>The</strong>re's the po<strong>in</strong>t. No one's got a<br />

clearer head than you. You couldn't have made it pla<strong>in</strong>er."<br />

"She caught the old man napp<strong>in</strong>g, that little girl did," said the Chief Monopod. "We've<br />

beaten him this time."<br />

"Just what we were, go<strong>in</strong>g to say ourselves," chimed the chorus. "You're go<strong>in</strong>g stronger<br />

than ever today, Chief. Keep it up, keep it up."<br />

"But do they dare to talk about you like that?" said Lucy. "<strong>The</strong>y seemed to be so afraid <strong>of</strong><br />

you yesterday. Don't they know you might be listen<strong>in</strong>g?"<br />

"That's one <strong>of</strong> the funny th<strong>in</strong>gs about the Duffers," said the Magician. "One m<strong>in</strong>ute they<br />

talk as if I ran everyth<strong>in</strong>g and overheard everyth<strong>in</strong>g and was extremely dangerous. <strong>The</strong><br />

next moment they th<strong>in</strong>k they can take me <strong>in</strong> by tricks that a baby would see through -<br />

bless them!"<br />

"Will they have to be turned back <strong>in</strong>to their proper shapes?" asked Lucy. "Oh, I do hope<br />

it wouldn't be unk<strong>in</strong>d to leave them as they are. Do they really m<strong>in</strong>d very much? <strong>The</strong>y<br />

seem pretty happy. I say - look at that jump. What were they like before?"<br />

"Common little dwarfs," said he. "Noth<strong>in</strong>g like so nice as the sort you have <strong>in</strong> <strong>Narnia</strong>."<br />

"It would be a pity to change them back," said Lucy. "<strong>The</strong>y're so funny: and they're rather<br />

nice. Do you th<strong>in</strong>k it would make any difference if I told them that?"<br />

"I'm sure it would - if you could get it <strong>in</strong>to their heads."<br />

"Will you come with me and try?"<br />

"No, no. You'll get on far better without me."<br />

"Thanks awfully for the lunch," said Lucy and turned quickly away. She ran down the<br />

stairs which she had come up so nervously that morn<strong>in</strong>g and cannoned <strong>in</strong>to Edmund at

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