15.05.2015 Views

The_Complete_Chronicles_of_Narnia_(volumes_1-7,_in_order_of_publication)

The_Complete_Chronicles_of_Narnia_(volumes_1-7,_in_order_of_publication)

The_Complete_Chronicles_of_Narnia_(volumes_1-7,_in_order_of_publication)

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

two; not that I suppose any <strong>of</strong> us will close an eye tonight," <strong>in</strong>stantly went <strong>of</strong>f <strong>in</strong>to such a<br />

loud, cont<strong>in</strong>uous snore that, when Jill at last got to sleep, she dreamed all night about<br />

road-drills and waterfalls and be<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> express tra<strong>in</strong>s <strong>in</strong> tunnels.<br />

CHAPTER SIX<br />

THE WILD WASTE LANDS OF THE NORTH<br />

AT about n<strong>in</strong>e o'clock next morn<strong>in</strong>g three lonely figures might have been seen pick<strong>in</strong>g<br />

their way across the Shribble by the shoals and stepp<strong>in</strong>g-stones. It was a shallow, noisy<br />

stream, and even Jill was not wet above her knees when they reached the northern bank.<br />

About fifty yards ahead, the land rose up to the beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> the moor, everywhere<br />

steeply, and <strong>of</strong>ten <strong>in</strong> cliffs.<br />

"I suppose that's our way!" said Scrubb, po<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g left and west to where a stream flowed<br />

down from the moor through a shallow gorge. But the Marsh-wiggle shook his head.<br />

"<strong>The</strong> giants ma<strong>in</strong>ly live along the side <strong>of</strong> that gorge," he said. "You might say the gorge<br />

was like a street to them. We'll do better straight ahead, even though it's a bit steep."<br />

<strong>The</strong>y found a place where they could scramble up, and <strong>in</strong> about ten m<strong>in</strong>utes stood pant<strong>in</strong>g<br />

at the top. <strong>The</strong>y cast a long<strong>in</strong>g look back at the valley-land <strong>of</strong> <strong>Narnia</strong> and then turned<br />

their faces to the North. <strong>The</strong> vast, lonely moor stretched on and up as far as they could<br />

see. On their left was rockier ground. Jill thought that must be the edge <strong>of</strong> the giants'<br />

gorge and did not much care about look<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> that direction. <strong>The</strong>y set out.<br />

It was good, spr<strong>in</strong>gy ground for walk<strong>in</strong>g, and a day <strong>of</strong> pale w<strong>in</strong>ter sunlight. As they got<br />

deeper <strong>in</strong>to the moor, the lonel<strong>in</strong>ess <strong>in</strong>creased: one could hear peewits and see an<br />

occasional hawk. When they halted <strong>in</strong> the middle <strong>of</strong> the morn<strong>in</strong>g for a rest and a dr<strong>in</strong>k <strong>in</strong><br />

a little hollow by a stream, Jill was beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g to feel that she might enjoy adventures<br />

after all, and said so.<br />

"We haven't had any yet," said the Marsh-wiggle.<br />

Walks after the first halt - like school morn<strong>in</strong>gs after break or railway journeys after<br />

chang<strong>in</strong>g tra<strong>in</strong>s - never go on as they were before. When they set out aga<strong>in</strong>, Jill noticed<br />

that the rocky edge <strong>of</strong> the gorge had drawn nearer. And the rocks were less flat, more<br />

upright, than they had been. In fact they were like little towers <strong>of</strong> rock. And what funny<br />

shapes they were!

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!