The_Complete_Chronicles_of_Narnia_(volumes_1-7,_in_order_of_publication)

steeply downwards and the rocks on either hand rose to the height of cliffs. Then they
began to meet vegetation - prickly cactus-like plants and coarse grass of the kind that
would prick your fingers. Soon the horse-hoofs were falling on pebbles and stones
instead of sand. Round every bend of the valley - and it had many bends - they looked
eagerly for water. The Horses were nearly at the end of their strength now, and Hwin,
stumbling and panting; was lagging behind Bree. They were almost in despair before at
last they came to a little muddiness and a tiny trickle of water through softer and better
grass. And the trickle became a brook, and the brook became a stream with bushes on
each side, and the stream became a river and there came (after more disappointments than
I could possibly describe) -a moment when Shasta, who had been in a kind of doze,
suddenly realized that Bree had stopped and found himself slipping off. Before them a
little cataract of water poured into a broad pool: and both the Horses were already in the
pool with their heads down, drinking, drinking, drinking. "O-o-oh," said Shasta and
plunged in - it was about up to his knees - and stooped his head right into the cataract. It
was perhaps the loveliest moment in his life.
It was about ten minutes later when all four of them (the two children wet nearly all over)
came out and began to notice their surroundings. The moon was now high enough to peep
down into the valley. There was soft grass on both sides of the river, and beyond the
grass, trees and bushes sloped up to the bases of the cliffs. There must have been some
wonderful flowering shrubs hidden in that shadowy undergrowth for the whole glade was
full of the coolest and most delicious smells. And out of the darkest recess among the
trees there came a sound Shasta had never heard beforea nightingale.
Everyone was much too tired to speak or to eat. The Horses, without waiting to be
unsaddled, lay down at once. So did Aravis and Shasta.
About ten minutes later the careful Hwin said, "But we mustn't go to sleep. We've got to
keep ahead of that Rabadash."
"No," said Bree very slowly. "Mustn't go sleep. Just a little rest."
Shasta knew (for a moment) that they would all go to sleep if he didn't get up and do
something about it, and felt that he ought to. In fact he decided that he would get up and
persuade them to go on. But presently; not yet: not just yet...
Very soon the moon shone and the nightingale sang over two horses and two human
children, all fast asleep.
It was Aravis who awoke first. The sun was already high in the heavens and the cool
morning hours were already wasted. "It's my fault," she said to herself furiously as she
jumped up and began rousing the others. "One wouldn't expect Horses to keep awake
after a day's work like that, even if they can talk. And of course that Boy wouldn't; he's
had no decent training. But I ought to have known better."
The others were dazed and stupid with the heaviness of their sleep.