The_Complete_Chronicles_of_Narnia_(volumes_1-7,_in_order_of_publication)

them) came bounding and barking joyously to the King's side. They were mostly great
big dogs with thick shoulders and heavy jaws. Their coming was like the breaking of a
great wave on the seabeach: it nearly knocked you down. For though they were Talking
Dogs they were just as doggy as they could be: and they all stood up and put their front
paws on the shoulders of the humans and licked their faces, all saying at once:
"Welcome! Welcome! We'll help, we'll help, help, help. Show us how to help, show us
how, how. How-how-how?"
It was so lovely that it made you want to cry. This, at last, was the sort of thing they had
been hoping for. And when, a moment later, several little animals (mice and moles and a
squirrel or so) came pattering up, squealing with joy, and saying "See, see. We're here,"
and when, after that, the Bear and the Boar came too, Eustace began to feel that perhaps,
after all, everything might be going to come right. But Tirian gazed round and saw how
very few of the animals had moved.
"To me! to me!" he called. "Have you all turned cowards since I was your King?"
"We daren't," whimpered dozens of voices. "Tashlan would be angry. Shield us from
Tashlan."
"Where are all the Talking Horses?" said Tirian to the Boar.
"We've seen, we've seen," squealed the Mice. "The Ape has made them work. They're all
tied - down at the bottom of the hill."
"Then all you little ones," said Tirian, "you nibblers and gnawers and nutcrackers, away
with you as fast as you can scamper and see if the Horses are on our side. And if they are,
get your teeth into the ropes and gnaw till the Horses are free and bring them hither."
"With a good will, Sire," came the small voices, and with a whisk of tails those sharpeyed
and sharp-toothed folk were off. Tirian smiled for mere love as he saw them go. But
it was already time to be thinking of other things. Rishda Tarkaan was giving his orders.
"Forward," he said. "Take all of them alive if you can and hurl them into the stable or
drive them into it. When they are all in we will put fire to it and make them an offering to
the great god Tash."
"Ha!" said Farsight to himself. "So that is how he hopes to win Tash's pardon for his
unbelief."
The enemy line - about half of Rishda's force - was now moving forward, and Tirian had
barely time to give his orders.
"Out on the left, Jill, and try to shoot all you may before they reach us. Boar and Bear
next to her. Poggin on my left, Eustace on my right. Hold the right wing, Jewel. Stand by