"Land in sight,"shouted the man in the bows.
Lucy,who had been talking to Rhince on the poop,came pattering down the ladder and raced forward.As she went she was joined by Edmund,and they found Caspian,Drinian and Reepicheep already on the forecastle.It was a coldish morning,the sky very pale and the sea very dark blue with little white caps of foam,and there,a little way offon the starboard bow,was the nearest of the Lone Islands,Felimath,like a low green hill in the sea,and behind it,further off,the grey slopes of its sister Doorn.
"Same old Felimath!Same old Doorn," said Lucy,clapping her hands."Oh—Edmund,how long it is since you and I saw them last!"
"I've never understood why they belong to Narnia," said Caspian."Did Peter the High King conquer them?"
"Oh no," said Edmund."They were Narnian before our time—in the days of the White Witch."
(By the way,I have never yet heard how these remote islands became attached to the crown of Narnia;if I ever do,and if the story is at all interesting,I may put it in some other book.)
"Are we to put in here,Sire?"asked Drinian.
"I shouldn't think it would be much good landing on Felimath,"said Edmund."It was almost uninhabited in our days and it looks as if it is the same still.The people lived mostly on Doorn and a little on Avra—that's the third one;you can't see it yet.They only kept sheep on Felimath."
"Then we'll have to double that cape,I suppose,"said Drinian,"and land on Doorn.That'll mean rowing."
"I'm sorry we're not landing on Felimath," said Lucy."I'd like to walk there again.It was so lonely—a nice kind of loneliness,and all gras...
"I'd love to stretch my legs now too,"said Caspian."I tell you what.Why shouldn't we go ashore in the boat and send it back,and then we could walk across Felimath and let the Dawn Treader pick us up on the other side?"
If Caspian had been as experienced then as he became later on in this voyage he would not have made this suggestion;but at the moment it seemed an excellent one."Oh do let's,"said Lucy.
"You'll come,will you?" said Caspian to Eustace,who had come on deck with his hand bandaged.
"Anything to get offthis blasted boat,"said Eustace.
"Blasted?"said Drinian."How do you mean?"
"In a civilized country like where I come from," said Eustace,"the ships are so big that when you're inside you wouldn't know you were at sea at all."
"In that case you might just as well stay ashore,"said Caspian."Will you tell them to lower the boat,Drinian."
The King,the Mouse,the two Pevensies,and Eustace all got into the boat and were pulled to the beach of Felimath.When the boat had left them and was being rowed back they all turned and looked round.They were surprised at how small the Dawn Treader looked.
Lucy was of course barefoot,having kicked off her shoes while swimming,but that is no hardship if one is going to walk on downy turf.It was delightful to be ashore again and to smell the earth and grass,even if at first the ground seemed to be pitching up and down like a ship,as it usually does for a while if one has been at sea.It was much warmer here than it had been on board and Lucy found the sand pleasant to her feet as they crossed it.There was a lark singing.
They struck inland and up a fairly steep,though low,hill.At the top of course they looked back,and there was the Dawn Treader shining like a great bright insect and crawling slowly northwestward with her oars.Then they went over the ridge and could see her no longer.
Doorn now lay before them,divided from Felimath by a channel about a mile wide;behind it and to the left lay Avra.The little white town of Narrowhaven on Doorn was easily seen.
"Hullo!What's this?"said Edmund suddenly.
In the green valley to which they were descending,six or seven rough-looking men,all armed,were sitting by a tree.
"Don't tell them who we are,"said Caspian.
"And pray,your Majesty,why not?" said Reepicheep,who had consented to ride on Lucy's shoulder.
"It just occurred to me," replied Caspian,"that no one here can have heard from Narnia for a long time.It's just possible they may not still acknowledge our over-lordship.In which case it might not be quite safe to be known as the King."
"We have our swords,Sire,"said Reepicheep.
"Yes,Reep,I know we have,"said Caspian."But if it is a question of re-conquering the three islands,I'd prefer to come back with a rather larger army."
By this time they were quite close to the strangers,one of whom—a big black-haired fellow—shouted out,"A good morning to you."
"And a good morning to you," said Caspian."Is there still a Governor of the Lone Islands?"
"To be sure there is," said the man,"Governor Gumpas.His Sufficiency is at Narrowhaven.But you'll stay and drink with us."
Caspian thanked him,though neither he nor the others much liked the look of their new acquaintance,and all of them sat down.But hardly had they raised their cups to their lips when the black-haired man nodded to his companions and,as quick as lightning,all the five visitors found themselves wrapped in strong arms.There was a moment's struggle but all the advantages were on one side,and soon everyone was disarmed and had their hands tied behind their backs—except Reepicheep,writhing in his captor's grip and biting furiously.
"Careful with that beast,Tacks," said the Leader."Don't damage him.He'll fetch the best price of the lot,I shouldn't wonder."
"Coward!Poltroon!"squeaked Reepicheep."Give me my sword and free my paws if you dare."
"Whew!" whistled the slave merchant (for that is what he was)."It can talk!Well,I never did.Blowed if I take less than two hundred crescents for him."The Calormen crescent,which is the chief coin in those parts,is worth about a third of a pound.
"So that's what you are," said Caspian."A kidnapper and slaver.I hope you're proud of it."
"Now,now,now,now,"said the slaver."Don't you start any jaw.The easier you take it,the pleasanter all round,see?I don't do this for fun.I've got my living to make same as anyone else."
"Where will you take us?" asked Lucy,getting the words out with some difficulty.
"Over to Narrowhaven,"said the slaver."For market day tomorrow."
"Is there a British Consul there?"asked Eustace.
"Is there a which?"said the man.
But long before Eustace was tired of trying to explain,the slaver simply said,"Well,I've had enough of this jabber.The Mouse is a fair treat but this one would talk the hind leg off a donkey.Off we go,mates."
Then the four human prisoners were roped together,not cruelly but securely,and made to march down to the shore.Reepicheep was carried.He had stopped biting on a threat of having his mouth tied up,but he had a great deal to say,and Lucy really wondered how any man could bear to have the things said to him which were said to the slave dealer by the Mouse.But the slave dealer,far from objecting,only said,"Go on"whenever Reepicheep paused for breath,occasionally adding,"It's as good as a play," or,"Blimey,you can't help almost thinking it knows what it's saying!"or,"Was it one of you what trained it?"This so infuriated Reepicheep that in the end the number of things he thought of saying all at once nearly suffocated him and he became silent.
When they got down to the shore that looked towards Doorn they found a little village and a longboat on the beach and,lying a little further out,a dirty,bedraggled-looking ship.
"Now,youngsters,"said the slave dealer,"let's have no fuss and then you'll have nothing to cry about.All aboard."
At that moment a fine-looking bearded man came out of one of the houses (an inn,I think) and said:
"Well,Pug.More of your usual wares?"
The slaver,whose name seemed to be Pug,bowed very low,and said in a wheedling kind of voice,"Yes,if it please your Lordship."
"How much do you want for that boy?"asked the other,pointing to Caspian.
"Ah," said Pug,"I knew your Lordship would pick on the best.No deceiving your Lordship with anything second-rate.That boy,now,I've taken a fancy to him myself.Got kind of fond of him,I have.I'm that tender-hearted I didn't ever ought to have taken up this job.Still,to a customer like your Lordship—"
"Tell me your price,carrion,"said the Lord sternly."Do you think I want to listen to the rigmarole of your filthy trade?"
"Three hundred crescents,my Lord to your honourable Lordship,but to anyone else—"
"I'll give you a hundred and fifty."
"Oh please,please,"broke in Lucy."Don't separate us,whatever you do.You don't know—"But then she stopped for she saw that Caspian didn't even now want to be known.
"A hundred and fifty,then,"said the Lord."As for you,little maiden,I am sorry I cannot buy you all.Unrope my boy,Pug.And look—treat these others well while they are in your hands or it'll be the worse for you."
"Well!" said Pug."Now who ever heard of a gentleman in my way of business who treated his stock better than what I do?Well?Why,I treat'em like my own childen."
"That's likely enough to be true,"said the other grimly.
The dreadful moment had now come.Caspian was untied and his new master said,"This way,lad," and Lucy burst into tears and Edmund looked very blank.But Caspian looked over his shoulder and said,"Cheer up.I'm sure it will come all right in the end.So long."
"Now,missie," said Pug."Don't you start taking on and spoiling your looks for the market tomorrow.You be a good girl and then you won't have nothing to cry about,see?"
Then they were rowed out to the slave-ship and taken below into a long,rather dark place,none too clean,where they found many other unfortunate prisoners;for Pug was of course a pirate and had just returned from cruising among the islands and capturing what he could.The children didn't meet anyone whom they knew;the prisoners were mostly Galmians and Terebinthians.And there they sat in the straw and wondered what was happening to Caspian and tried to stop Eustace talking as if everyone except himself was to blame.
Meanwhile Caspian was having a much more interesting time.The man who had bought him led him down a little lane between two of the village houses and so out into an open place behind the village.Then he turned and faced him.
"You needn't be afraid of me,boy," he said."I'll treat you well.I bought you for your face.You reminded me of someone."'
"May I ask of whom,my Lord?"said Caspian.
"You remind me of my master,King Caspian of Narnia."
Then Caspian decided to risk everything on one stroke.
"My Lord," he said,"I am your master.I am Caspian King of Narnia."
"You make very free,"said the other."How shall I know this is true?""Firstly by my face,"said Caspian."Secondly because I know within
six guesses who you are.You are one of those seven lords of Narnia whom my Uncle Miraz sent to sea and whom I have come out to look for—Argoz,Bern,Octesian,Restimar,Mavramorn,or—or—I have forgotten the others.And finally,if your Lordship will give me a sword I will prove on any man's body in clean battle that I am Caspian,the son of Caspian,lawful King of Narnia,Lord of Cair Paravel,and Emperor of the Lone Islands."
"By heaven," exclaimed the man,"it is his father's very voice and trick of speech.My liege—your Majesty—"And there in the field he knelt and kissed the King's hand.
"The moneys your Lordship disbursed for our person will be made good from our own treasury,"said Caspian.
"They're not in Pug's purse yet,Sire," said the Lord Bern,for he it was."And never will be,I trust.I have moved his Sufficiency the Governor a hundred times to crush this vile traffic in man's flesh."
"My Lord Bern," said Caspian,"we must talk of the state of these Island.But first what is your Lordship's own story?"
"Short enough,Sire," said Bern."I came thus far with my six fellows,loved a girl of the islands,and felt I had had enough of the sea.And there was no purpose in returning to Narnia while your Majesty's uncle held the reins.So I married and have lived here ever since."
"And what is this governor,this Gumpas,like?Does he still acknowledge the King of Narnia for his lord?"
"In words,yes.All is done in the King's name.But he would not be best pleased to find a real,live King of Narnia coming in upon him.And if your Majesty came before him alone and unarmed—well,he would not deny his allegiance,but he would pretend to disbelieve you.Your Grace's life would be in danger.What following has your Majesty in these waters?"
"There is my ship just rounding the point," said Caspian."We are about thirty swords if it came to fighting.Shall we not have my ship in and fall upon Pug and free my friends whom he holds captive?"
"Not by my counsel," said Bern."As soon as there was a fight,two or three ships would put out from Narrowhaven to rescue Pug.Your Majesty must work by a show of more power than you really have,and by the terror of the King's name.It must not come to plain battle.Gumpas is a chicken-hearted man and can be overawed."
After a little more conversation Caspian and Bern walked down to the coast a little west of the village,and there Caspian winded his horn.(This was not the great magic horn of Narnia,Queen Susan's Horn:he had left that at home for his regent Trumpkin to use if any great need fell upon the land in the King's absence.) Drinian,who was on the look-out for a signal,recognized the royal horn at once and the Dawn Treader began standing in to shore.Then the boat put offagain and in a few moments Caspian and the Lord Bern were on deck explaining the situation to Drinian.He,just like Caspian,wanted to lay the Dawn Treader alongside the slave-ship at once and board her,but Bern made the same objection.
"Steer straight down this channel,Captain," said Bern,"and then round to Avra where my own estates are.But first run up the King's banner,hang out all the shields,and send as many men to the fighting top as you can.And about five bowshots hence,when you get open sea on your port bow,run up a few signals."
"Signals?To whom?"said Drinian.
"Why,to all the other ships we haven't got but which it might be well that Gumpas thinks we have."
"Oh,I see," said Drinian rubbing his hands."And they'll read our signals.What shall I say?Whole fleet round the South of Avra and assemble at—?"
"Bernstead," said the Lord Bern."That'll do excellently.Their whole journey—if there were any ships—would be out of sight from Narrowhaven."
Caspian was sorry for the others languishing in the hold of Pug's slave-ship,but he could not help finding the rest of that day enjoyable.Late in the afternoon (for they had to do all by oar),having turned to starboard round the northeast end of Doorn and port again round the point of Avra,they entered into a good harbour on Avra's southern shore where Bern's pleasant lands sloped down to the water's edge.Bern's people,many of whom they saw working in thefields,were all freemen and it was a happy and prosperous fief.Here they all went ashore and were royally feasted in a low,pillared house overlooking the bay.Bern and his gracious wife and merry daughters made them good cheer.But after dark Bern sent a messenger over by boat to Doorn to order some preparations (he did not say exactly what) for the following day.
中文阅读
“看见陆地了！”船头值班的水手叫道。
露西正在船尾楼与林思闲聊，一听到这话，立马啪嗒啪嗒地跑下梯子，向船头冲去。埃德蒙也跑了过来。他们发现卡斯宾、德利尼安和雷匹奇普都在前甲板上。这是一个略带几分寒意的早晨，天苍苍，深蓝色的大海泛着白色的泡沫。在船头右舷不远的地方，就是孤独群岛中最近的一个岛屿，菲里莫斯，像一座低矮的青山漂浮在海上。在小岛后面更远处，是它的姊妹岛朵恩的灰色山坡。
“还是那个老菲里莫斯！还是那个老朵恩！”露西拍着手说道，“啊——埃德蒙，我们已经有多少年没有看见它们啦！”
“我从来就没搞明白，它们为什么会属于纳尼亚，”卡斯宾说，“是彼得大帝征服了它们吗？”
“啊，不是，”埃德蒙说，“早在我们之前，它们就是纳尼亚的领土——在女巫那个时代。”
（顺便说一句，我也从未听说过这些遥远的岛屿是如何归属纳尼亚的。如果我有幸听到，而且那个故事很有趣的话，我也许会在其他的书中提到。）
“我们要在这里靠岸吗，陛下？”德利尼安问道。
“我认为，在菲里莫斯上岸不会有什么好处，”埃德蒙说，“在我们那个时代，这里几乎荒无人烟，如今看起来似乎还是老样子。人们大多居住在朵恩岛上，还有一些人住在亚弗拉岛上——那是第三个岛屿，此刻你们还看不到它。人们只是在菲里莫斯岛上牧羊。”
“我想，我们只好绕过那个海角，”德利尼安说，“在朵恩岛上登陆。也就是说要划船过去。”
“真遗憾，我们不能在菲里莫斯上岸，”露西说，“我真想再到上面走走。那里好荒凉啊——一种令人心情舒畅的荒凉，到处都是青草和苜蓿，还有轻柔的海风。”
“我也想去活动活动腿脚，”卡斯宾说，“我来告诉你们怎么办。先用小船把我们送上岸，让我们步行穿越菲里莫斯，到了岛的另一头，“黎明”号再把我们接上船去，怎么样？”
如果卡斯宾像航行后期那么老练的话，他就不会提出这个建议了。但在当时，这似乎是一个很不错的主意。“噢，我们就这样做。”露西说。
“你呢，你要来吗？”卡斯宾向尤斯塔斯问道，后者手上打着绷带，也来到了甲板上。
“只要能离开这该死的船，到哪儿都成。”尤斯塔斯说。
“该死的？”德利尼安接腔道，“你是什么意思？”
“在我所生活的文明国家，”尤斯塔斯说，“轮船都是些庞然大物，呆在里面，你根本感觉不到是在海上。”
“那样的话，你最好还是呆在岸上，”卡斯宾说，“你让他们把小船放下来好吗，德利尼安？”
国王、老鼠、珀文西家的两兄妹，还有尤斯塔斯都上了小船，划到菲里莫斯岛的海滩附近。把他们留在岛上之后，小船又划了回去。他们转过身来，四面观望，这才惊讶地发现，“黎明”号看上去显得那么渺小。
露西光着两只脚丫子，在游泳上岸的时候，她就把鞋子踢掉了。走在羽绒般柔软的草皮上，这并没有什么问题。能再次回到陆地上，闻到泥土与青草的芬芳，实在是件赏心乐事。一开始，人们行走在陆地上，也像在船上一样摇摇晃晃的。在海上待了一段时间之后，通常都会如此。岛上比船上暖和，露西赤脚走在沙土上，觉得很舒服。有一只云雀正在引吭高歌。
他们朝岛的内部走去，登上一座低矮而陡峭的小山。站在山顶，回首遥望，只见“黎明”号像一只闪闪发光的大甲虫，划着浆，向西北方向缓缓爬行。随后，他们翻过山脊，就再也看不到它了。
这时，朵恩岛出现在他们的面前，一条约一英里宽的海峡将它与菲里莫斯分隔开来。朵恩岛的后方左边是亚弗拉岛。朵恩岛上的白色小镇窄港湾已经映入他们的眼帘。
“喂！那是什么？”埃德蒙突然说道。
在他们下行的绿色峡谷中，有六七个面目粗俗的男人，手持兵器，坐在一棵树下。
“不要告诉他们我们是谁。”卡斯宾说。
“请问，陛下，为什么不可以？”雷匹奇普问道，它接受了露西的请求，骑在她的肩膀上。
“我刚刚想到，”卡斯宾回答，“这里的人很久没有听到纳尼亚的消息了。很可能他们不再承认我们的主权。在那种情况下，让他们知道我是国王，也许不太安全。”
“我们有刀剑，陛下。”雷匹奇普说。
“没错，雷匹。我知道我们有武器，”卡斯宾说，“但问题是，如果要重新征服三个岛屿的话，我宁愿统帅一支大军前来。”
此刻，他们离那些陌生人已经很近了。其中有个人——一个黑头发的大块头——高声喊道，“早上好。”
“早上好。”卡斯宾说道，“孤独岛上还有总督吗？”
“当然有啊，”那个人回答，“冈帕斯总督。他的总督府设在窄港湾。你们歇歇脚，跟我们来喝一杯吧。”
卡斯宾谢过了他，虽然没有人喜欢这些新相识的相貌，他们还是坐了下来。他们刚把杯子送到嘴边，黑发男人就朝同伴们点了点头，快如闪电一般，五位客人就被强壮的手臂给抓住了。他们挣扎了片刻，但对方人多势众，三下五除二，他们就被解除了武装，双手被绑在背后——除了雷匹奇普，它还在抓捕者的手中折腾着，拼命乱咬一气。
“当心那个小动物，塔克斯。”他们的头头说，“别伤着它了。毫无疑问，在这一伙中，它能卖一个最好的价钱。”
“胆小鬼！懦夫！”雷匹奇普吱吱叫着，“只要你们敢给我松绑，把剑还给我。”
“哎呦！”奴隶贩子（那正是他的身份）吹了声口哨，“它会说话！好啊，我从未见过这种事儿。如果它的身价少于二百新月钱币，我就不是人。”卡罗门的新月钱币是那一带的主要货币，价值约为三分之一英镑。
“原来你是那种人，”卡斯宾说，“绑架者和奴隶贩子。我希望，你能够为自己感到自豪。”
“行啦，行啦，行啦，行啦，”奴隶贩子说道，“别说废话了。你越是轻松地接受这个现实，你的处境就越舒坦，明白吗？我干这行可不是为了好玩。像别人一样，我也需要有个生计糊口。”
“你要把我们带到哪儿去？”露西问道，她费了好大劲儿才说出这句话来。
“到对面的窄港湾，”奴隶贩子说，“去赶明天的集市。”
“那里有英国领事馆吗？”尤斯塔斯问。
“有什么？”那人反问道。
还没等尤斯塔斯解释清楚，奴隶贩子干脆打断了他的话，说道：“好啦，我已经听够了这些莫名其妙的话。老鼠是个开心果，可是这个家伙喋喋不休，烦死人了。我们上路吧，弟兄们。”
于是，他们把四个人类囚犯用绳子栓成一串，虽说捆得不是太紧，但却万无一失，然后驱赶着他们向海岸走去。一个人抱着雷匹奇普，并且威胁它道，如果再咬人，就把它的嘴给捆住。雷匹奇普不再咬人了，可还是骂骂咧咧的。露西心里暗暗称奇，对于老鼠的恶毒辱骂，他们居然能够安之若素。奴隶贩子不但没有发火，每当雷匹奇普停下来喘口气时，他还要说“继续讲”，并偶尔插话道，“这跟看戏一样！”或者说，“伙计们，这让我不由地猜想，它知道自己在说些什么！”再不然就是，“你们几个，是谁把它调教出来的？”这极大地激怒了雷匹奇普，它想一连串骂上好几句，结果差点儿使自己背过气去，最后它终于闭口不言了。
他们来到与朵恩岛隔海相望的海岸，看到了一个小村庄，海滩上有一只长长的小船，不远处停泊着一艘脏兮兮的、模样邋遢的大船。
“听着，年轻人，”奴隶贩子说，“不要惹麻烦，那样你们就不会吃苦头。全部登船。”
就在这时，一位长着胡须、仪表堂堂的人从一个房子里（我猜是一家小旅馆）走了出来，说道：
“嗨，帕格，又贩来一批货？”
看来奴隶贩子的名字叫帕格，他鞠了个大躬，用谄媚的声音说道：“是的，回大人的话。”
“这个男孩子你想卖多少钱？”那人指着卡斯宾问道。
“啊，”帕格说，“我知道，大人总是挑最好的。二流货绝对入不了您老的法眼。这个男孩子，哦，我自己也很喜欢他，有点难以割舍，是的。我心肠太软，不适合干这一行。尽管如此，对阁下这种客户——”
“告诉我你出价多少，食尸鬼，”那位老爷严厉地说，“你以为，我想听你这肮脏勾当的胡言乱语吗？”
“三百新月币，大人，出于对您的尊重，对别的人——”
“我给你一百五。”
“啊，请开恩，请开恩，”露西突然插话道，“无论如何，都不要把我们分开。你不知道——”她猛地打住了话头，因为她看出来，卡斯宾并不愿意暴露身份。
“一百五，好了，”那位老爷说，“至于你，小姑娘，很抱歉我不能把你们都买下来。给我的男孩子松绑，帕格。注意——剩下的人在你手中时，要善待他们，否则有你的好果子吃。”
“哎呀！”帕格说，“在这一行里，有谁听说过，还有哪个人比我对待货物更好的吗？有吗？嗨，我待他们就像我自己的孩子。”
“那倒可能是真的。”对方冷冷地说。
可怕的一刻来临了。卡斯宾被松开了绑绳，他的新主人说：“这边走，小伙子。”露西放声大哭起来，埃德蒙则是一副茫然的样子。卡斯宾扭过头来说：“振作起来。我相信，最后一切都会好的。再见。”
“喂，小丫头，”帕格说，“不准再哭闹了，明天要去集市，别把脸蛋儿哭坏了。做个好女孩，你没有什么值得哭哭啼啼的，明白吗？”
随后，他们坐上小船，划到贩奴大船那里，被带到船舱下面一个狭长阴暗、肮脏不堪的地方。在那里，他们发现还有许多不幸的囚徒。其实，帕格是个海盗，刚从众岛屿航行归来，他一路上抓获了很多俘虏。囚犯大多是噶尔玛人和提勒宾西亚人，孩子们没有看到自己认识的人。他们在干草上坐下来，猜想卡斯宾此刻会有怎样的遭遇，并竭力阻止尤斯塔斯抱怨。除了他自己之外，他认为所有的人都有过错。
与此同时，卡斯宾正在度过一段比较有趣的时光。买下他的那个人带他穿过农舍之间的一条小巷，来到村后的一片空地，转过身来，看着他。
“你不必害怕我，孩子，” 他说，“我会好好地待你。我买下你是因为你的长相。你使我想起了一个人。”
“大人，我可以问一下那是谁吗？”卡斯宾说。
“你使我想起了我的主人，纳尼亚的卡斯宾王。”
卡斯宾决定冒险赌上一把。
“大人，”他说，“我就是你的主人。我是卡斯宾，纳尼亚的国王。”
“你说起来倒是容易，”对方说，“我怎样才能知道这是真的呢？”
“第一是我的长相，”卡斯宾说，“第二，我猜上六次，就可以知道你是谁。你是我叔叔米拉兹派出海的七位纳尼亚大臣之一，我是专程前来寻找他们的——阿格兹、伯恩、欧克提宪、里斯提玛、马福拉摩恩、或者——或者是——我忘记了另外两个名字。最后，如果大人给我一把剑，我可以与任何人光明正大地交手，以证明我是卡斯宾，凯尔帕拉维尔城堡之主、孤独群岛的皇帝、纳尼亚合法的国王老卡斯宾的儿子。”
“天哪，”那人叫了起来，“跟他父王的声音和讲话的方式一模一样。我的主人——陛下——”他跪了下来，吻了吻国王的手。
“爱卿为朕赎身的款项将会得到国家财政的赔付。”卡斯宾说。
“陛下，那钱还没有进帕格的腰包呢，”伯恩爵爷说，因为他正是七大臣之一，“我相信，他永远也拿不到手了。我给总督大人提过不下一百次，要他摧毁这种贩卖人口的罪恶交易。”
“伯恩爱卿，”卡斯宾说，“我们必须谈谈这些岛屿的情况。首先，谈谈你自己的遭遇，好吗？”
“非常简短，陛下，”伯恩说，“臣下与六位同僚航行到此，我爱上了本地的一个姑娘，加上自己已经厌倦了航行。当时是陛下的叔父专权，返回纳尼亚没有什么意义。于是，我娶了那位女子，就在这里定居下来。”
“这里的总督，这个冈帕斯怎么样？他还承认纳尼亚王的权利吗？”
“在口头上，是的。所有的一切都以国王的名义进行。但如果一个真正的、活生生的纳尼亚王从天而降，他大概不会特别开心。陛下若是单枪匹马、赤手空拳地出现在他面前——嗯，他还不至于表示不忠，但他会假装不相信你。那么圣上的生命就会有危险。陛下在这些水域有人接应吗？”
“我的船正在绕过海角，”卡斯宾说，“如果打起来，我们大概有三十把剑。我们要不要把船接进来，袭击帕格，把他关押的几个朋友解救出来？”
“按我的想法，不行，”伯恩说，“一旦交战，窄港湾就会派出两三艘船去救援帕格。陛下必须表现得比现有的力量更加强大，再借助国王名义的威力。冈帕斯是个胆小鬼，可以把他震慑住，一定不能真刀实枪地打。”
又谈了一会儿，他们走到村子偏西的海边，卡斯宾吹响了他的号角（不是纳尼亚的魔法号角。苏珊女王的号角留给了摄政大臣特伦普金，让他遇到紧急情况时使用）。德利尼安正在密切关注着信号，立即辨认出来是国王的号角，于是“黎明”号朝着海岸驶来。他们再次放下救生艇，没过几分钟，卡斯宾和伯恩就来到甲板上，向德利尼安说明了当前的处境。船长和卡斯宾一样，想要把“黎明”号立刻开到贩奴船旁边，强行登船。伯恩还是坚持同样的反对意见。
“船长，把船驶过这个海峡，”伯恩说，“绕到亚弗拉岛我自己的领地上。在那里先升起皇家的旗帜，摆出全部饰有纹章的盾牌，尽可能多派人到作战桅楼上去。一旦你到达公海，距这里大约五箭之地（五百米左右）时，就在左舷前方四十五度范围内，发出几个信号。”
“信号？发给谁呀？”德利尼安问。
“嗨，发给所有不存在的、但冈帕斯以为我们拥有的船只。”
“哦，我明白了，”德利尼安摩拳擦掌，说道，“他们将读出我们的信号。我该怎么说呢？整个船队绕过亚弗拉岛的南部，到什么地方集合呢？”
“伯恩的领地，”伯恩说，“那就好极啦。船队行驶——如果有什么船的话——从窄港湾是看不到的。”
虽然卡斯宾还在为贩奴船中受折磨的伙伴们感到伤心，但在那天剩余的时间里，他过得还是蛮舒畅的。傍晚时分（他们必须依靠划桨前进），船的右舷绕过朵恩的东北角，然后左舷绕过亚弗拉岛的海角，进入了亚弗拉岛南岸一个优良的海港里。在那里，伯恩的美好的良田一直延伸到了海边。伯恩的人民正在地里干活，很多人都是自由民，那真是一块幸福而富饶的领地。他们在这里上了岸，在一座俯视海湾的、有柱廊的矮房子里享用了丰盛的大餐。伯恩和他优雅的妻子以及快活的女儿们热情待客，他们开怀畅饮。天黑之后，伯恩派出一名信使，乘小舟到朵恩岛去，命令人们为第二天做好准备工作（他没有提及具体内容）。
