CHAPTER ONE HOW SHASTA SET OUT ON HIS TRAVELS（第4/4页）

"But I say," pleaded Shasta."If I'm not to hold on by the reins or by your mane, what am I to hold on by ?"

"You hold on with your knees," said the Horse."That's the secret of good riding. Grip my body between your knees as hard as you like; sit straight up, straight as a poker; keep your elbows in. And by the way,what did you do with the spurs ?"

"Put them on my heels, of course," said Shasta."I do know that much."

"Then you can take them off and put them in the saddle-bag. We may be able to sell them when we get to Tashbaan. Ready ? And now I think you can get up."

"Ooh ! You're a dreadful height," gasped Shasta after his first,and unsuccessful, attempt.

"I'm a horse, that's all," was the reply."Anyone would think I was a haystack from the way you' re trying to climb up me ! There, that' s better. Now sit up and remember what I told you about your knees. Funny to think of me who has led cavalry charges and won races having a potato—sack like you in the saddle ! However,off we go."It chuckled, not unkindly.

And it certainly began their night journey with great caution.

First of all it went just south of the fisherman' s cottage to the little river which there ran into the sea, and took care to leave in the mud some very plain hoof-marks pointing South. But as soon as they were in the middle of the ford it turned upstream and waded till they were about a hundred yards farther inland than the cottage. Then it selected a nice gravelly bit of bank which would take no footprints and came out on the Northern side. Then, still at a walking pace, it went Northward till the cottage, the one tree, the donkey' s stable, and the creek—everything, in fact, that Shasta had ever known—had sunk out of sight in the grey summer-night darkness. They had been going uphill and now were at the top of the ridge— that ridge which had always been the boundary of Shasta' s known world. He could not see what was ahead except that it was all open and grassy. It looked endless: wild and lonely and free.

"I say !" observed the Horse."What a place for a gallop, eh !"

"Oh don't let's," said Shasta."Not yet. I don't know how to—please, Horse. I don' t know your name."

"Breehy—hinny—brinny—hooky—hah," said the Horse.

"I'll never be able to say that," said Shasta."Can I call you Bree ?"

"Well,if it's the best you can do,I suppose you must, said the Horse."And what shall I call you ?" "I'm called Shasta."

"Hm," said Bree."Well, now, there's a name that's really hard to pronounce. But now about this gallop. It' s a good deal easier than trotting if you only knew, because you don' t have to rise and fall. Grip with your knees and keep your eyes straight ahead between my ears. Don't look at the ground. If you think you're going to fall just grip harder and sit up straighter. Ready ? Now:for Narnia and the North. "