“We are certainly in great need，” answered Caspian. “But it is hard to be sure we are at our greatest. Supposing there came an even worse need and we had already used it？”
“By that argument，” said Nikabrik， “your Majesty will never use it until it is too late.”
“I agree with that，” said Doctor Cornelius.
“And what do you think， Trumpkin？” asked Caspian.
“Oh， as for me，” said the Red Dwarf， who had been listening with complete indifference， “your Majesty knows I think the Horn-and that bit of broken stone over there-and your great King Peter-and your Lion Aslan-are all eggs in moonshine. It’s all one to me when your Majesty blows the Horn. All I insist on is that the army is told nothing about it. There‘s no good raising hopes of magical help which （as I think） are sure to be disappointed.”
“Then in the name of Aslan we will wind Queen Susan’s Horn，” said Caspian.
“There is one thing， Sire，” said Doctor Cornelius， “that should perhaps be done first. We do not know what form the help will take. It might call Aslan himself from oversea. But I think it is more likely to call Peter the High King and his mighty consorts down from the high past. But in either case， I do not think we can be sure that the help will come to this very spot-”
“You never said a truer word，” put in Trumpkin.
“I think，” went on the learned man， “that they-or he-will come back to one or other of the Ancient Places of Narnia. This， where we now sit， is the most ancient and most deeply magical of all， and here， I think， the answer is likeliest to come. But there are two others. One Lantern Waste， up-river， west of Beaversdam， where the Royal Children first appeared in Narnia， as the records tell. The other is down at the river-mouth， where their castle of Cair Paravel once stood. And if Aslan himself comes， that would be the best place for meeting him too， for every story says that he is the son of the great Emperor-over-the-Sea， and over the sea he will pass. I should like very much to send messengers to both places， to Lantern Waste and the river-mouth， to receive them-or him-or it.”
“Just as I thought，” muttered Trumpkin. “The first result of all thisfoolery is not to bring us help but to lose us two fighters.”
“Who would you think of sending， Doctor Cornelius？” asked Caspian. “Squirrels are best for getting through enemy country withoutbeing caught，” said Trufflehunter.
“All our squirrels （and we haven‘t many），” said Nikabrik， “are rather flighty. The only one I’d trust on a job like that would be Pattertwig.”
“Let it be Pattertwig， then，” said King Caspian. “And who for our other messenger？ I know you‘d go， Trufflehunter， but you haven’t the speed. Nor you， Doctor Cornelius.”
“I won‘t go，” said Nikabrik. “With all these Humans and beasts about， there must be a Dwarf here to see that the Dwarfs are fairly treated.”
“Thimbles and thunderstorms！” cried Trumpkin in a rage. “Is that how you speak to the King？ Send me， Sire， I’ll go.”
“But I thought you didn‘t believe in the Horn， Trumpkin，” said Caspian.
“No more I do， your Majesty. But what’s that got to do with it？ I might as well die on a wild goose chase as die here. You are my King. I know the difference between giving advice and taking orders. You‘ve had my advice， and now it’s the time for orders.”
“I will never forget this， Trumpkin，” said Caspian. “Send for Pattertwig， one of you. And when shall I blow the Horn？”
“I would wait for sunrise， your Majesty，” said Doctor Cornelius. “That sometimes has an effect in operations of White Magic.”
A few minutes later Pattertwig arrived and had his task explained to him. As he was， like many squirrels， full of courage and dash and energy and excitement and mischief （not to say conceit）， he no sooner heard it than he was eager to be off. It was arranged that he should run for Lantern Waste while Trumpkin made the shorter journey to the river-mouth. After a hasty meal they both set off with the fervent thanks and good wishes of the King， the Badger， and Cornelius.
中文阅读
他们与潘恩相遇的地方就是舞蹈草坪。卡斯宾和他的朋友们在那里一直待到了开大会的那天夜晚。对于卡斯宾来说，露天而眠，渴了喝井里的水，饿了吃坚果和野果，这些都是全新的经历。以前，他住在城堡中挂着壁毯的房间里，床上铺的是绫罗绸缎，吃饭用的是金银碗碟，有成群的奴婢供他使唤。可是他从来都没有像现在这么开心，没有像现在睡得这么香甜，食物也从来没有像现在这样香甜可口。他开始变得坚强起来，脸上显示出了国王的气度。
伟大之夜终于到来了，他的千奇百怪的臣民们，不是独自一个，就是三三两两，甚至是六七个成群结队，悄悄溜进了舞蹈草坪--那里被月光照得如同白昼--卡斯宾看到它们众多的人数，听到它们的问候声，不由得激情澎湃。那些与他曾有过一面之缘的朋友们都来了：胖熊、红矮人、黑矮人、鼹鼠、獾、野兔和刺猬，还有他素未谋面的新朋友--五位毛发火红的森林神萨特；会说话的老鼠们全副武装，排着整齐的队伍，伴随着尖利的号声行进；几只猫头鹰；一些老渡鸦。最后（卡斯宾不禁屏住了呼吸），与半人马一同到达的，还有一个货真价实的小巨人，来自死人山的维姆布威若。他背上驮着一篮子小矮人。承蒙巨人的好意，矮人们搭顺风车，结果被他颠得晕头转向，后悔自己没有徒步前来。
胖熊们急不可待地想要吃饭，请求把开会的事儿往后推，也许最好推到明天。雷匹奇普和它的老鼠部下们说，开会和宴席都可以推迟，它们主张连夜就去进攻米拉兹的城堡。帕特威戈和其他的松鼠则说，可以边吃边谈，为什么不将会议和宴席同时进行呢？鼹鼠们提议，在一切开始之前，先在草坪四周挖上一道防御壕沟。潘恩们认为，最好先跳一段严肃的舞蹈作为开幕式。老渡鸦们赞成胖熊的意见，觉得饭前开大会不合适，认为那将占据太多的时间，但它们又希望能允许自己先对全体来宾发表一个简短的演说。卡斯宾、半人马和矮人们否决了所有这些建议，坚持马上召开一场真正的战争动员大会。
他们最终说服了所有持不同意见者，让大家围成一个圆圈，安静地坐下来。然后（费了更大的劲儿）才使帕特威戈不再跑来跑去地说：“安静！请大家安静，听国王讲话。”卡斯宾有点紧张地站起身来。“纳尼亚的公民们！”他刚开了个头，就被打断了，因为就在这时，野兔卡米罗说：“嘘！这附近有人。”
这些野生动物早已习惯于被人追捕，它们马上变得像是泥塑木雕一般，只是把鼻子转向卡米罗所指的方向。
“闻起来像是人的气味，但又不完全像人。”特路弗汉特轻声说道。“他越来越近了。”卡米罗说。“派两只獾，加上你们三个矮人，带上弓箭，悄悄过去看看。”卡斯宾命令道。
