great secret。
its not much of a place but we must get a few hours sleep。鈥�
〃if you hadnt all been in such a plaguey fuss when we were starting； id have brought some pillows；〃 said mrs beaver。
it wasnt nearly such a nice cave as mr tumnuss； lucy thought … just a hole in the ground but dry and earthy。 it was very small so that when they all lay down they were all a bundle of clothes together； and what with that and being warmed up by their long walk they were really rather snug。 if only the floor of the cave had been a little smoother！ then mrs beaver handed round in the dark a little flask out of which everyone drank something … it made one cough and splutter a little and stung the throat； but it also made you feel deliciously warm after youd swallowed it and everyone went straight to sleep。
it seemed to lucy only the next minute （though really it was hours and hours later） when she woke up feeling a little cold and dreadfully stiff and thinking how she would like a hot bath。 then she felt a set of long whiskers tickling her cheek and saw the cold daylight ing in through the mouth of the cave。 but immediately after that she was very wide awake indeed； and so was everyone else。 in fact they were all sitting up with their mouths and eyes wide open listening to a sound which was the very sound theyd all been thinking of （and sometimes imagining they heard） during their walk last night。 it was a sound of jingling bells。
mr beaver was out of the cave like a flash the moment he heard it。 perhaps you think； as lucy thought for a moment； that this was a very silly thing to do？ but it was really a very sensible one。 he knew he could scramble to the top of the bank among bushes and brambles without being seen； and he wanted above all things to see which way the witchs sledge went。 the others all sat in the cave waiting and wondering。 they waited nearly five minutes。 then they heard something that frightened them very much。 they heard voices。 〃oh；〃 thought lucy； 〃hes been seen。 shes caught him！鈥�
great was their surprise when a little later； they heard mr beavers voice calling to them from just outside the cave。
〃its all right；〃 he was shouting。 〃e out； mrs beaver。 e out； sons and daughters of adam。 its all right！ it isnt her！〃 this was bad grammar of course； but that is how beavers talk when they are excited； i mean； in narnia … in our world they usually dont talk at all。
so mrs beaver and the children came bundling out of the cave； all blinking in the daylight； and with earth all over them； and looking very frowsty and unbrushed and unbed and with the sleep in their eyes。
〃e on！〃 cried mr beaver； who was almost dancing with delight。 〃e and see！ this is a nasty knock for the witch！ it looks as if her power is already crumbling。鈥�
〃what do you mean； mr beaver？〃 panted peter as they all scrambled up the steep bank of the valley together。
〃didnt i tell you；〃 answered mr beaver； 〃that shed made it always winter and never christmas？ didnt i tell you？ well； just e and see！鈥�
and then they were all at the top and did see。
it was a sledge； and it was reindeer with bells on their harness。 but they were far bigger than the witchs reindeer； and they were not white but brown。 and on the sledge sat a person whom everyone knew the moment they set eyes on him。 he was a huge man。 in a bright red robe （bright as hollyberries） with a hood that had fur inside it and a great white beard； that fell like a foamy waterfall over his chest。
everyone knew him because； though you see people of his sort only in narnia； you see pictures of them and hear them talked about even in our world … the world on this side of the wardrobe door。 but when you really see them in narnia it is rather different。 some of the pictures of father christmas in our world make him look only funny and jolly。 but now that the children actually stood looking at him they didnt find it quite like that。 he was so big； and so glad； and so real； that they all became quite still。 they felt very glad； but also solemn。
〃ive e at last；〃 said he。 〃she has kept me out for a long time； but i have got in at last。
aslan is on the move。 the witchs magic is weakening。鈥�
and lucy felt running through her that deep shiver of gladness which you only get if you are being solemn and still。
〃and now；〃 said father christmas； 〃for your presents。 there is a new and better sewing machine for you； mrs beaver。 i will drop it in your house as； i pass。鈥�
〃if you please； sir；〃 said mrs beaver； making a curtsey。 〃its locked up。鈥�
〃locks and bolts make no difference to me；〃 said father christmas。 〃and as for you； mr beaver； when you get home you will find your dam finished and mended and all the leaks stopped and a new sluicegate fitted。鈥�
mr beaver was so pleased that he opened his mouth very wide and then found he couldnt say anything at all。
〃peter； adams son；〃 said father christmas。
〃here； sir；〃 said peter。
〃these are your presents；〃 was the answer； 〃and they are tools not toys。 the time to use them is perhaps near at hand。 bear them well。〃 with these words he handed to peter a shield and a sword。 the shield was the colour of silver and across it there ramped a red lion； as bright as a ripe strawberry at the moment when you pick it。 the hilt of the sword
was of gold and it had a sheath and a sword belt and everything it needed； and it was just the right size and weight for peter to use。 peter was silent and solemn as he received these gifts； for he felt they were a very serious kind of present。
〃susan； eves daughter；〃 said father christmas。 〃these are for you；〃 and he handed her a bow and a quiver full of arrows and a little ivory horn。 〃you must use the bow only in great need；〃 he said； 〃for i do not mean you to fight in the battle。 it does not easily miss。
and when you put this horn to your lips； and blow it； then； wherever you are； i think help of some kind will e to you。鈥�
last of all he said； 〃lucy； eves daughter；〃 and lucy came forward。 he gave her a little bottle of what looked like glass （but people said afterwards that it was made of diamond） and a small dagger。 〃in this bottle；〃 he said； 〃there is cordial made of the juice of one of the fireflowers that grow in the mountains of the sun。 if you or any of your friends is hurt； a few drops of this restore them。 and the dagger is to defend yourse at great need。 for you also are not to be in battle。鈥�
〃why； sir？〃 said lucy。 〃i think … i dont know but i think i could be brave enough。鈥�
〃that is not the point；〃 he said。 〃but battles are ugly when women fight。 and now〃 … here he suddenly looked less grave … 〃here is something for the moment for you all！〃 and he brought out （i suppose from the big bag at his back； but nobody quite saw him do it） a large tray containing five cups and saucers； a bowl of lump sugar； a jug of cream； and a great big teapot all sizzling and piping hot。 then he cried out 〃merry christmas！ long live the true king！〃 and cracked his whip； and he and the reindeer and the sledge and all were out of sight before anyone realized that they had started。
peter had just drawn his sword