CHAPTER TEN THE SPELL BEGINS TO BREAK（第3/3頁）

Mr. Beaver was so pleased that he opened his mouth very wide and then found he couldn’t say anything at all．

“Peter，Adam’s 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，Eve’s 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 come to you．”

Last of all he said，“Lucy，Eve’s 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 fire. Flowers 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 yours at great need．For you also are not to be in battle．”

“Why，sir ？”said Lucy．“I think-I don’t know——but I think I could be brave enough．”

“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 out of its sheath and was showing it to Mr. Beaver，when Mrs. Beaver said：

“Now then，now then！ Don’t stand talking there till the tea’s got cold．Just like men．Come and help to carry the tray down and we’ll have breakfast．What a mercy I thought of bringing the bread-knife．”

So down the steep bank they went and back to the cave，and Mr. Beaver cut some of the bread and ham into sandwiches and Mrs. Beaver poured out the tea and everyone enjoyed themselves．But long before they had finished enjoying themselves Mr. Beaver said，“Time to be moving on now．”