CHAPTER FOUR WHAT CASPIAN DID THERE（第4/4頁）

While all this was being done Caspian missed no chance of questioning all the oldest sea captains whom he could find in Narrowhaven to learn if they had any knowledge or even any rumours of land further to the east．He poured out many a flagon of the castle ale to weather-beaten men with short grey beards and clear blue eyes，and many a tall yarn he heard in return．But those who seemed the most truthful could tell of no lands beyond the Lone Islands，and many thought that if you sailed too far east you would come into the surges of a sea without lands that swirled perpetually round the rim of the world—“And that，I reckon，is where your Majesty’s friends went to the bottom．”The rest had only wild stories of islands inhabited by headless men，floating islands， waterspouts，and a fire that burned along the water．Only one，to Reepicheep’s delight，said，“And beyond that，Aslan’s country． But that’s beyond the end of the world and you can’t get there．”But when they questioned—him he could only say that he’d heard it from his father．

Bern could only tell them that he had seen his six companions sail away eastward and that nothing had ever been heard of them again．He said this when he and Caspian were standing on the highest point of Avra looking down on the eastern ocean．“I’ve often been up here of a morning，”said the Duke，“and seen the sun come up out of the sea，and sometimes it looked as if it were only a couple of miles away．And I’ve wondered about my friends　and wondered what there really is behind that horizon．Nothing， most likely，yet I am always half ashamed that I stayed behind． But I wish your Majesty wouldn’t go．We may need your help here． This closing the slave market might make a new world；war with Calormen is what I foresee．My liege，think again．”

“I have an oath，my lord Duke，”said Caspian．“And anyway，what could I say to Reepicheep ？”