“Great Scott！” said Eustace. “Well I’m.jiggered. I was jolly angry with you a moment ago， and I still think it was mean of you to sneak off without the rest of us. But I must admit.well， I mean to say.well， it was a perfectly gorgeous thing to do. If she was a boy she‘d have to be knighted， wouldn’t she， Sire？”
“If she was a boy，” said Tirian， “she‘d be whipped for disobeying orders.” And in the dark no one could see whether he said this with a frown or a smile. Next minute there was a sound of rasping metal.
“What are you doing， Sire？” asked Jewel sharply.
“Drawing my sword to smite off the head of the accursedAss，” said Tirian in a terrible voice. “Stand clear， girl.”
“Oh don’t， please don‘t，” said Jill. “Really， you mustn’t. It wasn‘t his fault. It was all the Ape. He didn’t know any better. And he‘s very sorry. And he’s a nice donkey. His name‘s Puzzle. And I’ve got my arms round his neck.”
“Jill，” said Tirian， “you are the bravest and most wood. wise of all my subjects， but also the most malapert andisobedient. Well： let the Ass live. What have you to say for ourself， Ass？”
