"Land in sight!" a man shouted from the bows.
Susan, who had been having a chat with Rhince on the poop, came gracefully down the ladder and hastened forward. Edmund, Lucy, Caspian, Drinian, and Reepicheep were already at the forecastle, so Susan joined them. It was a bit before noon now, and they had arrived a bit earlier than Drinian had predicted. It was still a bit chilly and the sky remained a bit pale. The sea was a very deep blue, speckled with little white caps of foam, and off in the distance was the westernmost island of the Lone Islands, Felimath. Behind it, the gray slopes of Doorn were just visible."
"Same old Felimath!" exclaimed Lucy.
"Same old Doorn!" Edmund cheered.
"It's been quite some time since we have seen them last," Susan said with a smile.
"Are we to put in here, sir?" Drinian asked, addressing Caspian.
"I shouldn't think there would be much of a good landing on Felimath, Caspian," Edmund said. "It was practically uninhabited in our days and it looks as though it remains so. Most of the people live on Doorn and the small island of Ava."
"Then we'll have to double that cape, I suppose," said Drinian, "and land on Doorn. That'll mean that we'll need to do some rowing."
"I wish we could go and walk in Felimath," Lucy willed, "for I dearly miss its springy grass and happy sheep."
"I'd love to go and stretch my legs too," Caspian said.
"Well, then," Susan suggested, "why shouldn't we go ashore in the boat and send it back, and then we could walk across Felimath and let the Dawn Treader pick us up on the other side?"
The suggestion seemed an excellent one, for the company was quite tired of being confined to the ship, so it was settled.
"You'll come with us, won't you?" Lucy urged Eustace, who had come on deck, his hand still bandaged.
"Anything to get off this blasted boat," Eustace sighed.
"Blasted?" Drinian questioned sharply. "How do you mean?"
"In a civilized country like where I come from," the boy began in his most prim and annoyingly boastful voice, "the ships are so big that when you're inside them, you wouldn't know that you were at sea at all."
"Well if it's so miserable, you might as well stay ashore," Susan retorted.
"Good riddance," said Edmund.
"Will you tell them to lower the boat, Drinian?" Caspian asked.
The King, the mouse, the Pevensies, and Eustace all got into the boat and were pulled into the beach of Felimath. Susan and Lucy were barefoot, of course, their shoes being ruined by the sea when they first arrived in Narnia, and they were quite thankful for this, because the warm sand felt rather pleasant between their toes. It was wonderful to be on the warm ground rather than on the cold ship, and Susan especially enjoyed the earthy smell in the air. Caspian walked by Susan and the two smiled. He offered her his arm, and she took it. They walked together while Lucy and Edmund splashed around on the shore and Reepicheep raced around to exercise his energetic legs and Eustace sulked behind them. It really was a pleasant walk. The larks were even singing.
"Hullo! What's this?" Edmund cried from ahead.
In the green valley that the company had turned to make their descent into, six or seven rough looking men, all armed, were sitting by a tree.
"Don't tell them who we are," Caspian said.
"Why ever not?" asked Susan, a bit worried.
"These men have probably not heard of Narnia in many an age. Perhaps they may not recognize our over-lordship, in which case it may not be safe for them to know me as King."
"We have our swords, Sire," said Reepicheep.
"I know, Reep," Caspian replied, "but if it comes to reclaiming these islands, I would rather do it with a large army."
They were now quite close to the strangers, and one shouted out, "Good afternoon to you!"
"And a good afternoon to you," said Caspian boldly. "Is there still a Governor of the Lone Islands?"
"Certainly there is," the man replied. "His Sufficiency is at Narrowhaven. But come, sit and have a drink with us."
Although none of them liked the look of the rough man, Caspian thanked them and they all sat down. They had hardly raised their cups when the man nodded to his companions and the next thing they knew, they were seized from behind. There was a moment's struggle, but seeing as they were outnumbered, the Narnians were quickly overcome. Only Reepicheep continued to writhe in his captor's arms.
"Careful with that beast!" said the man. "Don't damage him. He'll fetch the best price o' the lot, I shouldn't wonder."
"Coward!" Reepicheep yelled, spitting in the man's face.
"And it can talk! I'll be damned," he said, wiping the spit from his brow with a handkerchief that he pulled from his pocket.
"So that's what you are," Susan said defiantly. "A kidnapper and slaver. I hope you're proud of what a complete scoundrel and murderer you are."
"A lady should know her place," the man said. He walked over to Susan, who was being held back by two of the strong men, and gave her a slap across the face. Caspian struggled quite a bit to get out of his captors' grasp when this happened, but he was unsuccessful. The man grabbed Susan's face and continued, "Don't start with any cheek, miss. The easier you take it, the pleasanter all around, you see? I don't do this for fun. I've got to make a living same as everyone else."
"Where will you take us?" Lucy managed to get out.
"Is there British Consul here?" Eustace asked hopefully.
"A what?" the man said, rather confused by what a British Consul-thingy was.
Eustace was about to explain when the slaver said he had had enough of this jabber and commanded his comrades to rope the prisoners together. Reepicheep was the only one that was not roped; he was carried, for he was too much of a struggle to be released from his current position. Reepicheep continued to spit crude remarks at the slaver as the company was lead, but to his dismay, the slaver was not offended by the jeers at all. He was rather perplexed and curious about how the mouse was talking. They soon arrived at a shore and a village nearer the island of Doorn and were forced into a longboat, which would bring them to a rather dirty, bedraggled looking ship close by. At that moment, a fine looking bearded man came out from one of the cottages, probably and pub, and said to the slavers,
"More of your usual wares?"
The slaver bowed and replied, "Yes, if it pleases your Lordship."
"How much for that boy?" he asked, pointing towards Caspian.
"No!" Susan shouted as she writhed in the ropes. Three men jumped at her at once to pull her away from Caspian and contain her. "You cannot take him, wretch!" She spat at his feet before a piece of cloth was tied around her mouth.
"It'll be alright," Caspian said to Susan softly, helping to calm her down.
"I'd say, sir, since he is one of the strongest, I'd take no less than three hundred crescents." The slaver continued as though nothing had happened.
"I'll give you a hundred and fifty," the man said sternly.
"Don't separate us," cried Lucy.
"A hundred and fifty, then," the slaver said, ignoring Lucy as he had Susan.
"Very well, then," the man said happily. "I am sorry that I could not buy you as well, fair maiden," he said to Susan. "
Caspian was soon unroped, and he and his new master said, "This way, lad."
Susan was about to cry out his name, but she was gagged, and she thought it best to keep his name secret. She watched him with sad eyes as he went. Lucy burst into tears and Edmund looked very blank.
They were forced into the boat and taken to the ship, where they were lodged with many other unfortunate prisoners, for the slaver was a pirate and had just returned from abroad. There they sat on the straw, wondering what was happening to Caspian, and tried to stop Eustace from talking as though everyone except himself was to blame.
Meanwhile, Caspian was having a much more interesting time. The man that had bought him was leading him through the village. They passed all the houses and soon came to an opening, where the man stop and addressed Caspian.
"You needn't be afraid, my boy," he said. "I'll treat you well. I bought you for your face, for you remind me of someone I once know."
"May I ask who, my Lord?" Caspian asked.
"You remind me of my master, King Caspian of Narnia."
Caspian then decided to risk everything.
"My Lord, I am your master. I am Caspian, King of Narnia."
"Oh my," the man exclaimed. "But how shall I know this is true?"
"Firstly by my face," said Caspian, "and secondly because I know within six guesses who you are. You are one of the seven lords of Narnia my uncle Miraz sent out to sea and whom I have come hence in search of. Finally, if your Lordship will give me a sword, I will prove that I am Caspian, son of Caspian, lawful king of Narnia, Lord of Cair Paravel, and Emperor of the Lone Islands."
"By heaven," exclaimed the man, "it is as though I look upon the face of your father! My liege – Your Majesty—" he then knelt and kissed Caspian's hand. "I am the Lord Bern, my King."
"My Lord Bern," Caspian said kindly. "We must talk about the state of these islands. But first, what is your own story?"
"I came thus far with my six fellows, loved a girl of the islands, and I felt I had had enough of the sea. There was no purpose of returning to Narnia while your uncle still ruled, so I saw it fit to remain here. I married and have not left since."
"What is the governor like? Does he recognize the King of Narnia as his sovereign?"
"In a sense, yes. But he would not be very pleased to find the real King of Narnia on his island. Your life would be in danger. What following has your Majesty in these waters?"
"There is my ship just rounding the point," Caspian said pointing to the Dawn Treader. "We are about thirty swords, if it came to fighting. Shall we not have my ship in and fall upon the slave trader and free my friends whom he holds captive?" He thought of Susan being held by those brutes of men, and urged that Lord Bern would accept, for he wished to rescue Susan as soon as possible.
"Not by my counsel," Bern said. "As soon as here was a fight, tow or three ships would put out from Narrowhaven to rescue the slaver. Your Highness must work by a show of more power than you really have, and by the terror of the King's name. It must not come to battle. The Governor, Gumpas, is a meek man who can be easily overawed."
After a bit more conversation, Caspian and Bern walked down to the coast a bit west of the village, and it was there that Caspian winded his horn. (This was not Queen Susan's magical horn, for he had left that behind at Cair Paravel for Trumpkin to use in case of a great emergency during his absence.) Drinian, who was on the look out for a signal, recognized the royal horn at once and the Dawn Treader began standing in to shore. In a few moments, Caspian and Bern found themselves on deck explaining the situation to Drinian. He wanted to take the slave ship at once in the way that Caspian had wanted, but Bern made the same objection.
"Steer straight down this channel, captain," he said, "and then round to Avra where my own estates are. But first, run up the King's banner, hang out all the shields, and send as many men to the fighting top as you can. And about five bowshots hence, when you get open sea on our port bow, run up a few signals."
"Signals?" Drinian questioned.
"To whom?" Caspian asked.
"Why, to all the other ships we haven't got but which it might be well that Gumpas thinks we have."
"I get it," Caspian said, a smile growing across his face.
Drinian said, "And they'll read our signals. What shall I say? Whole fleet round the South of Avra and assemble at –?"
"Bernstead," Bern answered. "That'll do excellently. Their whole journey would be out of sight from Narrowhaven."
Later on towards the evening, having turned to starboard round the northeast end of Doorn and port again around the point of Avra, the Dawn Treader entered into a good harbor on Avra's southern shore where Bern's pleasant lands sloped down to the water's edge. Bern's people, many of whom they saw working in the fields, were all freemen and it was a happy and prosperous fife. Here they all went ashore and were royally feasted in a low, pillared house overlooking the bay. Bern, his gracious wife, and their lovely daughters made them good cheer. They would not carry out their plan until the next day, and Bern sent word over to Doorn by boat to order some preparations for the following day. Caspian went to bed that night, but he did not sleep much. All he could do was eagerly await the dawn, and Susan's rescue and return.