Shasta did not for a moment suppose it had gone for good. He turned and raced for the gate in the green wall which， now for the first time， he remembered seeing. Hwin， stumbling and nearly fainting， was just entering the gate； Aravis still kept her seat but her back was covered with blood.
“Come in， my daughter， come in，” the robed and bearded man was saying， and then， “Come in， my son.” as Shastapanted up to him. He heard the gate closed behind him； and the bearded stranger was already helping Aravis off her horse.
They were in a wide and perfectly circular enclosure， protected by a high wall of green turf. A pool of perfectly still water， so full that the water was almost exactly level with the ground， lay before him. At one end of the pool， completely overshadowing it with its branches， there grew the hugest and most beautiful tree that Shasta had ever seen. Beyond the pool was a little low house of stone roofed with deep and ancient thatch. There was a sound of bleating and over at the far side of the enclosure there were some goats. The level ground was completely covered with the finest grass.
“Are.are.are you，” panted Shasta. “Are you King Lune of Archenland？”
