《黎明踏浪號》第4章:凱斯賓巧施奇記
Nert morning the Lord Bern called his guests early, and after breakfast he asked Caspian to order every man he had into full armour. "And above all," he added, "let everything be as trim and scoured as if it were the morning of the first battle in a great war between noble kings with all the world looking on." This was done; and then in three boatloads Caspian and his people, and Bern with a few of his, put out for Narrowhaven. The king's flag flew in the stern of his boat and his trumpeter was with him.
When they reached the jetty at Narrowhaven, Caspian found a considerable crowd assembled to meet them. "This is what I sent word about last night," said Bern. "They are all friends of mine and honest people." And as soon as Caspian stepped ashore the crowd broke out into hurrahs and shouts of, "Narnia! Narnia! Long live the King." At the same moment - and this was also due to Bern's messengers - bells began ringing from many parts of the town. Then Caspian caused his banner to be advanced and his trumpet to be blown and every man drew his sword and set his face into a joyful sternness, and they marched up the street so that the street shook, and their armour shone (for it was a sunny morning) so that one could hardly look at it steadily.
At first the only people who cheered were those who had been warned by Bern's messenger and knew what was happening and wanted it to happen. But then all the children joined in because they liked a procession and had seen very few. And then all the schoolboys joined in because they also liked processions and felt that the more noise and disturbance there was the less likely they would be to have any school that morning. And then all the old women put their heads out of doors and windows and began chattering and cheering because it was a king, and what is a governor compared with that? And all the young women joined in for the same reason and also because Caspian and Drinian and the rest were so handsome. And then all the young men came to see what the young women were looking at, so that by the time Caspian reached the castle gates, nearly the whole town was shouting; and where Gumpas sat in the castle, muddling and messing about with accounts and forms and rules and regulations, he heard the noise.
At the castle gate Caspian's trumpeter blew a blast and cried, "Open for the King of Narnia, come to visit his trusty and wellbeloved servant the governor of the Lone Islands." In those days everything in the islands was done in a slovenly, slouching manner. Only the little postern opened, and out came a tousled fellow with a dirty old hat on his head instead of a helmet, and a rusty old pike in his hand. He blinked at the flashing figures before him. "Carn - seez - fishansy," he mumbled which was his way of saying, -"You can't see his Sufficiency"). "No interviews without 'pointments 'cept 'tween nine 'n' ten p.m. second Saturday every month."
"Uncover before Narnia, you dog," thundered the Lord Bern, and dealt him a rap with his gauntleted hand which sent his hat flying from his head.
"'Ere? Wot's it all about?" began the doorkeeper, but no one took any notice of him. Two of Caspian's men stepped through the postern and after some struggling with bars and bolts (for everything was rusty) flung both wings of the gate wide open. Then the King and his followers strode into the courtyard. Here a number of the governor's guards were lounging about and several more (they were mostly wiping their mouths) came tumbling out of various doorways. Though their armour was in a disgraceful condition, these were fellows who might have fought if they had been led or had known what was happening; so this was the dangerous moment. Caspian gave them no time to think.
"Where is the captain?" he asked.
"I am, more or less, if you know what I mean," said a languid and rather dandified young person without any j armour at all.
"It is our wish," said Caspian, "that our royal visitation to our realm of the Lone Islands should, if possible, be an occasion of joy and not of terror to our loyal subjects. If it were not for that, I should have something to say about the state of your men's armour and weapons. As it is, you are pardoned. Command a cask of wine to be opened that, your men may drink our health. But at noon tomorrow I wish to see them here in this courtyard looking like men-at-arms and not like vagabonds. See to it on pain of our extreme displeasure."
The captain gaped but Bern immediately cried, "Three. cheers for the King," and the soldiers, who had understood about the cask of wine even if they understood nothing else, joined in. Caspian then ordered most of his own men to remain in the courtyard. He, with Bern and Drinian and four others, went into the hall.
Behind a table at the far end with various secretaries about him sat his Sufficiency, the Governor of the Lone Islands. Gumpas was a bilious-looking man with hair that had once been red and was now mostly grey. He glanced up as the strangers entered and then looked down at his papers saying automatically, "No interviews without appointments except between nine and ten p.m. on second Saturdays."
Caspian nodded to Bern and then stood aside. Bern and Drinian took a step forward and each seized one end of the table. They lifted it, and flung it on one side of the hall where it rolled over, scattering a cascade of letters, dossiers, ink-pots, pens, sealing-wax and documents. Then, not roughly but as firmly as if their hands were pincers of steel, they plucked Gumpas out of his chair and deposited him, facing it, about four feet away. Caspian at once sat down in the chair and laid his naked sword across his knees.
"My Lord," said he, fixing his eyes on Gumpas, "you have not given us quite the welcome we expected. I am the King of Narnia."
"Nothing about it in the correspondence," said the governor. "Nothing in the minutes. We have not been notified of any such thing. All irregular. Happy to consider any applications-"
"And we are come to enquire into your Sufficiency's conduct of your office," continued Caspian. "There are two points especially on which I require an explanation. Firstly I find no record that the tribute due from these Islands to the crown of Narnia has been received for about a hundred and fifty years."
"That would be a question to raise at the Council next month," said Gumpas. "If anyone moves that a commission of enquiry be set up to report on the financial history of the islands at the first meeting next year, why then . . ."
"I also find it very clearly written in our laws," Caspian went on, "that if the tribute is not delivered the whole debt has to be paid by the Governor of the Lone Islands out of his private purse."
At this Gumpas began to pay real attention. "Oh, that's quite out of the question," he said. "It is an economic impossibility - er - your Majesty must be joking."
Inside, he was wondering if there were any way of getting rid of these unwelcome visitors. Had he known that Caspian had only one ship and one ship's company with him, he would have spoken soft words for the moment, and hoped to have them all surrounded and killed during the night. But he had seen a ship of war sail down the straits yesterday and seen it signalling, as he supposed, to its consorts. He had not then known it was the King's ship for there was not wind enough to spread the flag out and make the golden lion visible, so he had waited further developments. Now he imagined that Caspian had a whole fleet at Bernstead. It would never have occurred to Gumpas that anyone would walk into Narrowhaven to take the islands with less than fifty men; it was certainly not at all the kind of thing he could imagine doing himself.
"Secondly," said Caspian, "I want to know why you have permitted this abominable and unnatural traffic in slaves to grow up here, contrary to the ancient custom and usage of our dominions."
"Necessary, unavoidable," said his Sufficiency. "An essential part of the economic development of the islands, I assure you. Our present burst of prosperity depends on it."
"What need have you of slaves?"
"For export, your Majesty. Sell 'em to Calormen mostly; and we have other markets. We are a great centre of the trade."
"In other words," said Caspian, "you don't need them. Tell me what purpose they serve except to put money into the pockets of such as Pug?"
"Your Majesty's tender years," said Gumpas, with what was meant to be a fatherly smile, "hardly make it possible that you should understand the economic problem involved. I have statistics, I have graphs, I have-"
"Tender as my years be," said Caspian, "I believe I understand the slave trade from within quite as well as your Sufficiency. And I do not see that it brings into the islands meat or bread or beer or wine or timber or cabbages or books or instruments of music or horses or armour or anything else worth having. But whether it does or not, it must be stopped."
"But that would be putting the clock back," gasped the governor. "Have you no idea of progress, of development?"
"I have seen them both in an egg," said Caspian. "We call it `Going Bad' in Narnia. This trade must stop."
"I can take no responsibility for any such measure," said Gumpas.
"Very well, then," answered Caspian, "we relieve you of your office. My Lord Bern, come here." And before Gumpas quite realized what was happening, Bern was kneeling with his hands between the King's hands and taking the oath to govern the Lone Islands in accordance with the old customs, rights, usages and laws of Narnia. And Caspian said, "I think we have had enough of governors," and made Bern a Duke, the Duke of the Lone Islands.
"As for you, my Lord," he said to Gumpas, "I forgive you your debt for the tribute. But before noon tomorrow you and yours must be out of the castle, which is now the Duke's residence."
"Look here, this is all very well," said one of Gumpas's secretaries, "but suppose all you gentlemen stop playacting and we do a little business. The question before us really is-"
"The question is," said the Duke, "whether you and the rest of the rabble will leave without a flogging or with one. You may choose which you prefer."
When all this had been pleasantly settled, Caspian ordered horses, of which there were a few in the castle, though very ill-groomed and he, with Bern and Drinian and a few others, rode out into the town and made for the slave market. It was a long low building near the harbour and the scene which they found going on inside was very much like any other auction; that is to say, there was a great crowd and Pug, on a platform, was roaring out in a raucous voice:
"Now, gentlemen, lot twenty-three. Fine Terebinthian agricultural labourer, suitable for the mines or the galleys. Under twenty-five years of age. Not a bad tooth in his head. Good, brawny fellow. Take off his shirt, Tacks, and let the gentlemen see. There's muscle for you! Look at the chest on him. Ten crescents from the gentleman in the corner. You must be joking, sir. Fifteen! Eighteen! Eighteen is bidden for lot twenty-three. Any advance on eighteen? Twenty-one. Thank you, sir. Twenty-one is bidden-"
But Pug stopped and gaped when he saw the mail-clad figures who had clanked up to the platform.
"On your knees, every man of you, to the King of Narnia," said the Duke. Everyone heard the horses jingling and stamping outside and many had heard some rumour of the landing and the events at the castle. Most obeyed. Those who did not were pulled down by their neighbours. Some cheered.
"Your life is forfeit, Pug, for laying hands on our royal person yesterday," said Caspian. "But your ignorance is pardoned. The slave trade was forbidden in all our dominions quarter of an hour ago. I declare every slave in this market free."
He held up his hand to check the cheering of the slaves and went on, "Where are my friends?"
"That dear little gel and the nice young gentleman?" said Pug with an ingratiating smile. "Why, they were snapped up at once-"
"We're here, we're here, Caspian," cried Lucy and Edmund together and, "At your service, Sire," piped Reepicheep from another corner. They had all been sold but the men who had bought them were staying to bid for other slaves and so they had not yet been taken away. The crowd parted to let the three of them out and there was great handclasping and greeting between them and Caspian. Two merchants of Calormen at once approached. The Calormen have dark faces and long beards. They wear flowing robes and orange-coloured turbans, and they are a wise, wealthy, courteous, cruel and ancient people. They bowed most politely to Caspian and paid him long compliments, all about the fountains of prosperity irrigating the gardens of prudence and virtue - and things like that - but of course what they wanted was the money they had paid.
"That is only fair, sirs," said Caspian. "Every man who has bought a slave today must have his money back. Pug, bring out your takings to the last minim." (A minim is the fortieth part of a crescent.)
"Does your good Majesty mean to beggar me?" whined Pug.
"You have lived on broken hearts all your life," said Caspian, "and if you are beggared, it is better to be a beggar than a slave. But where is my other friend?"
"Oh him?" said Pug. "Oh take him and welcome. Glad to have him off my hands. I've never seen such a drug in the market in all my born days. Priced him at five crescents in the end and even so nobody'd have him. Threw him in free with other lots and still no one would have him. Wouldn't touch him. Wouldn't look at him. 'Packs, bring out Sulky."
Thus Eustace was produced, and sulky he certainly looked; for though no one would want to be sold as a slave, it is perhaps even more galling to be a sort of utility slave whom no one will buy. He walked up to Caspian and said, "I see. As usual. Been enjoying yourself somewhere while the rest of us were prisoners. I suppose you haven't even found out about the British Consul. Of course not."
That night they had a great feast in the castle of Narrowhaven and then, "Tomorrow for the beginning of our real adventures!" said Reepicheep when he had made his bows to everyone and went to bed. But it could not really be tomorrow or anything like it. For now they were preparing to leave all known lands and seas behind them and the fullest preparations had to be made. The Dawn Treader was emptied and drawn on land by eight horses over rollers and every bit of her was gone over by the most skilled shipwrights. Then she was launched again and victualled and watered as full as she could hold - that is to say for twenty-eight days. Even this, as Edmund noticed with disappointment, only gave them a fortnight's eastward sailing before they had to abandon their quest.
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 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, "ands 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?"
他們到達狹港碼頭時，凱斯賓看見有一大批羣衆聚集在那兒歡迎他們。"這就是我昨晚傳話吩咐準備的，"伯恩說，
"他們全是我的朋友，本分人。"凱斯賓一上岸，羣衆就高聲歡呼"納尼亞！納尼亞！國王萬歲！"同時——這也全靠伯恩的信使的安排——鎮上許多地方都鐘聲齊鳴。於是凱斯賓傳令旗手開道，號角吹響，人人都刀劍出鞘，擺出一副欣喜的嚴肅神情。他們在街上齊步行進，街面都震動了，因爲這天早上陽光普照，甲冑都閃閃發亮，亮得人們簡直沒法一直盯着。
開頭歡呼的只是伯恩的信使預先告知的人，他們都知道眼前情況，也巴不得有這麼一天。可後來所有的兒童都加入了遊行隊伍，因爲他們喜歡遊行，這種場面又很少見過。再後來所有的學生也加入了，因爲他們也喜歡遊行，而且覺得那天早上外面越鬧越亂，學校裏越不見得會上課。再後來，老大娘都從門窗口探出頭來，開始嘮嘮叨叨，高聲歡呼了，因爲這究竟是國王呢，總督哪兒比得上啊？接着所有的年輕婦女出於同樣原因，也來湊熱鬧了，再一個原因是凱斯賓和德里寧及其他人都非常英俊。到後來所有的年輕男人也都來看看年輕婦女到底在看些什麼，所以凱斯賓到達城堡大門時，幾乎全城的人都在大聲歡呼;岡帕斯坐在城堡裏，正胡亂擺弄着一串賬日、表格和條條槓槓，聽到了鬧聲。
凱斯賓的號手在城堡大門口吹響號角，大聲叫道"爲納尼亞國王打開城門吧，國王來看望他忠誠可靠而受人尊敬的臣僕，孤獨羣島總督了。"那年月島上一切事物都是邋邋遢遢，懶懶散散，城門只打開小暗門，出來一個蓬頭亂髮，沒戴頭盔，只戴頂骯髒的舊帽子的傢伙，手裏還拿着一根生鏽的舊長矛。他對着面前這些渾身金光閃閃的人直眨眼。
"帶——輪——八——箭，"他咕咕噥噸說(這就是他說'‘大人不見"的腔調)，”沒約好一律不見，只有每個月第二個星期六晚上九點到十點才接見。"
"你這走狗，當着納尼亞國王的面，還不快脫帽I"伯恩爵爺聲如響雷吼道，一邊用戴着鐵護手的手打了他一巴掌，把他頭上帽子也打飛了。
"呢？這是咋回事？"看門人開口說，可是沒人理會他。
凱斯賓手下兩個人跨過暗門，因爲樣樣東西都生鏽了，花了好一番手腳對付門閂才把兩扇大門打開。於是國王和隨從就大踏步走進院內。總督有不少警衛在院內閒逛，還有一些人跌跌沖沖從各個門口出來，大多數人還一邊擦着嘴。雖然他們的盔甲丟人現眼，假如有人帶領他們，或者知道眼前情況，倒興許會打一仗，所以這是個危險時刻。凱斯賓不讓他們有工夫多想。
"隊長在哪兒？"他問。
"我多少算一個，要是你知道我意思的話。"一個沒精打采的年輕人說。他打扮得花裏胡哨，身上根本沒有盔甲。
"我們希望，"凱斯賓說，"這次御駕親臨我們孤獨羣島國土，如有可能，應當成爲萬民歡慶的節日，不是百姓恐怖的場合。如果不是這個緣故，我對你們兵士盔甲和武器的狀況就得批評幾句了。但實際上，我赦免你們了。來一桶酒，打開桶讓弟兄們爲我們祝酒。不過到明天中午，我希望在院內看到他們像戰士，而不像流浪漢。違令者一律以觸犯王上論罪。""
隊長張口結舌，可是伯恩立刻喊道"三呼國王萬歲。"
那些兵士雖然別的什麼都鬧不明白，對酒桶是明白的，就一起歡呼了。於是凱斯賓命令手下大部分都留在院子裏。他，帶着伯恩、德里寧和其他四個走進大廳。'
大廳那一頭的一張桌子後面，坐着孤獨羣島總督岡帕斯，周圍有各種祕書。岡帕斯看上去是個壞脾氣的人，頭髮原是紅的，現在多半灰白了。一行陌生人進去時，他擡眼一看，就又埋頭看着文件了，隨口不假思索地說"沒約好一律不見，只有每個月第二個星期六晚上九點到十點才接見。"
凱斯賓對伯恩點點頭就站到一邊。伯恩和德里寧上前一步，各自抓住桌子一頭。他們擡起桌子一扔，桌子就滾到大廳一邊了，把信件、檔案、墨水缸、筆、封口蠟和公文撒得一地。於是，他們伸出手去，雖然動作不粗野，去口牢如鋼鉗，一把將岡帕斯從椅子裏揪出來，把他揪到椅子前四英尺開外的地方。凱斯賓馬上在椅子裏坐下，把出鞠的劍橫擱在雙膝上。
"閣下，"他兩眼盯着岡帕斯說，"你沒有像我們預期中那樣隆重歡迎我們。我們是納尼亞的國王。"
"信函中沒提到這事，"總督說，"會議記錄裏也沒有。我們沒接到任何這類事的通知。完全不符合法律。凡有任何請求倒樂於考慮……”
"我們前來調查閣下的職責行爲，"凱斯賓繼續說，"有兩點我特別要求作出解釋。首先，我在檔案中查出納尼亞國王已有一百五十年沒收到這些島嶼的進貢了。"
"這個問題得在下個月提交議事會討論，"岡帕斯說，"如果有誰提議成立一個調查委員會，在明年第一次會議上做本島財政歷史的報告，說明爲什麼當時……”
"我還在本國法律上看到裏面寫得清清楚楚，"凱斯賓接着說，"如果貢品沒有及時送到，全部積欠得由孤獨羣島總督的私人腰包中支付。"
岡帕斯聽了這話才真正留起神來。"啊，那可萬萬辦不到，"他說，"經濟上負擔不起——呃——陛下定在開玩笑吧。"
其實他心裏倒在盤算，不知有什麼法子擺脫這些不受歡迎的來客。假如他知道凱斯賓只有一條船，只帶了一船人，他早就嘴上暫時先說些軟話，暗地裏一心想趁夜裏把他們全部包圍殺光了。不過昨天他看見一條戰船順着海峽開來，還看見船上打信號，他猜想是打給跟從的船的。當時他不知道這就是國王的船，因爲風力不夠大，旗幟飄不起來，上面的金獅像看不出，所以他就等待事情進一步發展。此刻他想象凱斯賓在伯恩斯丹有整整一支艦隊。岡帕斯萬萬沒料到居然有人帶了不足五十個人就拿下了這些島嶼;當然這種事根本也不是他能想象自己動手乾的。
"其次，"凱斯賓說，"我想要知道，爲什麼你容許販賣奴隸這種傷天害理的惡劣勾當在本地滋長，這違背本國領地古時的風俗習慣。"
"那是出於需要，不能廢除的，"總督說，"我向你保證，這是本島經濟發展的命脈。本島目前的興衰全靠這買賣。"
"你們需要奴隸幹什麼？”
"陛下，出口啊。大部分賣給卡樂門;我們還有別的市場，我們是這買賣的一大中心。"
"換句話說，"凱斯賓說，"你不需要他們。你說說看，這些奴隸除了養肥普格這種人之外，還有什麼用處？"
"陛下還年輕，"岡帕斯擺出一副父輩的笑容說，"簡直無法弄清有關的經濟問題。我有統計數字，我有圖表，我有…”
"我固然還年輕，"凱斯賓說，"可是我相信，我對奴隸買賣實質的瞭解同閣下一樣清楚。我看這項買賣不見得給本島帶來肉類、麪包、啤酒、葡萄酒、木材、白菜、書本、樂器、馬匹、盔甲或任何值得一有的東西。不過，不管是否如此，這買賣必須制止。",
"不過，那一來就倒退了，"總督氣喘吁吁說，"你不瞭解什麼是進步，什麼是發展嗎？"
"我看到過進步和發展的萌芽狀態，"凱斯賓說，"在納尼亞我們稱這爲腐敗。這項買賣必須制止。"
"我不能負責採取任何這類措施。"岡帕斯說。
"那很好，"凱斯賓答，"我們就免你的職。伯恩爵爺，來。"岡帕斯還鬧不清是怎麼回事，伯恩已經跪下，雙手放在國王雙手間，宣誓要根據納尼亞古時的風俗習慣、權利和法律來統治孤獨羣島。凱斯賓說"我看，我們無法容忍總督了。"於是當場封伯恩爲公爵，孤獨羣島公爵。
"至於你嘛，閣下，"他對岡帕斯說，"我原諒你拖欠進貢。不過明天中午前，你和你的全家都必須搬出城堡，這裏現在是公爵府了。"
"聽我說，"岡帕斯的一個祕書說，"這件事好倒是好，不過如果你們諸位別再裝腔作勢，我們就來做筆小小的交易。我們面前的問題真是——"
"問題是，"公爵說，"你和你的餘黨是不是願意就此一走了之，還是願意挨頓鞭打再走。你們可以隨意選擇。"
等到這一切都圓滿解決，凱斯賓就下令備馬，城堡裏倒有幾匹馬，雖然餵養得不好，可是他和伯恩、德里寧，還有三兩個人騎上馬就進城，直奔奴隸市場。市場是港口附近一排長長的矮房子，他們看到裏面的情景跟其他拍賣行都差不多，就是說，裏面有一大批人，普格在平臺上，沙啞的嗓子大聲吼道:
"喂，諸位爺們，二十三號貨。特里賓西亞的莊稼好手，適合開礦或船上划槳。不到二十五歲。沒一隻壞牙。這傢伙身體健康，肌肉結實。脫掉他襯衫，塔克斯，讓諸位爺們看看。好一身肌肉！瞧他胸膛。角落那位爺們出十個月牙。你一定是在開玩笑吧，老爺。十五|十八l出價十八買二十三號。還有誰加價？二十一。謝謝你，老爺。出二十一。
普格一看見披着鎧甲的入咣噹咣噹走向平臺，頓時打住，張口結舌。
"你們大家個個都向納尼亞國王跪下。"公爵說。大家都聽到外面馬警丁當，蹄聲。得嚼，不少人還聽到登陸的傳說和城堡裏出的大事。多數人都聽從了。那些不肯聽從的都給身邊的人拖住跪下了。有幾個還歡呼了。;
"普格，爲了昨天你抓了我們王室成員，你要償命，"凱斯賓說，"不過姑且原諒你無知。一刻鐘前，本國所有領土也禁止奴隸買賣。我宣佈本奴隸市場的每一個奴隸都自由了。"
他舉起手製止奴隸的歡呼，接着問"我的朋友們在哪兒？"
"那個可愛的小妞兒和那個漂亮的小少爺嗎？"普格賠着討好的笑臉說，"哎呀，他們一下子就給人搶着買去了。。
"我們在這兒呢，我們在這兒呢，凱斯賓！"露茜和愛德蒙一齊叫道。"聽候你吩咐，陛下！"雷佩契普從另一個角落裏尖聲叫道。原來他們都賣掉了，因爲買主留下來還想開價再買幾個奴隸，所以他們還沒給帶走。人羣分開一條路，讓他們三個走出來，他們同凱斯賓頓時緊緊握手，相互問候。
兩個卡樂門商人立刻上前。卡樂門人長着黑臉膛，留着長鬍子。他們穿着飄拂的長袍，扎着橙紅色頭巾，他們是聰明、富裕、謙恭而殘忍的古老民族。他們極其恭敬地向凱斯賓鞠躬，對他說了長長一篇恭維話，說的全是什麼繁榮昌盛的源泉灌溉賢明和德行的花園——還有類似的話——不過他們的目的當然是想收回付出的那筆錢。
"那才公平，先生們，"凱斯賓說，"今天買下奴隸的人個個都必須收回錢。普格，把你撈到手的錢都拿出來，一滴滴都不留。"(四十個滴滴合一個月牙。
"好心的陛下存心要我變成窮光蛋嗎？"普格哭訴道。
"你一輩子都靠傷天害理過日子，"凱斯賓說，"如果你成了窮光蛋的話，那也比做個奴隸強。我另外一個朋友在哪兒？"
"哦，他呀？"普格說，"唉，歡迎把他領回去。巴不得把他脫手呢。我有生以來，在市場裏從沒見過這麼個賣不掉的貨。最後把他定價五個月牙，這麼低的價還是沒人要。把他跟其他的貨搭配白送，還是沒人要。看都不願看他。塔克斯，把哭喪臉帶來。"
尤斯塔斯就這樣亮了相，果然哭喪着臉;因爲雖然沒人願意給人當奴隸賣掉，不過給當成沒人願意買的粗使奴隸，也許更令人惱怒。他走近凱斯賓說"原來如此。老一套了。我們其他人當俘虜，你自己倒在什麼地方逍遙自在。我看，你沒打聽到英國領事館吧。當然沒有。"
那天晚上，他們在狹港城堡裏舉行盛大宴會，宴會結束後，雷佩契普向大家鞠躬行禮，說道"明天就要開始我們真正的冒險生活了！"說完就去睡覺了。可是明天根本走不成，談都談不上。因爲他們現在正準備離開已經探明的陸地和海面，一定得做好充分準備。黎明踏浪號出空了，擱在滾軸上，由八匹馬拖上陸地，每個細小的部分都由最熟練的修船工檢修。然後再下水，儘量貯足糧食和飲用水——就是說要準備用上二十八天。愛德蒙注意到儘管這樣備足一切，他們也只有十四天時間可用於向東航行，此後就不得不放棄搜尋計劃了，不禁大爲掃興。"
做好這一切準備工作的同時，凱斯賓又不失時機地把凡是狹港找得到的最老的船長都找來，向他們打聽是否知道再往東邊遠航還有什麼陸地，甚至道聽途說也行。他把城堡裏不少瓶麥酒倒出來，招待那些長着灰白短鬚，清澈藍眼珠，飽經風霜的水手，聽到不少海外奇談。不過那些看上去最像說實話的水手也說不清楚孤獨羣島外有陸地，許多人認爲，假如你東航得太遠，就會撞進一個茫茫不見陸地，波濤洶涌的大海，這些波濤不斷圍繞世界的邊緣打轉——.
"我看，那裏就是陛下幾個朋友捲進海底的地方。"其餘的都是無稽之談了，什麼無頭人居住的島嶼啊，漂浮的島嶼啊，龍捲風捲起的水柱啊，沿着海面燃燒的大火等等。只有一個人的說法使雷佩契普大爲高興，他說"在那外面就是阿斯蘭的國土了。不過，那是在世界盡頭的外面，你們到不了。"大家再盤問他時，他就只能說自己是從父親那兒聽來的。
伯恩只能告訴他們，當初他看見他六個夥伴向東航行，此後再也沒聽到他們的下落。他說這話時正和凱斯賓一起站在俯臨東大洋的阿芙拉島的最高處。"我早晨經常上這兒來，"公爵說，"看太陽從海面上升起，有時看上去彷彿只隔開兩三英里。我也很想知道我朋友的下落，想知道那天邊外究竟是什麼地方。看來多半是什麼都沒有，但是我對自己留下來始終感到很不好意思。不過我希望陛下不要去。我們這裏還需要你的幫助。這次取締奴隸市場可能打開一個新天地，我預見要同卡樂門打一仗。陛下，請三思吧。"
"公爵閣下，我發過誓了，"凱斯賓說，"不管怎麼說，我對雷佩契普有什麼話好說呢？"
