But when the dripping Mouse had reached the deck he urned out not to be at all interested in the Sea People. “Sweet！” he cheeped. “Sweet， sweet！”
“What are you talking about？” asked Drinian crossly. “And ou needn’t shake yourself all over me， either.”
“I tell you the water‘s sweet，” said the Mouse. “Sweet， esh. It isn’t salt.”
For a moment no one quite took in the importance of this. ut then Reepicheep once more repeated the old prophecy：
“Where the waves grow sweet， Doubt not， Reepicheep， There is the utter East.”
Then at last everyone understood.
“Let me have a bucket， Rynelf，” said Drinian.
It was handed him and he lowered it and up it came again. The water shone in it like glass.
“Perhaps your Majesty would like to taste it first，” saidDrinian to Caspian.
The King took the bucket in both hands， raised it to his lips， sipped， then drank deeply and raised his head. His face was changed. Not only his eyes but everything about him seemed to be brighter.
“Yes，” he said， “it is sweet. That‘s real water， that. I’m notsure that it isn‘t going to kill me. But it is the death I would have chosen.if I’d known about it till now.”
“What do you mean？” asked Edmund.