Inside， he was wondering if there were any way of getting d of these unwelcome visitors. Had he known that Caspian ad only one ship and one ship‘s company with him， he ould have spoken soft words for the moment， and hoped o have them all surrounded and killed during the night. ut he had seen a ship of war sail down the straits yesterday nd seen it signalling， as he supposed， to its consorts. He ad not then known it was the King’s ship for there was not ind enough to spread the flag out and make the golden on visible， so he had waited further developments. Now e imagined that Caspian had a whole fleet at Bernstead. It ould never have occurred to Gumpas that anyone would alk into Narrowhaven to take the islands with fewer than fty men； it was certainly not at all the kind of thing he ould imagine doing himself.
“Secondly，” said Caspian， “I want to know why you have ermitted this abominable and unnatural traffic in slaves to row up here， contrary to the ancient custom and usage of ur dominions.”
“Necessar y， unavoidable，” said his Sufficiency. “An ssential part of the economic development of the islands， I ssure you. Our present burst of prosperity depends on it.” “What need have you of slaves？”