A Day with the Beavers

• While Edmund and Peter are talking, Lucy and Susan suddenly cry out – the robin has flown away, leaving them alone in the middle of the woods!
• The children notice an animal moving among the trees, getting closer and closer to them. They're scared and they all realize they are lost in the woods.
• The animal peeps out from behind a tree and gestures silently to the children, implying that they should approach it quietly and secretly. Peter recognizes it as a beaver.
• Lucy immediately trusts the beaver. Peter and Susan aren't sure, but feel they have no choice. Edmund is still suspicious.
• The children approach the beaver together. The beaver, which can talk and is as large as they are, tells them that they're not safe in the open and leads them to a hidden spot among the trees.
• The beaver asks the children if they are sons of Adam and daughters of Eve. Peter admits that they are – some of them.
• The beaver cautions them to speak quietly. Peter wonders who could overhear them in the deserted wood, and the beaver says that the trees are always listening, which we at Shmoop think is super creepy. Just saying.
• Edmund asks, somewhat rudely, how they can know that the beaver is their friend. The beaver shows them Lucy's handkerchief – the one she gave to Mr. Tumnus!
• The beaver tells them that he is going to take them somewhere and that Aslan is on the move. None of the children know who Aslan is or exactly what this means, but they all suddenly have strong feelings about it. Edmund feels horrified, Peter feels brave, Susan feels as though she has heard or smelled something beautiful, and Lucy feels excited the way you do at the beginning of summer vacation.
• The beaver says that he will take them to dinner. Everyone but Edmund trusts him now and is excited to have a meal, so they hurry to follow him.
• After about an hour's hike through the woods, they come to the edge of the wood, where they see a valley with a frozen river running down it. On the river is a large dam, which the children realize must be the beaver's home.
• Mr. Beaver – the beaver is male – seems to expect some comment, so Susan says that the dam is lovely. He's very pleased.
• As the children approach the dam, they notice that the ice of the river is in waves and splashes, as though it was frozen instantly while the river was rushing along. They also notice the beaver's house on the top part of the dam.
• Looking downstream, Edmund sees another, smaller river joining the larger one, and beyond it he recognizes the two hills between which the Witch lives. He remembers his craving for Turkish Delight and the Witch's promise to make him a prince.
• The children follow Mr. Beaver into the dam, where he introduces them to Mrs. Beaver, who is sitting at her sewing machine working.
• Mrs. Beaver is very excited to meet the human children, but the first thing she's concerned about is feeding them. She is cooking some potatoes and boiling water for tea. At her suggestion, Mr. Beaver goes out to catch some fish, taking Peter to help him.
• Lucy and Susan help Mrs. Beaver prepare the rest of the meal. Lucy notices and admires the construction of the house in the dam, which is snug and resembles living quarters on board ship.
• Soon everyone is eating a delicious, satisfying meal. After they finish everything, including dessert, Mr. Beaver says they should get down to business.