《神奇树屋》 第二十九册 Christmas in Camelot 14 Return

　　The three knights 1 gazed in wonder at the white stag.



"Here, take this!" Annie said to Jack 2. She handed him thesilver cup. Then she slipped off the back of Lancelot's horse andran to the stag.



"Thanks for coming for us!" she cried, throwing her armsaround his neck.



The three knights looked at Jack.



"That's the white stag," said Jack. "He brought us here.



"Are you wizards?" Sir Percival asked in a hushed voice.



"No, just ordinary kids," said Jack. "But I know he' s magic.



We got here from Camelot in no time at all. I guess he's come totake us back.""Then you must go with him," said Sir Lancelot. "You willhave a much faster journey, I can assure you."Sir Lancelot held the silver cup as Jack slipped down from theblack horse. Then Jack took the cup and carefully climbed ontothe back of the stag behind Annie. He held the cup with bothhands as the stag stood up.



"Tell King Arthur we will return to Camelot before the firstnight of the New Year," said Sir Lancelot.



"Farewell, Jack and Annie!" said Sir Galahad. "Godspeed!" saidSir Percival.



"Same to you!" said Annie.



"Have a safe trip!" said Jack.



The knights solemnly bowed.



The white stag blew out a puff 3 of frosty air. Then he starteddown the mountainside.



When the stag came to the base of the mountain, he took offagain like a white comet. The red cloak billowed around Jackand Annie, keeping them warm and safe.



The stag dashed across the wintry fields. He ran past quietstables and thatched huts. He ran past flocks of sheep and herdsof goats asleep in meadows. He leaped over frozen streams andstone walls and hedgerows.



The stag ran on and on through the starry 4 night, until hebrought Jack and Annie back to the dark castle grounds ofCamelot.



He walked over the frozen grass of the outer courtyard. Hecame to a halt near the grove 5 below the tree house. He knelt inthe grass, and Jack and Annie climbed off his back.



Miraculously 6, the silver cup still brimmed with water from thecauldron. Not a drop had spilled out.



"We'd better leave the cloak here " said Jack, "so I don't trip onit."Jack carefully set the cup on the ground. Annie helped himunbutton the red velvet 7 cloak from around his neck. hen shedraped it over the stag's back.



"To keep you warm a safe," she whispered to him. "Andthanks for everything.""Yeah, thanks," said Jack. "Good-bye."The white stag stared at them with his mysterious ambereyes. He nodded once. Then he turned and headed into thedarkness.



Jack picked up the cup. "Come on!" he said. He startedwalking quickly through the outer courtyard.



"Careful, careful!" said Annie.



"I got it, I got it," said Jack.



They crossed the drawbridge to the inner courtyard of thecastle. Then they pushed open the giant arched doors.



The great hall was just as they had left it-- dimly lit andfreezing cold· King Arthur, Queen Guinevere, the Knights Of'



the Round Table, and Morgan le Fay were all still frozen andsilent.



"What do we do now?' said Jack.



"Let's try putting a drop of water on each of them! Morganfirst!" said Annie.



"Okay," said Jack. "Come on."Holding his breath and keeping his eyes on the cup, Jackwalked carefully toward the Round Table. Suddenly, his left footstepped on the shoelace of his right sneaker--and he stumbled.



"Jack!" yelled Annie.



Jack tried to regain 8 his balance, but it was too late! As he fellto the floor, the silver cup slipped from his hands.