As Skalrag hurried to do his master's bidding, the Tyrant dashed up the ladder to the walltop and joined the melee.

Arrows whistled through the night from both sides. Clogg was trying to keep up heavy volleys of shafts and slingstones to make the defenders keep their heads down. Badrang seemed to be everywhere at once, hacking at grapnel ropes, hurling boulders and roaring orders.

"Don't let them grapplers get ahold, slash the ropes! Push that siege ladder over! Risk, get to the north corner, 64.

use the big spears and long pikes to stab downward! You there, take four more and get down into the courtyard. Reinforce the gates with anything-rocks, timber, sand- anything you can lay paws on!"

Cap'n Tramun Clogg howled aloud at his archers and slingthrowers as he awaited the upside-down longboat that was being trundled over the beach towards him.

"Give 'em blood an' brokenbones, ye black-livered flotsam! Growch, keep those arrows a-flyin' an' make every one count! Haharr, Badrang, I'll soon be wearin' yer guts fer garters! Bring that longboat t'me, 'earties. We'll knock on the Tyrant's door, haharrharr!"

The longboat's keel was plated with a heavy sheath of copper that culminated in a lump at its prow. Upside down, it made a battering ram. Twenty or more vermin stood underneath the boat, using it as an umbrella against missiles from the walltop. Tramun Clogg joined them, heading the operation, roaring orders gleefully.

"Straight ahead as she goes, buckoes. Pound that ole door to splinters, mates. Charge!"

Paws grasped the undersides of the craft tightly as they raced madly across the sh.o.r.e. Arrows, spears and rocks bounced vainly off the plated keel, unable to stop the corsairs' battering ram striking Marshank's gates with tremendous force.

Whump!

Most of the ram crew fell flat under the impact as thick copper plate met door timber with a splintering crash. Paws a-tingle from the reverberation, they hoisted the boat aloft under Clogg's triumphant commands.

"Hoho, cullies. Back 'er off an' let's do it again! Gruzzle, Dedjaw, Floater! Up front 'ere with me. Arf a dozen whacks like that'n an' we can use yonder gates fer toothpicks at our victory feast! Nothin' can stop wavebeasts such as us mates. Chaaaaaarge!"

Gurrad slashed at a climbing rope with his cutla.s.s. Feel-65 ing the walltop shudder slightly as the ram struck once more, he looked anxiously towards Badrang. The Tyrant had a stack of light javelins at his side, and he was throwing them with deadly accuracy, snarling with satisfaction each time he was rewarded with the screams of another searat impaled by his good aim. Pausing momentarily, he grabbed a pa.s.sing ferret.

"Tailwart, get down below and see that the gates are well sh.o.r.ed up with rock and rubble. Clogg can batter our doors until his whiskers turn grey. If there's enough packing behind 'em he'll never break through."

The battle raged on into the night, its infernal din of roaring clangour overriding the hiss and swell of the restless sea.

Brome was last to enter the escape tunnel. Grumm hauled the young mouse in alongside him.

"Gudd to see you'm, maister. You be looken fitter'n a b.u.mblybee."

Martin and Felldoh pounded the mole's furry back joyfully. "Well done, friend. Brome was right, you are a champion digger!"

Grumm wrinkled his nose modestly. "No more'n moi job, zurrs. You uns get along naow, Oi'll bide yurr awhoil an' patch up yon 'ole so's n.o.beast be a-knowen 'ow him'n excaped. Hurr hurr, 'twill give they Bardang vur-mint sumthen to puzzle o'er, a hempty pit wi' no marks o' breakout, hurr hurr."

The three friends crawled on all fours through the darkness, Felldoh's tail touching the tunnel top and brushing down a light drift of sand. Closing their eyes, they pushed forward in the eerie underground silence, their bodies quivering with the antic.i.p.ation of freedom. It was the battlenoise and a soft breeze tickling his whiskers that told Felldoh they had made it. He sneezed and rubbed fine sand from his eyes as Rose helped him out.

"Up you come, treejumper. Is Grumm with you?"

The squirrel rolled to one side as Martin pulled him- 66.

self from the runnel. Together they hauled young Brome out as Martin answered, "He'll be along shortly when he's blocked off the hole. Phwah! I've swallowed so much sand I'll be spitting it out all season."

"Here, wash it out with some cold mint tea."

Martin rubbed dust from his eyes and stared at the mousemaid as he accepted the canteen of liquid. He was thunderstruck.

"You must be Martin."

He stared silently into the most gentle hazel eyes that ever reflected starlight, lost for words as a quiet smile spread over the mousemaid's serene features.

"Drink up, Martin. Your friend and my brother are waiting their turn."

He took a quick mouthful, suddenly finding his voice as he did. "Yurn b'rosty nose!"

"I beg your pardon?" Her laughter was like a summer breeze among bluebells.

Martin took another gulp and cleared his throat. "Sorry. You must be Rose."

Felldoh grinned as he grabbed the canteen from his friend's faltering paws. "Aye, she is. Remember me? I'm Felldoh, and this other creature is Brome. Your name's Martin and the beast whose head you're standin' on is our rescuer Grumm."

Martin hastily shifted his footpaw, mumbling an apology as the mole levered himself from the tunnel.

"Thankee, maister. Hurr, et be gurt 'n' noisy out 'ere wi' they vurmin a-killen each other o'er yonder."

Suddenly Martin became aware of the battlenoise around Marshank. It shook him out of his daze and he began thinking clearly.

"Oh er, right! Well, I think our best bet is to put as much distance between ourselves and that lot right away!"

Felldoh bristled slightly. "I can't leave until my father is free. I'm staying."

Martin gripped his friend's paw. "We won't be a bit 67.

of help to anybeast if we get killed or captured in the midst of a battle. Listen, Felldoh, I'm with you. One day we'll free all the slaves from Badrang's clutches, but right now we're only five, too few to stand against the Tyrant's horde. I say we should go to Noonvale. Brome and Rose's father is a Chieftain, and surely he will tell his tribe to help us. Then when we are strong in numbers we can return and defeat Badrang and all his vermin, wipe them from the face of the land and free our friends. What do you say?"

Brome shook his head. "My father Urran Voh is a creature who goes his own way. He will never leave Noonvale. As for our tribe, well, they generally do what he tells them to."

Rose spoke up. "Aye, brother, our father is as stubborn as you-that's why the two of you always quarrel. But maybe I can persuade Mother. She'd ask him to help you. I know she would."

Martin held the squirrel's paw tighter. "What do you say, Felldoh? Shall we give it a try?"

There was a moment's silence, then Felldoh nodded. "I'm with you. If we can raise an army at Noonvale then one day I'll return to dance on Badrang's grave!"

Martin's eyes shone at the thought of it. "And I'll be dancing with you, friend, holding the sword that once belonged to my father!"

Rose, Brome and Grumm clasped their paws with Martin and Felldoh over the escape hole. "We'll do it, friends together!"

68.

8.

Cap'n Tramun Clogg was beginning to feel discouraged. No matter how hard and long he beat at Marshank's gates with his battering ram, they seemed to hold up. Gruzzle, Dedjaw, Floater and the rest were seated on the sh.o.r.e beneath the upturned boat, blowing for breath as they ma.s.saged weary paws. Clogg struck the side of the boat with his cutla.s.s.

"Wot's the matter, yer lily-livered seasc.u.m? Weary already? Come on now, 'earties, up on yer paws an' give it one more go. She's splinterin', I tell yer. Why, a couple more bangs an' we'll be through inter the fortress!"

Gruzzle sucked noisily at a skinned paw. "Ahh, Cap'n, I thought you said one more go arf an hour back, an' we're still chargin' those gates like madbeasts."

Clogg c.o.c.ked a fierce eye at the complaining sea rat. "Yore grizzlin', Gruzzle, always grizzlin'. Now up off those hunkers, mate, an' charge that gate, afore I charges you wid this frogsticker!" He waved his cutla.s.s threateningly.

There was a knocking on the outside of the boat.

"Cap'n, it's Wetpaw. Come quick an' take a look out 'ere!"

The boat was lifted and Clogg poked his head from underneath. "Lookit wot, mate?"

69.

The ferret pointed to reddy-orange glow illuminating the sky beyond the headland. It took a moment for realization to sink in, then the pirate stoat let out an agonized wail and began tearing at his braided beard, the clumsy wooden clogs clicking together as he performed an anguished jig on the sh.o.r.e.

"Whaaaagh! The slime-coated villain's burnin' me ship! Yarrggh! Me luvverly Seascarab, pride o' me 'eart! Badrang, yer rotten foul-nosed worm, stinkin' screw-tailed stoat, warp-eyed snotty-snouted shark!"

The corsair crew looked on in dismay as their Cap'n gave full vent to his spleen. Hurling himself at the gates, he hacked with his cutla.s.s, kicked with his clogs, even gnawed savagely at the woodwork with his teeth as he yelled between mouthfuls of splinters, "I'll rip yer liver 'n' lights out an' feed 'em to the crabs. I'll cut off'n yer 'ead an' throw it in yer face. I'll string up yer tripes fer riggin'. I'll pickle yer tail in burnin' brine. I'll... I'll.... Yaaahaaagh!"

Skalrag and his archers stood paw-deep in the sea, the water scarlet and gold with reflections from the blazing vessel. They blinked as ashcloth from the sail drifted sootily by on the breeze. The Seascarab was settling down in flames on the shallow bay bed, and timbers crackled as blazing pitch bubbled from seams. Two rats who had been left on watch were draped limply in death over the gunwales, blazing arrows extinguishing themselves in their backs. With its great green sail burned away, the mast stood like a fiery beacon against the star-studded night. It cracked and broke, falling in an avalanche of sparks. The vessel heeled over, listing at a crazy angle as sea water met flames with a loud steaming hiss.

Skalrag turned to his archers, satisfied. "There's one ship that won't put out to sea again. Form up and follow me. We'll take care of those longboats before we head back to Marshank."

70.

The wily fox did not want to attract attention from the battle area by burning the longboats.

"Put up those bows, use your swords an' knives to hole these boats. That'll leave Clogg trapped on the sh.o.r.e."

Unaware that the longboats were being destroyed, Martin and his companions were heading for them, figuring to take one and sail further up the coast, where they would leave the boat and travel to Noonvale for help.

Felldoh looked to the fiery glow beyond the headland. "We'd better hurry. Those searats will be coming for the longboats to see if they can save their ship."

Martin glanced back towards the fortress as he remarked to his friend, "Good guess, Felldoh. There's a whole bunch of them coming this way!"

The dark shapes of yelling corsairs could be seen leaving the fray and making for the longboats. Martin grasped Brome's paw.

"Let's put a move on, otherwise they'll catch up with us."

Grumm had been looking ahead towards the boats. "Hurr, lookit, thurr be other vurmin by they boats an' they see us'ns!" he groaned in dismay.

Felldoh gritted his teeth. "Foebeasts behind an' before us, Martin. Either way is trouble."

Martin sized the situation up quickly. "We can't turn back now. There's less of 'em in front of us. Keep going. We'll have to chance rushing them. Rose, take Grumm and Brome, pick out a boat and get going. Felldoh and I will hold them off. Please don't argue, just do as I say. Right, Felldoh?"

The big squirrel nodded. "Right! I recognize that half-eared rogue at the boats-it's Skalrag. There's about ten with him. Let's get at it, Martin!"

The young mouse and the squirrel dashed towards Skalrag's group, yelling at the top of their voices.

71.

"Freedom! Chaaaaaaaarge!"

Skalrag was not sure whether the swiftly advancing pair were armed, though he knew by their warlike cries that they intended doing battle. The fox hesitated a moment, unsure whether to meet them sword in paw or go for his bow. He lost the initiative, barely having time to shout a warning to his archers before Martin and Felldoh were on him. The squirrel grabbed Skalrag's sword paw, struggling to get hold of the blade as Martin dealt the nearest rat a flying kick with both footpaws.

"Help me, help!" Skalrag was screaming.

Now some of Clogg's creatures spotted the activity by the longboats. They unsheathed their weapons and dashed forward to protect their boats. Two rats went down under the hefty digging claws of Grumm and a hearty wallop from a chunk of driftwood held by Rose. Brome began shoving the smallest of the boats out into the surf, and Grumm and Rose lent their weight to his efforts. Martin was holding on to one rat who was trying to stop the boat, while he held the head of another under the water. Felldoh had a stranglehold on Skalrag, whose sword belt had snapped; both sword and belt were lost somewhere in the shallows. The corsairs came charging in, yelling, surf splashing beneath their paws.

Rose leaned over the stern of the small boat, pulling Brome in while Grumm found the oars. She began shouting. "Martin! Felldoh! Over here, quickly!"

Thinking swiftly, Martin stunned a sea rat with a heavy blow. Grabbing a half-throttled Skalrag from Felldoh, he thrust the fox at the corsairs.

"Here, mates. One of Badrang's lot, tryin' to steal our boats!"

With a concerted howl of rage the corsairs threw themselves upon Skalrag and another rat Felldoh pushed towards them.

Martin nudged his friend, whispering urgently. "Quick, into the boat!"

72.

Half wading, half swimming through the night-dark waters, they made for the boat. Grumm and Brome held oars over the stern to them.

"Burr, 'asten, zurrs!"

As they grabbed the oars and began climbing aboard, the corsairs suddenly realized what was going on.

"Those ain't searats. Stop 'em!" the ferret called Boggs yelled hoa.r.s.ely.

Martin scrambled into the boat, but Felldoh was having a hard time with his huge bushy tail weighed down by sea water. The rat called Growch floundered forward and seized the squirrel's footpaws. From the boat Martin managed to grab Felldoh by his other two paws, then another searat latched on to Felldoh's tail and a tug of war began. Felldoh was stretched between water and boat, helpless, his mouth filled with salt water.

Rose leaned over the stern, wielding an oar.

Thonkf Boff!

She stunned the rats with two direct hits. Martin heaved mightily and Felldoh came tumbling into the boat.

While some of the corsairs held Skalrag and his platoon prisoner, the rest jumped into the boats and began rowing after the escapers.

"Row!" Martin cried out to his friends. "Paddle with your paws! Anything! Hurry. They're coming after us!"

Grumm sat in the stern, not moving. Rose looked at him curiously.

"Come on, Grumm. Paddle, don't just sit there."

The mole shrugged unhappily. "Oi carn't move, mizzy. Iffen oi do, us'll sink. Oi be setten roight on a gurt 'ole in 'ee boat!"

The mole sat, completely soaked, blocking the hole as best he could, with water swilling around the bottom of the boat.

Brome started to laugh. Felldoh eyed him disapprovingly.

73.