"Hmm, chopped the bridge off completely at both sides, did he? Hmm. Matthias, do you think our owl friend could fly down into the ravine and cast his eye about for the remains of the bridge? I've got an idea."

297.

Matthias looked inquiringly at Sir Harry. The owl stretched his impressive wings.

"The work of a moment, dear sir, To a useful fellow like me. I'll chance a flight down there. We'll see what we shall see."

The sunlight shone through his outspread wings as he executed a graceful soaring motion. Diving swiftly, he was soon lost to view within the dark abyss.

Jess instructed Orlando on the next part of her plan.

"Lend me your battleaxe, big fellow. Oof! On second thought, you hold it. Now do as I tell you. Stand it upright against those stakes which held the bridge. Good! Log-a-Log, could you bring some rope?"

The shrew leader rummaged about until he found a small coil. "Here's your rope, but there isn't enough to get us a fraction of the way across that gap."

Jess uncoiled the rope. "I have no intention of trying to cross with this piece, Orlando. Hold the axe still while I lash it to the stakes."

Sir Hany reappeared over the edge.

"This is your lucky day.

I'll tell you what I found As I was winging my way Far below the ground.

The bridge cast over the edge, Complete with slats and all, Hangs from a rocky shelf Which juts from the canyon wall."

Jess secured the axe bolt upright. "Well done! I knew a long wiggly thing like a rope bridge couldn't fall far without getting caught on something. I don't want the slats; they're not part of my plan. Can you bring me one of the long ropes? Do you need a knife?"

Sir Harry blinked indignantly.

"What need of a blade have I? No sword or knife do I seek. * I am monarch of the sky, With fearsome talon and beak!"

With a hoot and a whoosh he shot back into the depths.

Jess shrugged apologetically. "Hope I haven't offended him."

Slagar glanced around nervously. They were pa.s.sing through pleasant brush country, mainly bushes and shrubs, with the odd tree dotted here and there. The whole area gave Mattimeo the impression that once long ago it had been gardened, cared for and cultivated. He walked in line with his friends, along what appeared to have been the path of a terrace. Flowers still grew in dumps, and rocks ran in a straight line, probably bedded there by some industrious creatures in the dim past.

Tess spoke into his ear from behind, the sudden sound causing Mattimeo to jump slightly.

"Why are there no birds singing?" she asked.

The young mouse was mystified. "You're right, Tess. I couldn't say what made me uneasy about this place at first, but you've put your paw slap on it! There's no sound, no noise of gra.s.shoppers, birds, the things you'd normally expect to hear on a bright summer's day. Even Slagar doesn't look too happy with this place."

Tess clinked her chain manacles gently. The sound hung on the still air.

"It is beautiful though. I'd like to stop and sit here awhile. Do you know, it reminds me somehow of our Abbey. Look, there are ripe berry bushes over there, and daisies and roses too."

Sam, who was in the front, stared ahead into the distance. "I can see two tall rocks shaped like a badger's head and a big bell."

"Silence back there, or you won't live to see nightfall. Pick those paws up and march faster!"

299.

Vitch obeyed unconsciously, speeding up until he overtook his leader.

Slagar cuffed him bad-temperedly. "Where d'you think you're running to? Get back and watch those prisoners, and keep from under my paws, rat."

Orlando looked doubtfully at the contraption Jess had set up. High over his head the thick bridge rope was fastened to his axe top. The rope ran out across the abyss, taking a steep downward slope until it reached the stakes on the far side, where Sir Harry had secured it close to ground level. The big badger scratched his muzzle.

"How's it supposed to work, Jess?" he asked dubiously.

"Quite simply. Matthias, would you go first and show him?"

The warrior mouse shinnied swiftly up the stakes. Removing his belt, he swung it over the rope with one paw, catching the other end as it came down. He stood with his paws twined in the belt that hung either side of the bridge rope.

"Ready, Jess," he called.

The squirrel climbed up and gave him a good push.

Whizzing across the gorge from the rope lashed around the axehead, Matthias sped on a straight downward course, lifting his tail clear as he hit the other side in a cloud of dust. He jumped to his paws, waving triumphantly. Log-a-Log and his shrews cheered aloud.

Jess turned to Orlando with a smile. "Thafs how!"

"I'm not sure, Jess. I might be too big arid heavy."

"Then you can go next to last/' the squirrel said decisively.

"Who's going last?"

"Me, of course. You want your axe back, don't you? Right then. I'll untie the rope, lash your axe to my back and swing across. Don't worry, I'm a good treeflyer. I'll go straight down into the gorge on the end of the rope, stop myself against the opposite wall and climb up."

300.

Orlando wiped a dusty paw across his brow. "I'm glad if s you and not me trying that. By the way, please take care not to lose my battleaxe down there."

"Oh, stop fussing, you great lump, and help that shrew up on to the rope."

Jess's plan worked well and the operation went smoothly, though with one or two minor hitches. Sir Harry was kept busy flying to and fro to borrow belts for those who had none. When Orlando's turn came he persevered bravely. However, his size and weight caused the axe handle to bend and the rope to belly. The badger was stuck in the middle, hanging perilously over the abyss. He was moved by Matthias and his friends throwing their weight on and off the rope until it began to tw.a.n.g and vibrate, and Orlando moved slowly along it. At the edge, he had to be hauled over the brink by Basil, Cheek and several shrews. When it was her turn to go, last of all, Jess the champion squirrel of Redwall did the crossing in swashbuckling style. Untying the rope, she bound Orlando's axe to her back and leapt straight into the gorge, grasping the end of the bridge rope. Down she sped, suddenly snapping to a halt, then with practised skill she swung across and bounded up the rope, paw over paw.

"Here, Orlando," she panted, ''hurry and get this dumping great hatchet off my back. I can't stand straight with the weight of it."

"I'll leave you tied to it if you call it a hatchet again, squirrel."

The pool among the bushes was like a cool oasis. They washed the dust off, bathing and splashing in the clear water. All save Jabez Stump, who sat munching cow parsley.

" 'Tain't natural, bathin', otherwise we'd have all been born fishes," the hedgehog objected.

The foragers found plenty of berries, fruit and plants.

301.

even a crabapple tree laden with tiny golden crabapples. The friends lounged about, eating and dozing, almost reluctant to leave this haven of plenty.

Log-a-Log nibbled wild celery as he made his report to Matthias.

"The scouts have picked up the trail, going south as usual. If s easy to follow."

Matthias nodded, studying the map and the poem. "Aye, it looks like plain travelling. There's no obstacle ahead, unless you count these two rocks, the badger and the bell!"

302.

39.

"Constance, Abbot! Birds are trying to steal our tapestry!"

Brother Trugg tripped over his habit and fell as he dashed from the barricade where he had been standing sentry duty.

"Get slings, arrows and javelins. Pull the table aside quickly!"

The defenders rushed up the stairs into Great Hall.

Three magpies were struggling with the wall fastenings of the heavy tapestry. They ignored the charging animals, remaining intent on what they were about.

Before the Redwallers had a chance to marshal their forces and open fire, they were beset by birds. Rooks hurtled down from the galleries, pecking and clawing. General Ironbeak and Mangiz, leading a small force, dropped down behind them. Amid the confusion. Constance saw what was happening: Ironbeak was trying to cut off their path back to Cavern Hole. She whirled, dealing a rook a heavy blow that sent it spinning as it buried its claws into her neckfur.

"Back, back. Return to Cavern Hole, everybeast. Hurry!" she ordered.

Two rooks were trying to drag Sister May off by the back of her habit, but John Churchmou&e thwacked them soundly with a javelin.

303.

"Gaahh, scat! Come on. Sister, follow me!" he cried.

Calmly the little Sister shot off an arrow. "Got him! Ha, he won't sit down for a season. Take that, you horrible bird! Oh, right. Come on, Mr. Churchmouse, I'll protect you."

Ambrose Spike took a run at a group of birds who were attacking Cornflower. Curling himself tight, he went spinning into them like a flying ball of needles, and they rose to the air, squawking.

Constance lashed about with a frying pan, the weapon making a loud bong every time she scored a hit.

"Get out of our Abbey, you scavengers!"

Bong!

"Look out behind you, Abbot!"

Bong/ Constance hurtled at Ironbeak and Mangiz. The sight of the large badger with teeth bared made them jump to one side. She growled and snarled like a wild beast, charging them recklessly so that they had to take to the air. The other birds followed their leaders' example.

Winifred the Otter saw the way clear to Cavern Hole.

"This way, everybeast!" she called.

They clattered down the stairs and slammed the table back into position and not a moment too soon. Ironbeak saw his trap had been foiled and he chased several birds down the stairs.

"After them! They must not escape!"

Winifred and Constance were waiting.

"Now!"

Two javelins shot from the arrow slits in the barricade. One rook fell slain. Another took the javelin in his leg. Hopping and cawing, he followed his fellow fighters up the stairs in a hasty retreat, the javelin clattering and dragging from the limb it had pierced.

Ambrose Spike pushed a form up to the defences. "Stand on this, you archers. See if you can fire across at those magpies."

304.

Several of the Brothers and Sisters took their place and began loosing shafts at the thieves. The arrows fell miserably short, though they did have the effect of deterring other attackers from coming down the stairs.

Constance slammed a heavy paw against the wall. "The thieving, pilfering barbarians, how dare they steal our Warrior's tapestry!"

Foremole tugged at her fur. " 'scusin' oi, marm. Whoi doant ee use our tunnels?"

"Tunnels? But how? What good would that do?"

"Hurr, you'm could come at um throo main door. They baint be aspecten that."

"Of course. What a great idea!" Constance exclaimed. "Half of you stay here with the Abbot, I'll take the rest through the runnel to the nearest exit outside. If we're sharp enough we can launch a surprise attack on those magpies, seize the tapestry, and go out of the Abbey and straight down the tunnel back to here. Come on, Winifred, Ambrose, Cornflower; and, Foremole, would you come too with some of your moles?"

"Surpintly, marm. Uz'll give um boi okey, hurr that uz will!"

"I come, I come. Me too!"

"Nay, young maister Rollyo, you'n stay boi yurr an' shoot arrers."

Quickbill and his brothers were loosening the final fastenings, General Ironbeak and his fighters were on the floor of Great Hall, and they hid each side of the wall at the top of the stairs, waiting for another foray from Cavern Hole.

"Chakka! Block these stairs well next time, and we will have them out in the open. You, Grubclaw, and you, Ragwing, stay by me. Try to get the big stripedog in the eyes."

Diptafl and Brightback undid the last loop from its hook on the wall. The large tapestry slid down to the floor.

"Yaggah! We have it, brothers!"

3<>5.

"Redwaaaaall!"

Constance came thundering down upon them from the open doorway. Diptail lost his proud tail feathers with one sweep of a blunt paw. Brightback and Quickbill shot into the air like startled flies. Cornflower, Ambrose and Winifred hurriedly rolled up the tapestry while Foremole and his crew stood whirling slings.

Mangiz spotted them. "Kragga! The earthcrawlers are over there, Ironbeak!"