Her companion fidgeted moodily with a dandelion. "Not lost, just don' know a way back, s'all. They always come an' find us, you see, always come an' say, 'Likkle rogues, worry us a death, very naughty!' "

The molemaid giggled at the mousebabe's imitation of Mother Mellus. "Hurr hurr, ee sounden same as owd badgermum."

Slipp and Blaggut were lost, too. They had strayed from the main course of River Moss in the shrewboat and now lay becalmed up a tributary. Slipp had decided the blame lay with Blaggut.

"Yew arf-baked barnacle, what did yer bring us up this 'ere backwater for?''

t The searat knew he dare not argue with his Captain, so he shrugged with an injured air. "Cap'n?"

Slipp was working himself up into a fine temper, and drawing his cutla.s.s slowly he imitated Blaggut's voice.

** "Cap'n, Cap'n, is that all y'can say, Cap'n, Cap'n? I'll * Cap'n yer, you useless lump o' seaslop. Now over the side with yer carca.s.s an' get pullin' on that 'eadrope afore I carves yer into crabmeat!"

Stifling a sigh of resignation, Blaggut heaved his bulk over the bows, drawing in a swift gasping breath at the stream's chill. Shouldering the headrope he began towing the shrewboat behind him, but not without protest.

"I'd be better off paddlin', Cap'n. S'pose there was h'eels an' those 'ungry pikefishes swimmin' in these 'ere waters. I could get meself et up, an' you'd 'ave t'go it alone. . ."

Slipp snorted at the idea. "Pikes V eels got more sense than to try an' eat a big, fat, poison blubbergut like you. Just keep 'eavin' on that rope 'til I tells yer t'stop!"

The searat heaved, but kept up his complaints. "The V bottom's all muddy an' squishy Cap'n, s'pose I sinks ? outer sight, sucked under like ..."

Slipp lay back in the boat, letting sun patterns play over him as the trees went by. "No such luck, barrelb.u.m. This stream's got too much respect fer itself than to 'ave the likes of you layin' in the mud like a dirty great porpoise.

>Pull, ye swab!"

sun was beginning to dip low as Tarquin halted his learchers. He squinted up at the sky before nodding de-^Cisively. 1 "That's as far as we go in this direction, chaps - two 150.

The little uns like those couldn't have got further than this." Brother Mallen, a young mouse, who himself had been a Dibbun until four seasons ago, held up his paw. "Mr. Tarquin, sir, you'd be surprised at how far two Dibbuns can go in one afternoon. Maybe we should press on to the River Moss and search over that way."

"You're barkin' up the wrong tree, laddie," said the hare, staring down his nose for a moment at the Brother. "Take m'word for it; I know about these things. When y've got a few seasons under y'belt, like me, you'll know how to track an' search expertly. Meanwhile, I suggest we spread out further apart an' comb the bally old country t'the east, makin' a sweep down south toward old Saint Ninian's church. Righto, troop, as y'were, thrash the jolly bushes an' shrubs with your staves, call out the names loud, Funthingee an' wotsismouse, no slackin', be dark before y'know it!"

The Redwallers moved off into the undergrowth, shaking bushes and calling aloud as they moved in a southeastward sweep. Off in the opposite direction to the lost Dibbuns.

Slipp yanked at the headrope impatiently, sending Blag-gut sprawling backward into the water. "Take me into the bank, over there by that big tree!" he barked.

Coughing streamwater, Blaggut obediently pulled until the shrewboat was banked, then he looped the headrope round the three-topped oak his Captain had indicated.

"Cap'n?"

The searat Captain ambled ash.o.r.e and slumped against the oak as if wearied after a hard day's toil. "Cap'n, '.

* Cap'n, there you go again! Now lissen hard, c.o.c.klebrains, mark this tree, remember where it is, an' don't get lost. Take yore moldy carca.s.s off into these woods an' get me some vittles."

;. Blaggut stared hopefully at Slipp. "Vittles, Cap'n?" "Aye, vittles, Cap'n! You know wot vittles is, don't . yer? Food to shove in yore face; berries, nuts, fruit, there ; must be stuff aplenty to eat in this jungle. Get goin'!"

' Blaggut's dull features brightened.

"Aye, aye, Cap'n, vittles! I'll bring yer all I kin lay claws on, an' water to drink as well."

Slipp glared at the westering sun as if it were partly to blame, then he smiled disarmingly at his servant. "We've been surrounded by fresh streamwater all day, nitbrains.

_.? Wot would we need more for? Look, just go an' get the vittles, will yer? An' remember the way back."

Blaggut stumbled off into the woodland muttering to r, himself. "No water, jus' vittles, an' remember the way back, got it. No vittles jus' remember an' water if y'come back, or was it don't remember water an' no vittles on ** the way back. . ."

*v Slipp covered his head with both paws and slept.

Mellus and Saxtus, with several of the old and - Very young, stood on the path outside Redwall Abbey's &. west side. They held lanterns high, even though there was ^x a full moon to give good light.

*

v'; Blind Simeon turned his face south. "Is that the search coming from the direction of Saint Ninian's?" he "It is indeed," said Sister Sage, peering down the path. ^Though I don't see the Dibbuns with them."

*r*

152.

"Have they been eaten by wildbeasts, Mellus?" one of the leverets piped up.

The old badger cuffed the young hare's ears gently. "Of course not, and don't let me hear you spreading horrible stories around. By rights you should be in bed!"

Weary and paw-sore, the search party halted in front of the main gate. Tarquin threw the reception committee a tired salute. "No sign of the little uns at all, I'm afraid; we covered a wide area, north, east, and south, no joy whatsoever."

The Abbot studied his paws in the moonlight. "You did all you could. Come in now, we've held supper over for you. Tomorrow we'll start the search again at first light. Inside, you Dibbuns. Come on now, bedtime."

The Redwallers drifted into the Abbey grounds. Tarquin stayed back with Blind Simeon to secure the main gate for the night.

"Perhaps we'd better post sentries on the wall, they might wander home during the night," said the blind sage as he felt about for the barlock. "Dearie me, I can't help wishing that Joseph were here, he'd know what to do."

Blaggut made his way back to the oak on the streambank, more by luck than judgment. He shook the sleeping form of his Captain vigorously. "Cap'n, Cap'n, guess wot I found?"

Slipp yawned and blinked in the darkness. "Don't tell me, a cask of seaweed grog and a roasted gull!"

"O, that's a good un, yer a one you are, Cap'n!" Blag-gut chuckled heartily.

Slipp grabbed hold of the slow-witted searat. "I'm an 'ungry one right now, flop'ead. Where's those vittles?"

153.

"O er, vittles, er, there wasn't none," Blaggut's voice rattled on with excitement. "But I found two Hddle beasts asleep; they're livin' in a tent jus' a stroll further up the bank, Cap'n!"

"You didn't wake 'em, did yer?"

"No, Cap'n. Bless their liddle 'earts, they looked so peaceful. I came right back 'ere t' let you know."

Slipp released Blaggut and shook his paw. "That's the first sensible thing you've done today, mate. Now you lead me to 'em, nice an' quiet like!"

14.

The onset of night in the dungeons of Castle Floret weighed deeply on Mariel and Dandin. They sat on the wide window ledge, tired, hungry, and sore, watching the moon hanging like a b.u.t.tered disc over the valley. Mariel was using the rope that had bound their footpaws to fash-ion a new Gullwhacker. As she worked, she wondered dolefully if she would ever get a chance to use it.

Dandin, half awake and half asleep, was imagining himself back at his beloved Redwall, strolling through the moonlit orchard with his friend Saxtus after supper, as the : great Joseph bell softly boomed out the quarter; hearing the distant voice of Mother Mellus from the dormitory '.

;windows as she shooed Dibbuns off to bed; sensing the odors of apple, plum, strawberry, and pear on the still, fragrant air. He was roused from his reverie by Mariel's voice.

. "How does he do it? That old Field Marshal will sleep through anything-look at him."

Meldrum the Magnificent was lying full stretch, his 156.

weighty stomach rising and falling to each snore. Dandin watched him, envious of the hare's capacity to recede into slumber at the wink of an eye.

Mariel stared up at the moon, speaking her thoughts aloud. ' 'That same moon will be shining over the Abbey now. I'll bet my dad has taken himself off to bed; he's another one who can sleep anytime, night or day, it makes no difference to him."

Dandin looked away from the window to the stark, hostile interior of their cell, "Makes you wonder if we'11 ever see Redwall again," he said, his voice wistful. "Though at the moment a beaker of water and a crust of bread would be a welcome sight."

To take her friend's mind off food, Mariel climbed down from the window ledge and said, "We haven't explored this cell yet. Come on-let's see if we can find a weak spot to escape from."

Dandin slid from the window ledge to join her. "It all looks pretty solid and secure to me; they didn't build this place with a view to letting anyone break out."

Together they inspected the dungeon. Walls and floor alike were heavy, close-jointed stone. Dandin tried probing the narrow cracks with his paws but soon gave up. "Hammer and chisel'd help. Know anywhere we could borrow 'em?" he said.

Mariel was staring upward. "Hmm, ceiling's the same, rock solid. Let's take a look at the window bars."

Meldmm was lying in their way, and they had to move him. The old hare opened one eye and muttered, "What'n the name of flattened frogs are you chaps up to? Distur-bin' my nocturnal repose, wot. No respect for age at all, that's the trouble with this young generation!"

157.

"We're sounding the place out, looking for ways of escape," said Mariel suppressing a smile. "D'you mind moving away from the bars, sir?"

Meldrum moved, rather huffily. "Whatcha goin' t'do, rip the bars out an' fly away?"

Dandin was kicking the bars with his footpaws. "A chance is a chance, no matter how slim. Huh, it's no chance here though-creature who put these bars in knew what he was doing. They're bedded tight, set in the stone with molten lead; deep, too, I imagine."

Meldrum sat up. He stretched and yawned. * 'Ah well, no rest for the righteous, I s'pose. So then, escape y'say, let's see. How did we get into this lockup?"

"How did we get in here?" said Mariel, looking at him quizzically. "Obviously by way of the door!"

The hare wiggled his ears so that they rubbed together. "Full marks, young mouseygel. Now you're startin' to think properly, wot! Stands to reason, don't it, if the door is the entrance it's also the bally exit. Doors were made to close... and open, so let's inspect the jolly old portal!"

Together the three captives moved to the door. Mariel and Dandin, bowing to Meldrum's seniority, let him take over. "Righty ho, young Dandin, bang loudly on this door, please."

Without question Dandin started thumping as hard as he could. Nothing happened for a moment, then there was a sound of footpaws and a drowsy, irritable guard's voice rasped out, "Stop that bangin' in there, prisoners!"

Meldrum adopted a whimpering tone. "Please, sir, we want a drink of water."

His plea was followed by a harsh laugh from the guard.

158.

"Water? You three ain't allowed no water. Huh, only water you'll get is when they fling yer dead bodies inter the moat, now be quiet or you'll get a taste of me spear-point. Shurrup, d'yer 'ear?"

This was followed by footpaws receding along the outside corridor. Meldrum winked, signaling them to keep their voices low. "Number one, we've established that there's a sentry on duty, out there night an' day if I'm not mistaken. Two, the villain's armed with a spear; that'll come in useful when the time comes."

"What time, and how can a guard with a spear be useful to us?'' said Dandin.

The hare frowned. "Don't interrupt, laddie, unless y've got somethin' useful t'say. Now, about this door ... I'm willin' to wager it's got a simple dungeon lock; see if you can take a quick peek."

Dandin boosted Mariel up to the spyhole. By pushing her face hard sideways into it she strained her eye downward and was able to view the contrivance. "You're right, sir," she said. "It's just a long bolt that pushes through a staple driven into the side wall, no real locks or keys." "Good, good, exactly as I thought!" Meldrum snorted with satisfaction.

Dandin let Mariel down quietly. She shrugged saying, "It's a very strong bolt though, and we've no chance at all of reaching it."

Meldrum was busily scanning the other side of the door. "Why should we want t'reach it? Lock's prob'ly the strongest part of the door; we're lookin' for the weakest."

"And what part is that, sir?" Mariel inquired.

The hare smiled craftily. "The hinges, of course! This 159.

is better'n I thought. Just look at these hinges, stupid things! The buffer who erected this door placed the hinges on the inside. Weakest part of a door, hinges, y'know, and these are no exception. Simple pin flattened both ends is the only thing holding this top one together; bottom's the same. Half rusted, too, I shouldn't wonder. There y'go, young warriors, remove two hingepins an' the door can be shoved outward!"

Dandin rubbed his paws delightedly. "Aye, and if we shove hard enough, the staple holding the bolt will be torn out of the wall by a big heavy door like this. The whole thing will fall flat into the corridor!"

"I hate to put a damper on things," said Mariel, interrupting his jubilation, "but how are we going to cut through the hingepins with no tools?"

Meldrum stroked his twirling mustachio thoughtfully. "Good question, good question. Ah well, a chap's got to make sacrifices, only one thing for it."

He inspected the medals left on his tunic-some of them had been lost as they were dragged along. Choosing carefully, he selected a huge, silver-colored orb with serrated edges. "See this? Order of the shining sun. Presented t'me by moles-can't recall exactly what it was for-jolly pretty though, doncha think. Very hard metal, made by mole craftbeasts, should do the job."

Mariel tore a strip from the edge of her tunic and **wound it around the bar that held the medal. "Dandin, work on the hingepins together. Meldrum, sir, keep ;jm eye to the spyhole in case the guard comes."

Dandin took first try. Grunting with exertion, he and sawed with the medal. He rewound the strip i6o .

of cloth around it often, as his paws got scratched and tender, A quarter of the way through the bottom hingepin, Marie! relieved him, hacking and sawing busily. "We're not making too much noise, are we, sir? Can you see the guard?"

Meldrum kept his eye glued to the spyhole. "No, not really, but I think the blighter's kippin'. I can hear him snore every now an' then. How's it goin'?"

"It's hard, but I'm making good progress," said Mar-iel, groaning as she changed position. "Just a bit more on this one. Dandin, shove your footpaw against my back so I can lean harder on the medal. That's it!" A moment later she straightened up, holding a small length of rusty iron in her paw. "There it is, the bottom hingepin!"

Heartened by the sight, Meldrum spat on his paws and took the medal from them. "You two take turns at the spyhole, leave the top hinge t'me, wot?"

Using his considerable weight and strength the hare went at the hingepin with a good deal of brute force. His sizeable stomach wobbled back and forth as he sawed, talking all the time to the remaining pin. "Hah! Think y'can stand against the strongest hare alive, eh? Let me tell you, m'little feller, I've picked bigger than you out o' me molars after a good dinner!"