Blind Simeon spread both paws wide, his reedy voice carrying on the breeze: "Fortune, fates and fair seasons be with you, may the spirit of Martin guide and guard you all!"

The cries grew fainter and dimmer as the logboats picked up the center current and swept away, sped skillfully on by the paddles of Log-a-Log's tribe.

Joseph sat in the prow of Log-a-Log's boat, listening to the shrew Chieftain.

"Finnbarr Galedeep, there's a rogue for you. If any-beast can get us a ship, he can. You ever met a sea otter, Joseph?''

"Never, though I've heard tell of them. What's this Finnbarr Galedeep like?"

Log-a-Log dug his paddle deep, chuckling. "Oho, you'll find out soon enough, my friend!"

Day turned into night and back again twice as the four logboats sped downstream traveling seaward. Overhanging trees, resounding with Mossflower birdsong, cast speckled shade and gave way to shimmering water meadows and silent green fields. The fields changed gradually into high, sun-warmed banks where yellow-horned poppy, purslane, and pink-flowered thrift were visited by bees, as they danced gently with the breeze. Peaceful and ancient, 93.

the landscape skimmed quietly by. Guosim shrews were not so quarrelsome once they were waterbome and paddling awhile. Often they would break out into river shanties, gruff ba.s.s voices resounding into the countryside- "I was bom on a stream and fed from a paddle, Shrum a doo rye *ey, shrum a doo rye 'ey, And here I'll stay 'til me tail don't waggle, See longweeds grow where the currents flow, Aye that's the way I like it soooooooooooo. Shrum a doo rye 'ey, shrum a doo rye 'ey, Ho run you river, run my way, Ho ummm, Ho ummmm, Ho ummmm!"

The final daybreak of their voyage found Hon Rosie wakened from a cramped position. "Oohh! I feel like a jolly old frog in a jug, wot? I say, though, the old footpaws are rather warm 'n' comfy."

"Burr aye, they'm should be, marm. Ee be'n sticken 'em daown moi ears all noight long. Hurr!"

Foremole pulled himself up to enjoy the spectacle of dawn across the dunes. Powderblue skies were barred by rollers of pearl gray clouds, their tops tinged apricot and rose by a sun rising in the east. Sounds of waves and seabirds stirred Rufe from his slumber. He lay still as the logboats nosed aground in a sandy cove, twixt two high dunes at the sh.o.r.e edge. "Are we in the sea, Durry?" he asked.

The hedgehog splashed over the side into the shallows. "Bless yer 'eart no, Rufe. This 'ere's still the stream. We'll 'ave to trek across the sh.o.r.e to reach seawater."

Log-a-Log had jumped to land first. "Don't show your- 94.

selves. Stay here close by the boats until I return," he cautioned them. "Bandle, keep a lookout from the top of that dune. The rest of you keep your heads down. The seash.o.r.e can be a dangerous place sometimes." With that he was gone.

Rosie shrugged and started unpacking breakfast. "I'm bally well famished. What ho you lot, who's for nosebags? Whoo..."

Foremole's paw clamped across her mouth, cutting off the strident laugh. "Yurr naow, marm, ee doant wants t'be oopsettin' everybeast do ee? Koindly keep from lar-fin' thankee."

The shrews lit a smokeless little fire from tinder-dry gra.s.s and charcoal. It burned low and red. Breakfast was a simple affair of honey, hot shrewbread, and mint tea.

About halfway through the morning Bundle hopped down from his lookout perch high on the dune crying, "Log-a-Log's back, an' he's brought company!"

The Redwallers were quite taken aback by the appearance of the shrew Chieftain's companion. Log-a-Log introduced the newcomer briefly.

"Meet Finnbarr Galedeep, the sea otter."

One time in the distant past the big malebeast might have been a handsome creature, but the long scars of old battles tracing a course over his muscular form, coupled with a mussel-sh.e.l.l eyepatch and a missing ear, gave him a fearsome look. A curved swordhilt protruded over each of his shoulders, carried in cross-belted sheaths strapped to his back. Grinning good-naturedly at his wide-eyed audience, Finnbarr thrust forth a heavily tattooed limb. " 'Ere's me flipper-it's as good as me true 'eart. The Gale-deep's at y'service!"

95.

Introductions were made all around, and food was brought for the guest. He seated himself on the landward side of the dune, enjoying the mid-morning sun. Winking roguishly at the a.s.semblage, Finnbarr went through pasties, salad, and October ale as though he had survived a seven-season famine. Then, wiping foam and crumbs from his mouth, the sea otter got right down to business.

"Belay, mateys, as I sees it yore wantin' t'sail far south o'er deep seas. Well fer that you needs a good stout ship. Ole Log-a-Log's canoes wouldn't take ye a rough sea league out there on the waves."

Joseph looked the sea otter directly in his good eye. "Are we to take it that you have such a ship, Finnbarr?" he asked.

The big fellow laughed uproariously, as if at some private joke, clapping Joseph soundly on the back. "Ho-hoho! Bless yer c.o.c.kles, mouse. I ain't got so much as a waterlogged twig t'me name!"

Foremole wrinkled his nose in consternation. "Burr, b'aint no larfen matter, zurr. If'n you'm doant 'ave a gurt shipper, whurr'll us'n's get one?"

"We steals it, o' course!"

A loud cry rang out from both shrews and Redwallers. "Steal a ship?"

"Quiet now and listen to Finnbarr's plan," Log-a-Log silenced them curtly.

The sea otter gestured over his shoulder. "Not 'arf a day's march round yon 'eadland lays two big searat galleons. The Pearl Queen is the best of the twain; she was my craft once, but that's another story. Now she belongs to a scurvy-backed bilgerat called Cap'n Slipp. The other vessel's the Shalloo; 'er master's Cap'n Strapp. They're 96 .

brothers, Slipp 'n' Strapp. Corsairs, dangerous an' sly, both of 'em, always fightin' among themselves."

Hon Rosie could contain herself no longer, and she blurted out, "Oh I say, pinchin' a ship off some rotten ol? searats, what a super wheeze. Whoohahahahoo!"

Finnbarr winced, waggling a paw in his good ear. "A hare, eh. I likes hares, mad an' perilous beasts. Tho' I'd be beholden if ye'd stow the hootin' marm, sound carries round thisaways. Lissen now, the plan's simple. We sinks the Shalloo an' steals the Pearl Queen an' sails off in 'er. Wot d'yer say, mates?"

Log-a-Log spoke for them all. "It sounds like a desperate scheme, Finnbarr, but we're with you all the way, every beast!"

The sea otter showed glittering white teeth in a swift grin. Whipping out one of his swords, he began outlining a map of his plan in the damp sand of the streambank.

"Hearken now, cullies, 'ere's where the two ships lie at anchor, in the shallows offsh.o.r.e. Both crews will be on the beach tonight, feastin' around a fire, so there should be only a few aboard each vessel keepin' watch. We wait 'til the swell of 'igh water when the tide's aturn after midnight, then 'tis quick 'n' silent. In these 'ere shrewboats you lot sail seaward, come in on a curve to board Pearl Queen an' take 'er. Meself an' Log-a-Log'll swim o'er t'the Shalloo to bore some 'oles in 'er side an' scuttle 'er in the bay. Then it's out onto the wide blue briny fer us all!"

Joseph studied the plan, nodding solemnly. "I like it; simple and straightforward, that's the best way!"

The remainder of that day they spent resting in the shelter of the dunes. Rufe Brush watched the lengthening 97.

shadows on the sand, confiding his worries to Durry in hushed whispers.

"I've never stolen anything before. Well, I suppose I filched a few candied chestnuts when I was a Dibbun, but never something as big as a ship!"

Durry Quill, an adventurer born, winked at Rufe. "Don't you fret yoreself, mate. We'll stick t'gether. Hah! Searats sat all great big cowards. Just show 'em a weapon an' growl, like this: Grr! That settles 'em!"

Rufe picked up the rapier given to him by one of the Guosim. Waving it halfheartedly, he tried a timid growl. "Grr. How does that sound, Durry?"

"GarrooohaharroogumTr!" The twin blades of Finnbarr Galedeep's curved swords flashed in front of Rufe's startled eyes. Then, swiftly sheathing both blades, the big sea otter ruffled the young squirrel's ears playfully.

"Do it like that, matey. Show 'em y'mean business an' don't be 'arf 'carted about it. You'll do all right."

Darkness fell as they made a final cold meal of oat scones, cheese, and cider-no fires were allowed to pinpoint their position in the dunes at the sh.o.r.e edge. Sentries were posted while the rest lay trying to steal a quick nap, each with their thoughts of what awaited them where the two ships lay at anchor around the headland. Would it be a swift victory and a good ship, or a wrong plan ending in capture and death, or slavery at the cruel claws of sea-rats? A three-quarter moon shimmered over the restless sea in the soft summerdark as the time drew closer to midnight.

Dawn had already broken over Southsward when Furpp called two of his grandchildren to a.s.sist him.

"Yurr, Burdill, you an' Grumbee stir ee stumps. Us'n's must take ee brekkist to our friends."

Burdill shook his velvety head. "Hurr, granfer, they'm a'ready be gonned. Miz Mariel, she'm roused t'others long since. Me an' Grumbee packed 'em a brekkist to eat on ee way."

Furpp inspected his digging claws closely, in the way that some older moles will do when deep in thought. He nodded decisively, then patted the two small moles. "Gudd gudd. Ee did woisely, both o' you'm h'infants. Hurr, tho' oi wanders whurr they be agone to?"

"Oi did 'ear ee gurt rabbet Meld'n say as they wurr eckertoimerin," Grumbee piped up.

Furpp blinked down at the youngster. "Eckertoimerin? Hoo an, that sounds noice, tho' oi be wunderin' wot ee means, eckertoimerin."

Had the moles been able to p.r.o.nounce the word properly they would have known that Mariel, Dandin, and 99.

IOO.

Bowly had gone out on a reconnoitering trip with Meld-rum and his leveret squad. Meldrum the Magnificent was familiar with the terrain, he explained as they strode south over the hills.

"Best route to Floret's this way. See a stream ahead soon, take that route, might meet some otters, wot? Useful coves, otters; may get some info from them about this confounded Foxwolf thingee. Reconnoiter an' gather information, that's what I always say, eh?"

Mariel, whose idea it had been in the first place, nodded agreement as they crested the brow of an immense sandhill. On an impulse she spread her paws, stopping them from continuing further. "Hold it. Did you feel the ground a bit shaky then? I did."

Bowly crept under her outstretched paws, then after venturing a bit further on the hilltop, he tippawed gingerly back. "Yore right. It's like a great over'angin* sandcliff we're stannin* on. Best move back afore it collapses!"

Meldrum waggled his ears and sniffed. "Don't remember it bein' like that before. Bit of a while since I've been in this neck o' the woods, doncha know. Not an uncommon occurrence, though-erosion I think they call it. Side of the jolly ol* sandhill slips away one day an' leaves the gra.s.sy top like a big overhang. No matter. We'll go another way."

They slid down the undamaged side of the hill and climbed to the top of another, safer, one. Dandin was first up, and he shot out a paw. "Look, there's the stream. Something's happening down there-looks like trouble!"

Mariel and Meldrum joined him. The hilltop commanded a good view of the scene taking place some distance off downstream. Two creatures, a squirrel and her 101 young one, clung to the broad surface of a tree trunk which was being propelled by a band of otters. Closing rapidly on them was a band of rats, headed by two ermine and Nagru. The Field Marshal hare peered down, recognizing the adult squirrel.

"Great seasons, it's Queen Serena. Looks like she needs help-form into skirmish line, troop!"

Mariel placed herself squarely in front of the impulsive hare, halting any further activity. Her mind raced madly as she tried reasoning with him. "Field Marshal, sir, remember what you said-plan first, act later!"

"No time now, missie. Duty calls, y'know. Stand aside!" said Meldrum, as he adjusted the stone at the end of his rod.

Dandin joined Mariel. "Sir, there're far too many of them for our small force to go up against. If you charge in now, we'll all be killed. Your four young nephews, Bowly, do you want to see them ma.s.sacred by hundreds of vermin? There'd be no point to it!"

While Dandin was reasoning with Meldrum, a solution had formed swiftly in the mousemaid's agile mind. It was risky, but worth a try. She interrupted Dan din's pleas.

"Listen, I've just thought of a plan! Runtwold, Colt-vine, we'll need your slings and stone pouches. Bowly, take these four young hares back to Furpp's dwelling. Tell him to watch out for those creatures on the stream and shelter them. Go!"

Mariel's voice had such a ring of certainty to it that Bowly and the hares were gone in a flash. As she and Dandin armed themselves with slings and stones, she turned to the slightly bemused Meldrum. "Now, we need JO2.

a beast of some weight and courage. Are you game for this, sir?"

Meldrum the Magnificent was caught up by MarieFs urgency and sureness. His ears stood straight as he said, "Game? Hah, say on m'gel, there's none gamer than this hare!"

Mariel knotted the Gullwhacker securely about her waist. "Good! Now here's what we'll do..."

Queen Serena hugged little Truffen to her. He was weeping piteously, frightened by the sight and sounds of the horde led by the Dirgecallers and Nagru. They were in plain sight now, pouring along the streambank after the floating log. While the rest of the otters pushed the tree trunk through the water, Iris and Greenbeck, armed with javelins, climbed onto the log. Protecting the squirrels with their bodies, the two brave otters prepared to face the onslaught together.

Howling with triumph, the Foxwolf halted his horde on the streambank. The two ermine snuffled and wailed hideously. Eager to get at their prey but reluctant to venture into the deep stream, they wove back and forth at the water's edge. The otters had steered the log over to the far bank to distance themselves from attack. Some of the horderats were beginning to string their bows up and select arrows. Nagru turned on them with a snarl.

"Put those bows away. Arrows would spoil the sport. I've got them now and I want them alive and unharmed. My Dirgecallers can have the otters, but I want those two squirrels alive. Stand ready and await my orders!"

Without warning the rat called Mingol shrieked as, grabbing his head in both paws, he fell senseless to the 103.

ground. His partner Vengro stared down in puzzlement at him.

"What's wrong with Mingol? He was just... Unhh!" Vengro slumped beside his companion. Nagru whirled about to see what the trouble was, and a slingstone thudded hard into his back. One of the Dirgecallers yowled in anguish as another stone slammed into its ribs.

"Get down. We're being attacked!" the rat Captain Riveneye yelled.

More stones followed in quick succession, and a mocking laugh rang out from some bushes a short distance away.

"Hahaha! Keep those heads down, sc.u.m. There's a whole army of slingers ready to pick you off!"

The wolfhide had taken most of the impact of the stone that struck Nagru. He scrambled forward on all fours, peering into the bushes. Seeing he was not immediately hit, the Foxwolf ventured upright, ducking swiftly as a good-sized pebble lodged between the wolfskull and his brow. Grimacing with pain, he plucked it out and hurled it back at the bush. A short yelp was followed by the sight of two mice retreating to the deep cover of thicker foliage. Nagru grabbed stones from the ground, throwing them at the place where the mice had hidden as he ran forward calling, "There's only two of 'em, it's no army. Charge!"

Dandin nudged Mariel urgently. "The game's up- time we weren't here!"

They broke cover and began a mad dash, back the way .they had come. Mariel risked a quick glance backward. "Better shift-the whole pack's after us!" she yelled.

Footpaws thrumming madly against the card), Mariel IO4.

and Dandin ran for their lives, the breath rising ragged in their throats as the two Dirgecallers, heading the pack, sped on their tails, gaining by the moment. Nagru followed in the rear, hurling challenges and threats. "Tear them to bits! Stop and fight, mice!" Dandin stumbled. Mariel, catching his paw quickly, pulled him upright and they dashed on together, side by side, dust and sand flying, hearts pounding wildly, with the Dirgecallers, slightly ahead of the horde, closing fast. Muriel's head came up; she glimpsed the big eroded dune ahead, rearing up like a mighty wave of sand, the gra.s.sy crest projecting perilously over a huge inward-curving hill. Through her blurred vision she could barely make out the ponderous form of Meldrum perched far out on the gra.s.sy top. Putting on a final spurt she tugged Dandin along. "Not far... Come on ... just a bit more!"

Meldrum the Magnificent watched the tableau below, gritting his teeth with suspense. It looked as if the two mice would surely be stopped by the ermine before they made the slope. No! They had put on an extra spurt and pulled away a bit; now they were on the final stretch and, calling up stamina from some deep reserve, they actually broke into a headlong sprint. As Meldrum stamped his footpaw down with delight, the whole dunetop shuddered. He went still immediately, saving his move until the exact moment. Leaning out, he squinted downward-there they were! Mariel and Dandin had made it to the hill. Sand flew from beneath their paws as they battled upward into the curve with the ermine and about ten front-runners of the horde beginning to close on them again. The two mice suddenly changed course, veering sideways to the right where the curve of the hill straightened, and Mariel The Beilrnaker 105.

shouted one word at the top of her voice.

"Now!!!"

Meldrum instinctively knew the pursuers were climbing the hill directly beneath him, but Mariel's voice confirmed it. The old hare jumped as high as he could into the air.

Whump The whole dunetop shook. He jumped again, harder.

Whump The earth trembled as he landed, gra.s.s roots tearing as they parted company with the sand. Gritting his teeth, Meldrum the Magnificent leaped high in the air a third time, yelling out the battle cry of hares and badgers.

"Eulaliaaaa!"

Whoooosssshhh! Whooomphl The entire top curve of the high dune fell with an almighty avalanche of weeds, gra.s.s, and sand. It seemed to hover in midair a fraction, then down it came like a thunderbolt, with the old warrior perched atop still yelling his war cry. The Dirgecallers and at least a score of the rat horde never knew what happened to them. Countless tons of sand wiped them out instantly.

Nagru came dashing up, pushing and kicking his way through the awestruck ma.s.ses. He made his way to the front and gaped in amazement at the scene. Mariel and Dandin had escaped the worst, but they were trapped, buried almost to their necks in sand. Meldrum had fared little better; being immersed to his ample waist, he could only struggle helplessly and hurl insults at his enemy.

"Good wheeze, eh? Wished we could've got the crummy lot of you under there with your stinkin' rotten io6 .

ermine and some of your other pals. Well, what're y'gaw-pin' at?"