The squirrel Champion cupped both paws around his mouth and yelled upward, "Strangebeasts on the path, Ginko?"

The Bellringer leaned outward, pointing. "Aye, two hares come out o' the north!"

The look of concern melted from Skipper's tough face, to be replaced by one of comic dismay. "Did you say 'ares, messmate? Lock up the vittles an' stan' by fer a famine, prepare to be eaten outta 'ouse'n'ome!"

Breaking cover from the woodlands, Tammo stared excitedly at the soaring towers and gables of the red sandstone building farther down the path. Pasque's voice at his side echoed both their thoughts.

"Golly, is that Redwall Abbey? Tis even bigger'n I thought it'd jolly well be. What a beautiful sight!"

Sergeant Torgoch kept his eyes ahead as he said, "None more luvverly, miss! Right, fall inter twos an' let's see us marchin' up there like Long Patrol an' not a bunch o' waddlin' ducks on daisy day! Chins up, chests out, shoulders back, tails twitchirT smartly! Keep up at the back there, Grang!"

The giant hare Rockjaw Grang was carrying the baby badger in a sling across his chest. He frowned at the Sergeant. "BegghT thy pardon, Sarge, but could y'keep thy voice down? Sithee, ah've just gotten yon tyke asleep for his mor-nin' nap!"

Major Perigord, who was marching at the head of the column, smiled whimsically at the thought of Rockjaw as a nursemaid. "Don't fret, Rock. If Galloper Riffle an' Tuny are already there, they'll have no shortage of blinkin' badgermin-ders t'take the little 'un off y'paws, then you can sit down to

149.

a good ol' tuck-in with the rest o' the chaps, wot?"

A dreamy look crossed Rockjaw's face as he wiped a paw across his lips. "Redwall Abbey vittles, by 'eck, lead me to wl"

'em!'

28.

Abbess Tansy and Arven, with a deputation of otters and elders, stood in the open gateway to greet the Long Patrol. Captain Twayblade broke ranks to embrace the Abbess warmly.

"Mother Abbess, so good t'see you, old friend. You look wonderful!"

' 'Twayblade, what a lovely surprise. Welcome to our Abbey again!"

Old friends met old friends, and new ones were made as introductions flew thick and fast. The dashing hares of the Long Patrol were much admired by the Redwallers as they stood there chatting in the Abbey gateway, leaning on their weapons, smartly clad in their tunics, with medals and ribbons on display. Secretly, even the most humble Abbeydwellers wished they too could present such a picture-jolly, courteous, and kind, but feared by their enemies and totally perilous.

Major Perigord winked at Skipper. "What d'ye say, old lad, d'ye think everybeast here would like to march in with us, make a jolly good entrance, wot!"

Skipper stood smartly to attention at the Major's side. "Good idea, matey. Ahoy, form up in a line o' fours, let's 150.

151 bring our guests 'ome in style. Arven, Shad, up front 'ere with meVthe Major. Great seasons, I wish we 'ad a band!"

Perigord drew his saber with a flourish and a rattle. "Your word is my command, sah. Rubbadub, beat us in with your best drums, if y'would!"

Dibbuns whooped in delight and amazement as Corporal Rubbadub milled about, waving his paws and setting up a dust and a din.

"Baboom! Baboom! Baboombiddy boombiddy boom! Drrrrrapadapdap! Drrrubbadubdub! Bababoom! Bababoom! Bababoom!"

Cheering aloud and stamping their paws in time to the beat, the cavalcade marched across the lawns to the Abbey in fine military style. Tammo and Pasque strode alongside Friar b.u.t.ty and the molebabe Gubbio, chatting animatedly. The young squirrel Friar had excellent news for them.

"You've arrived at a good time, friends. Today we're bavin' a great feast to celebrate the birth of three liddle owl-chicks."

Pasque's normally soft voice was shrill with excitement. "I say! Y'mean we're actually goin' t'be guests at a famous Red-wall feast?"

Gubbio grabbed her paw as he hop-skipped to Rubbadub's drums. "Ho aye, marm, ee'll 'ave such vittles'n'fun as ne'er afore!"

As soon as they were inside the Abbey, those hares who had never visited Redwall were led off on a grand tour by a gang of eager Dibbuns. Other Redwallers went about their tasks to prepare for the festivities, while Abbess Tansy and her elders retired to Cavern Hole with Perigord, Twayblade, Rockjaw, and Torgoch.

The hares were offered light refreshments of candied fruits and red-currant cordial as they exchanged news and information with their hosts. Tansy listened carefully to the account of the skirmish in the defile, shaking her head in sorrowful bewilderment at the death of Russa Nodrey, who had visited Redwall many times in bygone seasons. When the tale was told, Rockjaw opened the sling, which he had held easily concealed beneath his tunic, and presented the Abbess with his precious burden.

152 "Sithee, marm, this is the babby. A grand likkle male an' good as gold for company on a march, 'e is!"

Tansy could not wait to hold the tiny bundle. She placed a cushion in her lap and laid him on it. He was no more than a season old, hardly any age at all. Lying flat on his back, the babe yawned and opened his soft dark eyes as the Abbess inspected him. The badger's back was silver gray, and his chest and paws were velvety black. He had a moist brown nose and a snow-white head, sectioned by two thick black stripes running either side of the muzzle from whiskers to ears, covering both eyes.

Craklyn touched the upturned footpads. "Seasons of winter! Just look at the size of these paws! He's goin' to be big as an oak when he grows to full size!"

Tansy chuckled fondly as she tickled the babe's tiny white-tipped ears. "Welcome to Redwall Abbey, little sir, and pray, what name do you go by?"

The baby badger held out his paws to her, growling, "Nun-nee! Nunnee!"

"The little chap's said that several times," Major Perigord explained, "only word he seems t'know. We've surmised that it means Nanny, the old badger he was with. She was prob'ly his grandmother or nurse-'fraid we haven't a clue as to who his parents are. There was certainly no sign of them where we found him. Had there been two grown badgers with him, those vermin would've given the place a wide berth, wot!"

Foremole Diggum placed a honeyed hazelnut in the babe's paws, and immediately he began chewing the nut hungrily.

"Burr," said Diggum, " 'ee may be a h'orphan, but thurr b'aint nuthin' amiss wi'ee appetoit, no zurr!"

A bowl of creamy mushroom soup was sent for, and Tansy fed the babe while other matters were discussed. The Red-wallers knew nothing of Rapscallions, nor had any other vermin been sighted in the region of late. Arven related the dangerous position of the Abbey's outer south wall and their plans to rebuild it.

By the time the discussions were near their close, the little badger had licked the soup bowl clean and gone back to sleep in the Abbess's lap. Major Perigord had listened pensively to 153 the problems faced by Redwall and its creatures. He stood abruptly, having reached a decision.

"Well, chaps, my duty as Commanding Officer, Long Patrol, is pretty clear. Until your wall is rebuilt and the Abbey safe'n'secure once more, me an' my hares will guard Redwall an' patrol the area night and day. Couldn't do any less, wot! Lady Cregga'd have me ears'n'tail if I didn't. So, marm, if you are willin' to accept us, me an' my troop are at y'service!"

Bowing low, Perigord presented his saber hilt-first to the Abbess. Abbess Tansy touched the handle, signifying her approval.

"My humble thanks to you, Major. I am sure that I speak for all Redwallers when I say that we are a.s.sured of safety by your presence, and your gallant offer is warmly accepted!"

Foremole Diggum threw in a gem of mole logic: "Gudd! Then if you'n's be afinished usin' gurt long apportant words, may'ap us'n's best go an' get ee feast ready, ho urr aye!"

Midge Manycoats sucked his paw ruefully. "Huh, I've just been pecked by perishin' owlbabes!"

Chuckling, Friar b.u.t.ty replaced the lid on a steaming pan. "You must taste good to 'em, Midge. Come over 'ere an' lend a paw. I'm showin' Tammo an' Missie Pasque how t'make Mossflower Wedge."

Both hares were intrigued by the goings-on in Redwall's kitchens; it made such a pleasant change from marching and fighting. Pasque had lined a rectangular earthenware dish with pastry, which b.u.t.ty was viewing approvingly.

"Well done, missie, we'll make cooks of you hares yet. Tammo, are you ready with the first layer?"

Tammo wielded a ladle, enjoying himself immensely. "Wot? I'll say I am. Now don't tell me, b.u.t.ty, just watch this!" He spread the chopped b.u.t.ton mushroom and grated carrot mixture on its pastry base, making sure it was level.

"There! Righto, Pasque, you an' Midge chuck in the next layer!"

Watched by the Friar, the two hares spread sliced white : turnip and chopped leeks as a second layer. Then b.u.t.ty placed a third layer of diced potato and slivered white cabbage.

154 He winked at Tammo and stood back, wiping his paws on a cloth. "Go on then, Tanun, I'm not tellin' you what's next, 'tis up t'you."

Tammo took the lid off a panful of dark rich gravy. ' 'Mmm, smells absolutely super duper! Stand clear, please!" He poured the gravy over the layered vegetables evenly, watching it soak through, pulling his paw back swiftly to avoid a slap with b.u.t.ty's damp cloth.

"No takin' secret licks at the pan, or I'll tell yore Sergeant an' he'll have yore tail for supper, or wotever it is he does. C'mon now, take an end o' this cover each."

Gingerly they lifted a big pastry top between them and flopped it gently over the dish. b.u.t.ty took a knife and trimmed it while Tammo and Midge crimped the edges. Pasque borrowed b.u.t.ty's knife to cut a series of arrowhead slits in the center, then she brushed the top with a mixture of light vegetable oil and finely chopped spring onions.

The squirrel Friar shook their paws. "Well done, good effort for y'first Mossflower Wedge. Now, how long does it stand in the oven?"

Pasque and Tammo spoke out together, "Until it tells you it's done!"

"Right! And when's that?"

"When the crust is golden brown an' shiny, an' there's no more steam coming out of the slits in the middle!"

"Correct! See, I told you I'd make Redwall cooks out of you. Now, let's see how good y'are at makin' Abbey Trifle. . . ."

A single lantern had been left burning at the platform dug by the moles beneath the south outer wall. The pale light flickered, sending its radiance down into the depths of the darkened chasm, where it shone feebly on the spray-drenched stones by the rushing water. In the dim light, bunched wet scales glistened, savage rows of ivory-hued teeth showed briefly, and two slitted eyes filmed over. The creature had heard the furry creatures above, it had seen them, so it waited hungrily, knowing that sooner or later they would be descending into the gloomy rift. Coiling its sinister length around a rock to prevent it being swept away ... it waited.

Sneezewort sat on the hillslope enjoying the mid-morning sunshine. In an old upturned helmet he was boiling up a broth of frogsp.a.w.n and some stream vegetation on his fire. The rat watched his companion approaching, then turned his gaze upon the helmet, pretending to be engrossed with the task of cooking.

Lousewort came damp-furred and shivering. An enormous lump showed between his ears as he squatted by the fire to dry his shivering body.

Sneezewort spoke to his former companion without looking up. "Thought yew was supposed ter be an officer gettin' punished."

Lousewort peered hungrily at the mess bubbling in the helmet. "Er, er, well, I ain't a ossifer no more, mate. Er, er, that looks good. I'm starvin'."

Sneezewort stirred the broth with his dagger. "Don't you *mate' me, I ain't yore mate no more. Why aren't yer still Stannin' up t'yer neck in chains inna river?"

The other rat shrugged noncommittally. "Er, er, they all 156.

escaped durin' the night, with Borumm an' Vendace, but I got left be'ind."

"Left be'ind? Didn't yer wanna go wid 'em? Better'n free-zin' yore tail off inna stream, I woulda thought."

"Er, well, I got knocked over me 'ead an' left senseless."

"Harr, harr! Wouldn't take much t'leave you senseless. Wot 'appened then?"

' 'Er, er, well, I woke up an' shouted the alarm. Lord Damug sent Skaup the ferret out wirra 'undred or more, to 'unt 'em down. Er, Lord Damug said t'me that at least I was loyal, stoopid but loyal 'e called me, an' 'e said that I wasn't fit ter be an ossifer an' told me I'd got me ole job back, servin' in the ranks. So 'ere I am, mate, we're back together, jus' me'n'you."

Sneezewort snorted as he picked the helmet off the flames between two sticks and set it down by the fireside. "Hah! So y'think yer can come crawlin' back t'me, eh? Where's all yer brother officers now, tell me that? An' anudder thing, don't think yore sharin' my vittles, s...o...b..rchops! Go an' get yore own, y'big useless gully-wumper!"

Lousewort sulked by the fire, looking hurt and touching the lump between his ears tenderly. Then, as if remembering something, he reached into his sodden garments and drew out a big dead gudgeon, its scales glistening damply in the morning sunlight.

' 'Er, er, I stood on this an' killed it when I jumped off the rock in the stream. D'yer think it'll be all right to eat?"

Sneezewort nearly knocked the helmet over as he grabbed the fish. "Course it will, me ole mate. Tell yer wot I'll do, I'll shove it in wid this soup an' cook it up a bit on the fire, while you scout for more firewood, mate. You kin 'ave the 'ead'n'tail, those are the best bits, I'll 'ave the middle 'cos yew prob'ly damaged that part by jumpin' on it, mate!"

Lousewort rose, smiling happily. "Er, er, then we're still mates?''

Sneezewort's snaggle-toothed grin smiled back at him. "I was only kiddin' yer a moment back. We wuz always mates, me'n'you, true'n'blue! If yer can't find a spot by yer fire an' a bit t'spare for yer ole mate, then wot sorta mate are yer, 157 that's wot I always says. You nip along now an' get the wood!"

a Damug squatted at the water's edge, honing his swordblade y/ against a flat piece of stone as he conveyed his orders to the Rapmark Captains.

,- "There's plenty of food and water here. We'll camp by this ; stream until they bring back Borumm and Vendace and the others. When they do I'll make such an example of them that no Rapscallion will ever even think of disobeying me again.

*T Gaduss, we've got no scouts at present, so you take fifty with *>f" you and go north. I want you to do a two-day search in that

direction, but if you find anything of interest before that, report Ijf back immediately."

;;. The weasel Gaduss saluted with his spear. ' 'It shall be done, ; Firstblade!"

y Nearly a full day's journey up the same stream bank, the water > broadened, running through two hills whose tops were fringed &* with pine and spruce trees. Log-a-Log, Chieftain of the Guo-J

v sim shrews, was busily cleaning moss from the bottom of a :M' beached and upturned logboat, a.s.sisted by another shrew !

v called Frackle.

'

-'. They paused to watch the other shrews fishing. Frackle ijf.- wiped moss from her rapier blade, nodding toward them.

*

i. "Lots o' freshwater shrimp in that landlocked stretch o' wa-,f^ ter," she said.

^ Lpg-a-Log ran his paw along a section of hull he had It cleaned off. "Aye, freshwater mussels, too. Minnow an' stick->ft leback were there in plenty last time I fished that part. Take a

* stroll over there, Frackle, easy like-an' don't look up at yon-

*j der hill on the other bank, we're bein' watched by some o' j

p those thick-'eaded Rapscallion vermin who tried attackin' us H5' yesterday."

-f" Frackle sauntered away, murmuring casually, "Aye, I see v file glint o' the sun on blades up in those trees at the 'illtop, IfeChief. What d'ye want me to do?"

The shrew Chieftain went back to cleaning his boat. "Just Jthings easy, mate. Tell the crews not t'look suspicious,

Mss the word to the archers t'drift back to their boats an' git 158.

their bows'n'arrers ready. We'll give those vermin a warm welcome if they comes down offa that 'ill an' tries crossin' the stream."

Panting and breathing heavily after their long run, Vendace, Borumm, and forty-odd Rapscallion fugitives lay flat among the trees on the hilltop, watching the shrews below.

Borumm stared at the packs that had been unloaded from the boats. "There ain't time fer Us t'stop an' forage in this country. We needs those packs o' vittles if'n we're gonna circle an' make fer the sunny south."

One of the fugitives crawled up alongside the weasel. "Cap'n Borumm, those are the beasts that set on us. They kin fight like wolves wid those liddle swords o' theirs. Huh, you shoulda seen the way that ole Chief one finished off Hogspit!"

Vendace curled his lip at the vermin in a scornful sneer. "Stow that kinda talk, lunk'ead, yore with real officers now. Huh, 'Ogspit? I coulda put paid to 'im wid both paws tied be'ind me back. Bunch o' river shrews don't bother me'n'Borumm none, do they, mate? Phwaw! They're bakin' sumthin' down there, I kin smell it from 'ere. Mmmm! Biscuits, or is it cake?"

Borumm smiled wickedly at the fox. "Wotever it is we'll soon be samplin' it. Right, let's make a move. Keep 'idden climbin' down the 'illside, play it slow. I'll give the word ter charge if they spots us."

The shrewboats were all cleaned and anch.o.r.ed in the shallows. Log-a-Log and his shrews stood around the cooking fire, all acting relaxed, but keyed up for action.

"Scubbi, Shalla, take the archers an' use our boats fer cover. Spykel, Preese, get be'ind those big rocks wid yore sling team. Lead paddlers, stay back 'ere with me an' Frackle, ready to jump in the boats an' launch 'em. Those vermin are startin' downhill, too far out o' range yet. If we 'ave to make a run fer it, stay out o' midstream and use the current close t'this bank."

A rat named Henbit came running to the hilltop. His eyes took in the situation at one quick glance. Turning, he dashed back 159 pell-mell to where the ferret Skaup was leading the main party at a run, hot on the tracks of the fugitives.

Henbit dashed up and threw a hasty salute. "Borumm an' Vendace straight ahead, Cap'n! They've jus' left that 'illtop to cross the stream an' attack those shrews!"