Tammo was on his third sling when he heard Sergeant Tor-goch bellowing, "Down flat an' reload slings, first rank. Second rank, shoot!"

Tammo and Pasque threw themselves down side by side, fumbling to load up their slings. Skipper and the second rank stood forward, shafts drawn back upon tautened bowstrings, and sent a hail of arrows zipping down into the ma.s.sed vermin. From where they lay, the first rank twirled their slings and added to the salvo.

Then everybeast in the Redwall army grabbed for the spears tying on the ground between the ranks. Tammo, Pasque, and Riffle, like many others, did not have a proper spear, but the long ash poles with fire-hardened points served just as well. Staves, spears, pikes, and javelins bristled to the fore all along the line.

The Rapscallions were completely taken by surprise. They had expected their opponents to stand and defend the ridge, not to mount a counter charge with spears. Many a vermin heart quailed then as the war cry of Salamandastron's Long Patrol cut the air.

"Eulaliaaaaa! JS death on the wind! Eulaliaaaaaa!"

The Redwallers' charge broke the Rapscallion advance. Drums from below in the rift pounded out the retreat, calling the vermin back.

Damug Warfang estimated that he had lost threescore in the first a.s.sault; the Redwallers had lost about half that number. Slightly more than he had expected, but the Greatrat was satisfied. Now that he had tested his enemies, he knew their strength and also their weakness. However, the Firstblade was surprised at his adversary; for peaceful Abbeydwellers they showed great ferocity in fighting and much cunning in their 298.

maneuvers. Despite this he was confident they would be unable to resist the might of his full army.

Arven sat still as a mole plastered boiled herbs to a deep graze in his side, lifting one paw up to allow the healer better access to his wound. The mole stopped bandaging, blinking at the sight in the valley below.

Damug Warfang was standing on the gra.s.sy sward with his entire army formed up behind him.

"Bo urr an' lackaday, zurr, lukkee, 'tis a tumble soight!"

It was indeed terrible, and impressive. Almost a thousand well-armed vermin, lined in columns, flags streaming, drums beating, with the Greatrat in full armor, sword drawn, out in front.

Log-a-Log stopped sharpening his rapiertip on a whetstone and glanced quizzically at Major Perigord. "Wot d'you suppose Warfang's up to now?"

The hare viewed the scene below dispa.s.sionately. ' 'Tryin' to frighten us with a show of force, what else? That was only half their blinkin' number he threw at us in the first charge."

Sergeant Torgoch saluted with his pace stick. "Shall I stand the troops ready for action again, sah?"

Perigord sheathed his blade and started downhill. "I think not, Sar'nt, the blighter obviously wants to parley. Huh! We're all supposed t'be tremblin' in our fur at the size of his force. I expect he wants us to jolly well surrender."

Arven's voice echoed the Major's final word incredulously. "Surrender?"

Tare and Turry, the Long Patrol twins, helped Arven upright. "Hah, fat chance of that, old lad!"

About a third of the way downhill, Perigord halted, calling out, "I take it y've got somethin' to say, rat. Well spit it out an' be quick about it, a chap can't dally here all day, wot!"

Damug Warfang waved his sword eloquently at the ma.s.sed Rapscallions backing him. "What need of words, hare, when we could destroy you in a single sweep!"

Perigord shook his head and smiled mockingly. "Oh, is that all you've got t'say? Wasted your breath, really, didn't you? Still, what else can one expect from vermin?"

The Greatrat smiled back as if he were equally at ease.' 'Just think for a moment what we will do to the ones you left behind 299 at Red wall Abbey. I imagine they're the creatures not fit to fight, babes and oldbeasts. Have you considered them?"

Perigord seethed inwardly, but he did not show it. "Oh, if it comes t'that, old thing, I wouldn't worry if I were you. Y'see I fully intend slayin' you, so y'won't be 'round to see it"

Damug was still smiling as he played his trump card. "I'm a bit ahead of you there, because I intend killing you. Now!" He let his sword blade drop and nodded.

The rat Henbit had lain near the ridgetop, concealed among the dead vermin that littered the slope. He sprang up, poising himself to hurl the javelin he held, not three paces from the Major. Suddenly he sighed, as if tired of it all, and let the javelin slide carelessly backward as he fell, an oak shaft in his back.

Perigord stepped distastefully over the fallen rat. "Don't like that sort o' thing. Sneaky. Well shot, Corporal!"

Rubbadub tw.a.n.ged a chord on the empty longbow string, grinning from ear to ear at his officer's compliment.

* 'Drrrrrrubadubdub!''

Then the Rapscallion army charged. As it swept across the valley, Tammo left off helping Pasque Valerian to bind wounded heads and paws and took up his position in the first rank, feeling slightly detached from it all.

Gurgan Spearback nudged him with a rough paw. "Art thou all right, friend?"

The young hare shrugged in bewilderment. "Strange, isn't it, but here we are facin' almost a thousand an' all I can think about is the time o' day. Look, 'tis almost evening, yet it only seems a moment ago it was mornin'. Can't get it off my mind, really. What's happened t'the rest o' today? Where'd it go?"

Gurgan stumped the ground with his mallethead like a batsman at his crease. "Aye, I know what thou means. All I can think of is my wife, Rufftip, an' our seven liddle *ogs, 'avin' a pickernick on our boat in the water meadows. Silly wot a body can think of at times like these-Oofli!''

An arrow protruded from Gurgan's shoulder. Tammo stared, aghast. "You're hit!"

The Waterhog pulled the shaft out, snapped it, and flung it from himself bad-temperedly. "Tchah! When a beast's as full 300 o' spikes as I am, one more don't make much difference, though 'tis a great displeasure t'be shot!"

Before Tammo could reply, Sergeant Torgoch was bawling out orders. "First rank, sling! Second rank, stand ready! Keep 'em off the slope!"

At the point where valley met hillslope, the Rapscallions took the full force of the first stone volley. Owing to their numbers, Major Perigord had taken the decision to strike early and save his Redwallers being speedily overrun. He turned to the moles, saying, "How's the fire comin' along under that log, chaps?"

"Ee'm a burnen broight an' reddy t'go, zurr!"

"Capital! Splash all that vegetable oil over the trunk now, quick as y'like!"

Dry timber and resin gave a great whoosh as the oil buckets were hurled upon it. The evening sprang to light, sparks and flaming splinters crackling as they leapt from the blazing tree. Skipper and his otters rolled it forward using spearpoints and ash staves. It teetered a moment on the brow of the ridge, then took off with a crash, rumbling, rolling, bouncing, and spinning.

Lady Cregga Rose Eyes and the Long Patrol army had been plodding all day. The going was awkward and rough in the narrow rift; it seemed to stretch on forever. They had waded through mud and water, squeezed through narrow gorges, and climbed over collapsed debris.

Deodar was first to see it. ' 'Look, Sergeant, up ahead, that light!"

A sudden bright glow lit the evening sky from a ridgetop in the distance. It flared brightly then disappeared, leaving the hares blinking against the gathering darkness. Sergeant Clu-brush placed himself in front of Lady Cregga, blocking her way.

"Deodar, Algador, drop y'packs but 'old on to yore weapons. Scout up ahead, close to that ridge as y'can get. We needs h'information quick as to wot's goin1 on up yonder. So make all speed there an' back. Run lively now, young 'uns!"

As he spoke, the Sergeant had pulled Corporal Ellbrig and 301 several others past him to barricade the rift. Both Runners hared off.

Lady Cregga glared fiercely at Clubrush. "Stand out of my way, Sergeant!"

It would be said in later seasons that this was the first time a hare openly disobeyed a Badger Ruler. Sergeant Clubnish drew his sword.

"Sorry, Lady, but we got to wait 'ere "til the Runners gets back. If you goes chargin' off now, not knowin' wot lies ahead, you could get y'self an' all these slain, recruits an' veterans. We must know wot's goin' on at that ridge first afore we goes at it. Now I know y'could snuff me out like a candle, marm, but I'll try to stop ye if'n I can, for the good of all 'ere!"

Lady Cregga Rose Eyes raised the terrible axpike high over her head with one paw. She brought it smashing down into the rift wall, knocking out a great quant.i.ty of soil-bound rock.

"So be it, we wait! But those hares of yours had better be quick, Sergeant, because I won't wait long!"

53.

Vermin screamed and wailed as the blazing pine trunk cut a swathe through the Rapscallion ranks. It thundered off the hillside, over the valley, and disappeared with a crash of loose earth into the rift, where one side of the defile fell in on top of it.

This was followed by a frightening silence.

Galloper Riffle rubbed both his eyes, peering into the fallen night. "What's happenin'? Why's everythin* so bally quiet-I can't see a flippin' thing!"

A shrew standing by Riffle blinked hard several times. "Neither c'n I, matey, all's I see is colored lights, poppin' all round. 'Twas that burnin' tree wot did it."

Most of the Redwallers were grouped at the center of the ridge, in the place the otters had launched the trunk from. A shout from the far side of the ridgetop alerted them.

"Help! They're attackin' this end!"

With their sight growing clearer, the Redwallers rushed to defend mat end of the summit, only to be hailed by another distress cry. "Yurr, on ee t'uther end, they'm up 'ere too!"

Damug had not been slow. Even as the burning trunk was 302.

303 launched from the crest of the ridge, he had issued orders for his army to split up again and attack the summit from both ends. Now the Redwall army was in deep trouble. Damug's plan had worked; he had gained the precious moments he needed to put his Rapscallions on the ridge summit.

Tammo fought back-to-back with Pasque, sling in one paw, dirk in the other. Vermin came at them in mobs. Lieutenant Mono was surrounded and alone; gallantly he battled away, hacking at the encroaching Rapscallions with a cracked pike. Tammo and Pasque began forcing their way through to Mo-rio's aid, but too late. The brave Lieutenant went down, fighting to the last.

"Eulaliaaaa! 'S death on the wind! Eulaliaaaaa!"

Captain Twayblade, too, was ringed by the enemy. Her long rapier darted and flickered as she wove it around cutla.s.s and spear, slaying every vermin she touched. "Saha! Come an' meet me, sir vermin, I'll have ye crowdin' at Dark Forest gates this night!"

Tammo glimpsed a fox working his way behind Twayblade, and as the fox raised his sword, Tammo let fly with the dirk.

"A hit!" Twayblade laughed. "Over here, Tamm, come on, Pasque!"

They were joined by Skipper, and between them they smashed free of the crowding foebeasts. The otter pushed them toward the standing rock. "Over there, mates-get our backs agin somethin'!"

Perigord and Gurgan had been outnumbered and driven back along the ridge. Striving valiantly with what was left of their group, they too managed to reach the standing rock. The Major's saber decimated the ranks of vermin swarming to get at them. Blood ran from a cut above his eye as he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Gurgan.

"Whew! I keep choppin' 'em down, but they're still comin'!"

The Waterhog's huge mallet hit the Rapmark Skaup, wiping him out. "Aye, there's nought left but to take as many as we can with us. Hearken though, I'd like t'get yon Damug atwixt my paws!"

Log-a-Log gritted his teeth, bringing down a weasel with his heavy loaded sling. "Y'won't get close to that sc.u.m, mate.

304 Damug's the kind who leads his army from be'ind, like the true coward he is! Tamm, did they get ye, bucko?"

Tammo almost collapsed as Pasque drew the pike from his leg. "Aaaagh! He got me, but I made sure I got him, the blackguard!"

They ringed the pair, fighting off the attackers as Pasque stuffed herbs into the awful gash and bound it with the red silken ribbon. "There, that'll hold you, sir. Lean on me. I knew that ribbon'd come in useful. Good job you won it for me, wot!"

Deodar and Algador slumped on the rift floor, gasping for breath after making their report.

Lady Cregga acted instantly. "Sergeant, take the right flank; Corporal, you take the left. I'll hold the center. Let's get out of this ditch and form up in a skirmish line, ten deep, fifty long. Double-quick speed, weapons out and ready. We'll come at that ridge from the back. Rapscallions haven't got the brains to think we'd attack that way!"

Still fighting for air, Algador and Deodar drew their blades. "We're comin' too, Sergeant!"

Trowbaggs nodded to Shangle Widepad. "Grab old Algy there, chum, we'll help him along. Fallow, Reeve, lend a paw to Deodar, there's good chaps!"

The night air thrummed to the paws of five hundred Sala-mandastron hares. Silent and determined, they sped off into the darkness.

Damug Warfang was delighted beyond measure. He stood back from the fighting, leaning on his sword by a fire. The Rapscallions had suffered heavy losses, but nothing to what the creatures of Redwall had sustained. From his position he viewed what he considered to be the last stages of the battle. His enemy would soon be soundly defeated and the famous Abbey of Redwall his for the taking.

Rapscallions crowded in on every side around the standing rock, but there was a s.p.a.ce at the center between them and their opponents. The Redwallers had fought more fiercely than anybeasts they had ever encountered, and now, at this final part of the battle, many vermin were growing cautious, not 305 wanting to be on the lists of the slain while their comrades enjoyed the spoils of victory.

The stoat Captain, Bluggach, was a bigger and more reckless beast than his confederates. Pike in one paw and a wicked steel hook in the other, he swaggered into the open s.p.a.ce between the armies and began taunting his beleaguered enemy.

"Haharr, so yore the bold crew who were gonna spank us an' send us off in tears, eh? I wager the one who shouted that is 'idin' somewheres at the back now, prob'ly in tears hisself!"

Ma.s.s laughter and cheering from the Rapscallion horde prompted Bluggach to become bolder. He leered at the Red-wallers, licking the tip of the hook he carried. "C'mon out an' face me, 'tis my turn t'do the spankin'!"

Gurgan Spearback was already out as he spoke, wielding his tree-trunk-headed war mallet. "Stoats be windy braggarts. Come an' spank me if thee thinks thou art warrior enough to do it!"

Bluggach gave a wild yell and charged the big Waterhog. Gurgan sidestepped and swung the mallet once. Just once.

Bluggach slumped to the ground, never to rise again.

But Gurgan's sidestep had carried him close to the Rapscallion mob. A crowd leapt upon him, overwhelming the Waterhog Chieftain.

The Redwallers could not leave their friend in enemy paws. They charged forward into the vermin pack, roaring, "Red-waaaaallll! Redwaaaaaallll!"

They were hopelessly outnumbered, but prepared to sell their lives dearly. Strangely, though, it was Damug Warfang who saved them.

The unpredictable Warlord strode among his vermin, lashing out with the flat of his swordblade. "Halt! Enough, I say! We will take these creatures as prisoners. n.o.beast must touch them. I will keep them as captives to serve me!" The Greatrat halted in front of Perigord. "AH except you, hare. n.o.beast talks to me as you did and lives!"

Held fast by four Rapscallions, the Major still struggled to break free and get at his enemy, even though he was twice wounded. "So be it, foulface. Give me back my saber an' I'll 306.

fight you, blade-to-blade. Come on, vermin, let's have at it, wot!"

Damug looked Perigord up and down. Dried blood was caked over the Major's brow, covering his right eye, while the Redwall tunic hung from him in shreds, revealing a ragged scar on one shoulder. The Greatrat sneered contemptuously. "Your fighting days are over, fool. I'm going to make an example of you in front of your friends. Conquered beasts always leam to behave better when they see their leader executed. Get him down in front of me and bend his head!"

A ma.s.sive roar shook the night air, chilling the biood of every Rapscallion on the ridge.

"Eulaliaaaaaaa!"

Thundering forward, fifty paces ahead of her command, Lady Cregga Rose Eyes. .h.i.t the vermin ranks like a lightning storm.

Tammo saw vermin actually fly through the air as the huge badger, her eyes blazing red with Bloodwrath, swung her ax-pike into them. Then she was upon Damug Warfang. Casting her weapon away, she seized the Firstblade with both paws and teeth.

"Sp.a.w.n of Gormad Tunn! Evil murderer's kin! Come to me!"

Hacking furiously at the Badger Warrior's head with his sword, Damug gave an unearthly screech. Locked together, the pair hurtled into s.p.a.ce from the ridgetop.