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 cockles, mouse. I aint got so much as a waterlogged twig tme name!
Foremole wrinkled his nose in consternation. “Burr, baint no larfen matter, zurr. Ifn youm doant ave a gurt shipper, whurrll usns 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 Finnbarrs plan, Log-a-Log silenced them curtly.
The sea otter gestured over his shoulder. “Not arf a days march round yon eadland lays two big searat galleons. The Pearl Queen is the best of the twain; she was my craft once, but thats another story. Now she belongs to a scurvy-backed bilgerat called Capn Slipp. The other vessels the Shalloo; er masters Capn Strapp. Theyre 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 Id be beholden if yed stow the hootin marm, sound carries round thisaways. Lissen now, the plans simple. We sinks the Shalloo an steals the Pearl Queen an sails off in er. Wot dyer say, mates?
Log-a-Log spoke for them all. “It sounds like a desperate scheme, Finnbarr, but were 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, eres where the two ships lie at anchor, in the shallows offshore. 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 tides 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-Logll swim oer tthe Shalloo to bore some oles in er side an scuttle er in the bay. Then its out onto the wide blue briny fer us all!
Joseph studied the plan, nodding solemnly. “I like it; simple and straightforward, thats the best way!
The remainder of that day they spent resting in the shelter of the dunes. Rufe Brush watched the lengthening shadows on the sand, confiding his worries to Durry in hushed whispers.
“Ive 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. “Dont you fret yoreself, mate. Well stick tgether. 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 Galedeeps curved swords flashed in front of Rufes startled eyes. Then, swiftly sheathing both blades, the big sea otter ruffled the young squirrels ears playfully.
“Do it like that, matey. Show em ymean business an dont be arf carted about it. Youll do all right.
Darkness fell as they made a final cold meal of oat scones, cheese, and ciderno fires were allowed to pinpoint their position in the dunes at the shore 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 assist him.
“Yurr, Burdill, you an Grumbee stir ee stumps. Usns must take ee brekkist to our friends.
Burdill shook his velvety head. “Hurr, granfer, theym aready be gonned. Miz Mariel, shem roused tothers 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 youm hinfants. Hurr, tho oi wanders whurr they be agone to?
“Oi did ear ee gurt rabbet Meldn 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 pronounce the word properly they would have known that Mariel, Dandin, and 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 Florets 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, thats 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. Its like a great overangin sandcliff were stannin on. Best move back afore it collapses!
Meldrum waggled his ears and sniffed. “Dont remember it bein like that before. Bit of a while since Ive been in this neck o the woods, doncha know. Not an uncommon occurrence, thougherosion I think they call it. Side of the jolly ol sandhill slips away one day an leaves the grassy top like a big overhang. No matter. Well 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, theres the stream. Somethings happening down therelooks 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 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, its Queen Serena. Looks like she needs helpform 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 saidplan first, act later!
“No time now, missie. Duty calls, yknow. Stand aside! said Meldrum, as he adjusted the stone at the end of his rod.
Dandin joined Mariel. “Sir, therere far too many of them for our small force to go up against. If you charge in now, well all be killed. Your four young nephews, Bowly, do you want to see them massacred by hundreds of vermin? Thered be no point to it!
While Dandin was reasoning with Meldrum, a solution had formed swiftly in the mousemaids agile mind. It was risky, but worth a try. She interrupted Dan dins pleas.
“Listen, Ive just thought of a plan! Runtwold, Colt-vine, well need your slings and stone pouches. Bowly, take these four young hares back to Furpps dwelling. Tell him to watch out for those creatures on the stream and shelter them. Go!
Mariels 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 a beast of some weight and courage. Are you game for this, sir?