A small stone cairn was built on the shore above the tide-line soon afterward. With Josephs help, Rufe had taken a piece of flat timber and burned a message upon it with a heated knife. The crew of Pearl Queen stood around the neat heap of stones as Rufe fixed the wood securely between the top stones facing seaward. Log-a-Log read the simple message.
“To the memory of Rosie Woodsorrel, warrior and mother. Also Durry Quill, Cellarmaster. Two Redwall friends.
Still with his paw about Rufes shoulder, Joseph recited some words he had put together for the ceremony:
“Friend is a very small word, A little sound we make, For one who is true, one who will do, Great deeds for friendships sake. So while I grieve for you, my friends. Who gave all that you could give, Youll be my friends in memory, For all the days Ill live.
Tears ran openly down Foremoles honest face. “Oi doant be knowen wot zurr Tarquin an ee Hddle uns be a doin wiout miz Rose; theym be gurtly sad!
Log-a-Log patted the stones. “I know it sounds funny, but I miss that laugh of Rosies.
The shrew Patch took Rufe earnestly by his paw. “Lis-sen, young un, some good always comes out o misfortune. Ifn youd been up that mast, then youd have been lost with em. But you aint lost, an I aint neither, cos you risked your life an saved mine. Rufe, Im your friend for life now!
Though Finnbarr Galedeep was a tough-looking otter, he was deeply touched at the sight of Rufe and Patch shaking paws together over the cairn. The sea otter turned away, gazing at the high cliffs to forestall a tear dropping. But he soon forgot his sorrow.
“Stand by, crew, git yoreselves armed! Weve got visitors, an theyre a-comin fast!
Loud war whoops split the summer morning air as masses of creatures poured down from the cliffs, heading straight for the crew of Pearl Queen.
16
The two Dibbuns huddled together in terror as the ugly heads of Slipp and Blaggut poked into their makeshift tent. The searat Captain snarled at them. “Give us vittles, or well eat yer!
Blaggut was horrified by Slipps pronouncement. “O, Capn, you wouldnt eat two pretty liddle babbies like them, would yer?
Slipp bit Blagguts ear and punched his snout. “Will you shuttup an let me do the talkin, doodlenose!
Despite his smarting ear and throbbing nose, Blaggut winked chummily at the Dibbuns. “Never fear, me liddle chicks, ole Capn Slipp wont eat yer. Hes got an eart of gold!
Slipp yanked Blaggut out of the tent and began booting his rump soundly. “I told yer once already, scrummit-chops, keep yer stupid mouth shut until I tells yer to speak ....Yowch!
The mousebabe had regained his confidence and was jabbing his “sword stick in Slipps back. “You leava im alone, big bully! he squeaked.
“Ooh, me liver n kidneys!
Slipp sat down nursing his back. Blaggut was all concern. “Aye aye, liddle feller, that was a naughty thing ter do. Youve gone an urted the pore Capns livers n kidney. Ere, let me elp yer up, Capn. Are you shipshape?
Slipp drew his cutlass, raging, “Ill slice that cheeky snippet in arf afore Vs much older. Let me at the swab!
Blaggut placed himself between the mousebabe and Slipp. “You kin cut me in three arfs ifn yer like Capn, but dont yew lay a blade near that there hinfant!
Funtil had regained her composure by now. She attached herself to Blagguts leg, chuckling, “Oi loik ee, zurr. Youm a funny vurmint!
“Dyer ear that, Capn? The liddle molemaid likes me! The searats face was a picture of delight.
Slipps voice dripped sarcasm that was lost on the unwitting Blaggut. “Ho, she likes yer, does she? Well, aint that nice. Why dont we all siddown an ave a picker-nick?
The big, slow searat patted his Captain affectionately, nearly knocking him flat. “Arr thats the spirit, Capn. 1 knew youd see tilings my way.
Slipps sea-booted footpaw began moving in the direction of Blagguts behind. Hie mousebabe brandished his stick, squeaking, “You kickim, an I stick your livers a kiddies ... !
Slipp stamped his foot down and glared at the mousebabe. “Dont yew ave no vittles at all?
The mousebabe thought about this for a moment, then replied, “Wots vikkles?
Blaggut sat down next to the Dibbun, chuckling. “Hoho, bless yer liddle eart, matey. Vittles is food!
“Hurr, food! Furrtil nodded understandingly. “Loik pudden an pie an cakes an soop?
“Yes, yes, thats the stuff, Slipp said, nodding eagerly. “Puddenpiecake an soup. Where is it? Ave you got any?
The mousebabe thought quite deeply about the question, then stated matter-of-factly, “No!
Blaggut laughed until tears rolled down his ugly face. “That babbie mouse is a cool un, Capn!
Funtil trundled off into the woodland. Slipp looked after the molemaid curiously. “Where does she think shes off to? he asked.
The mousebabe curled his lip scornfully at Slipps ignorance. “Vurmint your size shoulda know tha*. She gone to get food vikkles for ya, shoopid!
The searat Captain brought his face close to the Dibbun, sneering nastily. “Dont call me stupid, and Im a rat, not a vurmint!
The mousebabe sat himself on Blagguts lap in a businesslike manner and explained patiently to Slipp, “Rats is vurmints. Anybeast know tha, an1 if you not shoopid then don ask shoopid questions.
Slipp began drawing his cutlass, then thought better of it, blew a snort of exasperation, and glared at Blaggut.
“Why did yer ave tgo an find this wisemouth? Why didnt yer just bring back vittles like I told yer to? he growled.
Blaggut stroked his new friends head fondly. “E dont mean nothm, Capn. You leave the liddle tyke tme; I wager we kin chat like ole messmates. Avast,eres the molemaid back wid vittles.
Furrtil ambled up and emptied her apron. Two apples, some wild plums, and a small pile of blackberries tumbled out. The searats began wolfing down the fruit.
“Tsk tsk, youm maken eeselfs sick piggen et all daown, she chided them. “Chew ten toimes an swaller more slow. Ee Muther Mellus allus sayin that to Dibbuns.
Slipp spat out a plumstone. “Wots a Dibble? he asked.
“Hiur, usns Dibbuns, zurr, baint Diddles.
Blaggut polished an apple on his stomach, saying, “An where does Dibbuns live, in liddle tents like yonder one?
The mousebabe popped a blackberry into his friends mouth. “Norra tent, ony a blanket. We come from a habbey, name a Redwall, bigga place than this high. He held a tiny paw as far over his head as he could, to indicate the size of the Abbey.
Slipp whispered to Blaggut, “Find out where it is.
The mousebabe shook his head despairingly and pointed an accusing paw at Slipp. “No whisprin, sbad manners. We take you to Redwall inna morain, if we cn find it.
An hour later the two Dibbuns were sound asleep in their tent. Slipp scoffed at Blaggut, who sat at the entrance watching them. “Ahoy, nurseymaid, dyew reckon theyll want a drink o water in the night?
The searat took off his tattered jerkin and carefully covered the two small creatures. “Aye, well, if they do, Capn, Ill get it for em!
Slipp tossed an apple core at Blaggut. “Well lookit yew, the bold searat, yew butterbrained brute. Ave ygone soft all of a sudden?
“Dont cost nothin t be nice to babes. Blaggut shrugged. “Mayap if somebeastd been nice to me when I was a liddle shrimp I wouldnt ave growed up t be no searat, mightve been good an respectable. Who cn tell, Capn?
Slip leaped up and grabbed Blaggut by the throat. “You ave gone soft! he snarled. “Well lissen, softrat, when we gets ter this Redwall place there might be plunder an killin, so dont yew go soft on me then, or else yll feel my cutlass across yore gizzard. Do yhear?
Blaggut gulped and nodded. He knew only too well what his Captain was capable of. When there was loot to be had, murder and treachery became a mere formality to avaricious searats like Slipp. Blaggut took one last look at the two Dibbuns before settling himself down to sleep the tent entrance, hoping in his heart that the tiny pair so lost that they would not know the way back to Redwall Abbey on the morrow.