The badger nodded as she helped herself to blueberry tart and meadowcream. “Aye, a bowl of soup apiece, a sound scrubbing in the bath and sent off to bed straightaway, as an example to the others.
Simeon smiled as he poured her a beaker of maple cordial. “Little rascals. Dibbuns seem to live in a world of their own. I dont suppose they meant any real harm.
Saxtus peered over his spectacles across a summer salad. “I agree with Mellus: they must learn their lesson. Its lucky the two rats found them. What dyou make of those two?
Mellus stared hard at the pair who were bolting down everything in sight ravenously. “I dont like them or trust them. Cook and a carpenter indeedgot searat stamped all over their scurvy hides!
“Again I agree with you, my friend, said Saxtus as he broke a fresh oat farl to have with his salad, “but without them the little ones might have come to harm. They havent showed bad will to anybeast so far, and with that in mind we cannot refuse them the hospitality of Red-wall. They must be treated as harmless lost travelers.
Simeon smiled broadly at Melluss answer. “Harmless lost travelers, my left footpaw!
Blaggut dug his spoon into a bowl of mixed fruits with honey. “This is the life, eh, Capn? he said as he shoveled it down with gusto. “These is the fanciest vittles I ever et in me life. Pass me that fizzy strawbrry stuff.
Slipp was forging hastily through a wedge of yellow cheese studded with beechnuts, but he could not resist a sarcastic dig at the former boatswain of the Pearl Queen. “Fanciest vittles you ever et, eh? Didnt they ave stuff like this at Blaggut Mansions?
Blaggut grabbed two hot blackberry scones from a passing tray. “Blaggut Mansions, wheres that? Pity they aint got no seaweed grog. Yowch! He jumped sharply as Slipps claws nipped his stomach.
The searat Captain saw Mellus watching them, so he pasted a smile on his face as he muttered threateningly, “Lissen, onionbonce, one more mention of seaweed grog an Ill rip yer nose off, see? Ifn they ears you blatherin on about seaweed grog, theyll know fer sure were sea-rats!
But Blaggut was enjoying himself. He bit deep into a plumcake, spraying crumbs across the table as he addressed Mellus, “Ahoy there, stripedog, wheres me two liddle mateys? You shoulda invited them to the party!
The old badger glared dangerously at him. “Theyre fast asleep in bed. And my name is not stripedog; its Mellus. Is that clear?
Blissfully unaware of the wrath he had nearly brought down on his own head, the searat answered, “Clear as a fat merchantship. Pleased tmeet yer, Mellers. My names Blaggut, but the Capn ere calls me fatead an lazypaws an baggybum an suchlike names. Hoho, es a one fer the names is the Capn! He was jolted by repeated kicks from Slipp beneath the table.
“Will you stow all that Capn, Capn! Yer an addle-nosed, bottlebrained, butterbellied barnacle!
Blaggut winced until the kicking stopped. “Aye aye, Capn! Ooh look, they got trifle, Capn!
The bad manners of the two searats were tolerated with great patience by most of the Redwallers, though Mellus and Sister Sage were forced to stifle stern comments when Abbot Saxtus looked reprovingly over his spectacle tops at them. Slipp and Blaggut continued grabbing and gorging, with scant regard to the other diners. After the meal most of the Abbey creatures took themselves off to the dormitories with sighs of relief. Brother Mallen was heard to murmur as he and Mellus helped to clear tables, “Huh, I suppose well have the pleasure of those two at breakfast tomorrow morning. If I had my way, Id sit them both outside the gate to share a trough!
The old badger nodded in agreement as she folded a cloth. “Theres no excuse for bad manners. I wish that Id had charge of those two rats when they were Dibbuns; Id have made them sit up straight and behave, indeed I would!
Moonlight beamed through the guest-room window, bathing the walls in a soft radiance. Warm summer night cast its drowsy spell over the Abbey, not a breeze stirred the leaves of the orchard, and peace lay over all. Slipp lay staring at the ceiling, listening to the silence and formulating plans in his mind. He was still fully dressed and in possession of a carving knife he had stolen from the table. In the next bed, Blaggut snuffled noisily, then turning onto his back he began to snore uproariously. Slipp flung a pillow which caught Blaggut in the face, enveloping his head. The former boatswain of Pearl Queen came awake, thrashing about as he was tangled by bedlinen.
“Whuhhh mainsails fallen, up the riggin, mates!
Rising hastily, Slipp tweaked his companions ear. “Stow that noise, ygreat oaf, youll wake everybeast!
Blaggut sat up scratching his head. “Wots up, Capn? You woke me out o the middle of a good oP sleep there.
Slipp looked contemptuously at his boatswains comical figure. “Get yerself out o that daft nightgown. Ylook like a jollyboat with a floppy sail. Do it quietly an keep yer voice down. Now listen tme, Ive got plans.
For the short time he had been acquainted with it, Blaggut liked his little truckle bed very much. As he dressed he sat on the edge of it, bouncing happily. Slipp, fast running out of patience, aimed a kick at Blaggut, hissing,
“Will you keep still, bucketbelly. Im talkin tyou!
Blaggut pulled a face and continued bouncing. “I kin ear you, Capn. Hoho, this is the life; bettern some ole ammock or deckplank this bed is. I never ad me own liddle bed. If were goin to steal things, Im gonna pinch this an take it wid me when we go ... His voice trailed off as Slipp drew the carving knife menacingly.
“Lets git somethin straight: I didnt pick you tcome with me, but yore ere whether I like it or not. Im still Capn, though, an if yore not still an quiet rightaway Ill see to it that yore silenced fer good!
Miserably Blaggut stopped bouncing and listened to his Captains scheme.
“All this fancy vittles, nice rooms, an whatnot, stands to reason a place o this size must ave a great store of treasure idden away somewheres. Right?
Blaggut nodded dumbly as Slipp continued. “So we looks fer it by night an keeps our noses clean durin the day. Come on, foller me.
“Where are we goin, Capn?
“Where dyou think, clothead, pickin daisies? Were start!n our treasure search. Now come on, an stop callin me Capn!
“Righto, Capn, but whatll I call yer?
“Call me Slipp, thats me name.
“Righto, Caper, Slipp. Sounds funny, me callin you Slipp. Nice name, though, Slipp. I likes it. Righto, lets go, Slippy!
The carving knife pricked Blaggut* s nose as the irate Captain snarled at him, “Ill Slippy yerIll slip this blade between yer ribs if yer calls me that once more, understand?*
The The searats found a candle and lit it from a walltorch in Great Hall. They crept about searching the alcoves and crannies. “Whatre we searchin for, Capn? Blaggut whispered as Slipp lifted the edge of the great tapestry.
The Captain rapped lightly on the wall. “Some idden door or secret panel. Thats where Id stow me loot ifn I owned a place like this.
Blaggut held the candle up to the tapestry, illuminating the figure of Martin the Warrior. “Lookit this feller, Capn. I wouldnt like to cross swords with that mouse, looks a right tough un!
“Its only a picture, stupid. Old that light down ere.
They continued searching Great Hall without success. From there the two searats progressed to Cavern Hole and, again, they found nothing. Blaggut smelled food.
“No treasure ere, Capn. Lets try that place where the nice smells are comin from.
“What, you mean the kitchens? Who ides treasure in kitchens?
Blaggut shrugged. “I dunno, who does?
Slipp stared strangely at him in the candlelight. “May *ap you got somethin there. A good place to ide loot would be a place nobeastd think of looking fer it. Come on!