Folderum saw this. Catching Grumby up, he tapped his back. “Beg pardon, but where d’ye think you’re off to, eh?”
Grumby wiped a paw across his mouth. “I’m flippin’ well parched, old lad. Just nippin’ back t’camp to see if there’s a drop o’ that dandelion tea.”
Being responsible for the sentry walk, Folderum turned Grumby around. “Oh, no, you’re not, bucko. Y’don’t do that sort o’ thing when you’re guardin’ our comrades. There’ll be plenty o’ time for bloomin’ tea once we’re relieved.”
Grumby went dutifully back to his task, though Frubbs Minor had already passed. Folderum strode off, keeping him in sight. This left Grumby pacing along behind Folderum. They continued without further incident, though Frubbs Minor slowed his pace.
Turning, he whispered aloud to Folderum, “I say, we’ve been trudgin’ round out here for blinkin’ ages. When’s that relief comin’, wot?”
Folderum waved him on. “They’ll come when the major sends ’em. You just carry on patrollin’, m’laddo. Er, what are ye starin’ at, pray?”
Frubbs Minor was looking past Folderum. “Where’s Grumby got to?”
There was a muffled squeak from behind the hill.
Folderum narrowed his eyes meaningly. “I told him he couldn’t go to the camp for tea. I know where he’ll be at, though. He’ll be gluggin’ water, round at that brook. Come on!”
No sooner were they in sight of the brook than Folderum spotted Grumby—he was struggling to break free from a gang of dark figures.
Folderum drew his sword. “Hurry, Frubbs, get back t’the major, tell him we’re bein’ ambushed. Looks like vermin t’me. Go!”
Frubbs Minor scooted off whilst Folderum dashed to Grumby’s aid. Though he was outrageously outnumbered, the brave young hare charged in, waving his sabre and roaring, “Eulaliiiiaaaaa!”
Suddenly taken aback, the foebeasts paused momentarily. That was enough for Grumby. He wriggled free, dashing to his companion’s side. He had lost his weapons, so he armed himself with a rock, brandishing it as he echoed the cry.
“Eulaliiiaaaa!”
The enemies were vermin, a villainous-looking bunch about a score in number. Now over their initial surprise, they swiftly recovered and advanced snarling on the two young Patrollers. Then the night air reverberated with the Salamandastron war cry, bellowed forth by the rest of the patrol and a tall badger with a thunderous yell. “Eulaliiiiiaaaaa!”
The villains fled south, but Major Fforbes shouted orders when he saw which way they were heading.
“Don’t chase ’em yet! Cut ’em off—they mustn’t go that way. Come on, Gallopers! Milady, you take some t’the left, an’ I’ll go right with the rest. Outpace the blighters an’ get behind ’em! They mustn’t reach Salamandastron!”
The Badger Lady took off, calling to her creatures, “Come on, let’s show them how Long Patrol Gallopers run!”
The vermin were left slack-jawed as the hares raced by them, skidded to a halt, then turned to face them. Still armed with only a piece of rock, Grumby screeched, “Yahaaarrr, give ’em blood’n’vinegar!”
This time the vermin ran back into the heathland, their paws pounding with renewed speed, the speed of panic. None wanted to stand and face the huge badger and her hares.
Young Twilby was already dashing after them when the major neatly tripped him.
“Stand fast until you’re ordered to charge, laddie buck. Steady in the ranks, there!”
Every hare was trembling with anticipation, weapons ready.
Major Felton Fforbes brought them back to earth with a bump. “I said stand fast! Now, anybeast injured or slain?” He looked about to assure himself. “All present an’ correct, eh? Good! Patrol awaitin’ your orders, Milady!”
Not quite certain of her next move, Lady Wildstripe paused before addressing them.
“Er, quite. . . . You all did very well tonight, particularly you, Folderum, and thank you, Major, for your quick thinking. As for those vermin, well, I really don’t know. If we chased them, it might be dawn before we caught up, eh, Major?”
Felton Fforbes knew that she was seeking his experienced advice. He nodded, putting up his blade. “As y’say, Milady, they’ve got a good head start. We’d be runnin’ all night to catch the rascals up. I think we should go back to camp, marm, get a good night’s rest, wot!”
The crestfallen young hares dragged their paws on the way back to camp. The major jollied them along. “We’ll keep a sharp lookout at dawn. If they’re determined t’come back this way, they’ll have to get past us first. Then we’ll show ’em fur’n’slaughter, wot!” The patrol arrived back at camp in high spirits.
“Huh, vermin, did ye see the way they tucked in their tails an’ ran off?”
“Aye, truth is, they didn’t fancy facin’ Long Patrol warriors!”
The major murmured to Lady Wildstripe, “Hope I did the right thing, Milady. These young uns ain’t been in a killin’ an’ slayin’ fight yet.”
She patted his paw. “Thank you, Major, you did right. By the way, you don’t think they’ll return this way, do you?”
Felton Fforbes chuckled. “Not if I’m any judge o’ vermin. We’re not babes an’ old uns—we train fighters, Milady.” Throwing more fuel on the fire, he settled down. “Folderum, change the sentry, will ye, there’s a good beast. The rest of ye, stop chatterin’ an’ get some sleep.”
Dawn’s first light was heralded by Peasblossom, who was on sentry, racing into the camp. “Sah! Milady! They’re comin’ back, those flamin’ vermin!”
To seek a better view, all three climbed to the hilltop behind the camp. News spread quickly; soon almost all the Patrol were up beside them. Having exceptionally good sight, Lady Wildstripe soon picked out the vermin on the heathland. “Hmm, it’s a bit misty out there, but that might be them, eh, Major?”
Felton Fforbes shielded his eyes as sunlight turned the mist into a blanket of golden tendrils. “Looks like ’em, Milady, about the same number I’d say. But they fled from us last night, so why are they runnin’ back toward us in such a blinkin’ hurry? They’re not even tryin’ to sneak up on us, like vermin do. Very strange, marm!”
The reason became startlingly clear a moment later. Folderum shouted wildly, “It’s the ship! Look . . . the ship!”
The vessel Greenshroud emerged, riding a breeze, which was dispersing the mist lazily. Amongst the young hares speculation ran rife.
“Are they showin’ their crew where we are?”
“Looks like we’ve got a real battle t’face now, chaps!”
“Well, stand by, buckoes—true blue an’ never fail, wot!” The major rapped out an order. “Everybeast down below this hilltop. Don’t dare show an eartip until I see what’s goin’ on. Smartly now!”
They obeyed with alacrity, but not without comment.
“I say, aren’t we goin’ to fight ’em, sah?”
“Not like warrior hares, hidin’ from a jolly old scrap, eh?”
Lady Wildstripe’s voice silenced further speculation. “It’s not a matter of hiding from a fight. Do as the major says. The way they’re running, it looks like the ship may be chasing them. It could be some sort of mutiny amongst the crew, vermin fighting vermin.”
Peasblossom chuckled. “Oh, I say, wouldn’t that save us a blinkin’ job, wot. It’d cut the odds down a bit, Milady.”
The badger nodded. “Perhaps it would. Let’s wait and see.”
The major interrupted. “That ship had a large crew last time it visited Salamandastron. Even if they slew those vermin who are runnin’, we’d still be well outnumbered. Milady, the best thing we could do is retreat to our mountain.’Twould give us more of a fightin’ chance.”
The Badger Lady lay flat, peering over the hilltop. “You’re right, of course, Major, but I’d like to see the outcome of this incident first. They’re closer now—it’s the gang who were here last night, sure enough.”