Gonff was first to complain as evening fell over the woodlands. "Phew, it's a
while since I trudged this far, mateys. What d'you say, this looks a likely
place for the night, then we can get a fresh start in the morning?"
Young Dinny inspected the site. It was a dead chestnut stump, with a small
hole between the two main roots.
"Hurr, oi knows this yurr gaff. Slep' yurr many a noight. 'Ee'll do."
Martin crouched as he made his way into the confined space. "Just about enough
room for the three of us. We'd better call it a day. Break out some supper,
Gonff."
While Gonff set the food out, Dinny scooped loam around the entrance, leaving
a small space for observation. The mole had no sooner finished his task when
he held up a paw.
"Usher now. Cum by 'ere an' lookit."
Silently they gathered round and watched as Scratch blundered noisily through
the undergrowth, followed by Splitnose and Blacktooth.
"Haha, look out. The bogey Cludd's behind you."
"Fat chance! He'll probably be stuffing his face back at Kotir."
"Aye, and getting ready to sleep in a dry bed, too,"
"No sign of the mice and the mole yet, Scratch?"
"It's getting so dark I can't see my own paws, let alone a mice and a mole.
Come on, let's get clear of this forest while
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we can. If we reach the road, there's a dry ditch where we can camp the
night."
"Hey, Blacktooth, stop scoffing those rations. There'll be none left for us."
"Aah, there's plenty. Anyhow, I'm starving."
"You're starving! I haven't had a bite since breakfast myself. Here, give me
that food."
"No, I won't. Leggo, you big grabber!"
"Here, I'll take charge of that, you two. Garr, you greedy nits, it's spilled
all over the place now. You've dropped it."
"It wasn't me, it was him. He shoved me, clumsy paws."
"Clumsy paws yourself, greedy guts. Take that!"
"Owoo! I'll report you to Cludd when we get back."
"Oh, go and report your mother."
In the hole beneath the chestnut tree the three friends held their sides in
silent mirth, tears running down their whiskers as they watched the antics of
the searchers, who fumbled and •bungled their way off into the darkness, still
arguing and fighting.
"Gurr, moi goodness, us'ns been 'unted by those 'oller'eads. Burr, yon
vermints cudden 'unt their way outer a shallow 'ole."
Gonff handed cheese to Martin. "No wonder. Did you bear who their boss is,
matey? Old Cludd the clod. He couldn't order his own two ears to stand up
straight."
Martin put his supper to one side. "Maybe not, but he was
smart enough to spy on us without our knowing it. I think
we should treat them as enemies. That way we won't be
,j caught off guard. Anyhow, let's get some supper and sleep.
:\ WeVe got a long day ahead tomorrow."
5 From the window of her high chamber, Tsarmina's eyes ^pierced the night with
the keenness of a predator. She saw '•iCludd and his special patrol hurrying
to Kotir from the north ^'fringes, then sweeping her gaze in an arc she noted
a move-
at the south edge of the forest. Woodlanders! Tsarmina rushed to the table and
rang her little bell vig-
. A ferret named Raker came scurrying in. _ "Quickly, alert the entire
garrison. Have them form up
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inside the barracks awaiting my orders. Tell them to be silent. Send Cludd to
me. He'll be arriving shortly."
Raker wondered how Tsarmina knew of Cludd's imminent arrival, but he did not
dare ask her how. He held up his Thousand Eye shield in a smart salute.
"Right away, Milady."
Tsarmina peered intently at the band of otters, mice, and hedgehogs. She noted
the ripple in the treetops—squirrels too. This time she had the element of
surprise on her side. She did not intend wasting it. Now they would leam the
meaning of the word fear.
Halfway down the stairs she bumped into Cludd, who was dashing up to her
chamber to make his report.
"Milady, I have gathered some expert knowledge on the movements of the
woodla—"
"Yes, I already know. Form your patrol up and get down to the main barracks
quickly."
"But, Majesty, there was a robin flying through the woods and I told Thic—"
Tsarmina whirled upon the slow-witted weasel. "Robin? What rubbish are you
spouting now? What d'you think I care about a robin? Get out of my sight, you
useless lump."
Cludd stood, bewildered, on the stairway as she brushed past. There was no
point in trying to talk to Tsarmina when she was in one of her moods.
The highest tree near the south side of Kotir was a stately elm. Chibb was
perched in its branches when he sighted the woodlanders.
"Ahem, harrumph! Over here, please, and keep quiet. We don't want any eagles
waking up."
Skipper threw a smart nautical salute with his tail. "Ahoy there, mate. Is
everything shipshape?"
Chibb paced to and fro upon the branch. "Ahem, well I must say it appears to
be, harrumph. Though I have my doubts."
Lady Amber dropped in beside him, and the nervous robin leaped with fright.
"Madam! Ahem, kindly have the goodness to announce your presence in a less
startling manner."
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Ben Stickle and the rest were unloading packs of rations at die foot of the
elm. Columbine looked upward at the robin.
"D'you know, Ben, for some reason I feel as uneasy as Chibb."
Ben loaded the packs on the squirrels, who scampered up the trunk as if it
were level ground.
"Aye, m'dear, I know 'xactly how you feel. I don't like this place one little
bit meself."
As if to punctuate the hedgehog's remark, an arrow whistled out of the
darkness to stand quivering in the elm bark.
"Ambush! Everyone take cover!" Lady Amber called aloud from her vantage point.
Immediately, the mice and hedgehogs were screened by a wall of otters. Skipper
bounded to the fore, ducking a spear as he swung a sling loaded with several
stones.
"Over yonder, crew. By those thickets. Give 'em a rattlin' good broadside,
mates."
Ranks of brawny otters made the air rain heavy with hard river stones.
The dinting and thudding of rock upon armor and pelt was mingled with screams
and cries from the ambushers.
When the fusillade slackened, Tsarmina sprang forward, urging her attackers
onward. "Charge. Rush them now. Up. Charge!"
The soldiers pounded toward the woodlanders, yelling and shouting threats as
they waved pikes, spears and javelins.
•Lady Amber watched coolly. She notched an arrow to her
•iwwstring as, all around her in the high branches, squirrels L followed her
example. She laid her tail fiat along the bough Cof the elm.
"Steady in the trees there. Let them get well into the open, Jfaen watch for
my signal."
Though one or two otters were down with spear wounds, "Skipper had heard Amber
and he backed up her strategy. ;**Otter crew load up. Don't sling until the
arrows are loosed."
>w the Kotir army had covered over half the distance, For-lata slacked off,
dropping back with Ashleg and Cludd.
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Tsarmina alone led the field. Confident that the charge would carry the full
distance, she turned to yell further encouraging words to her troops.
Lady Amber decided they had come far enough. Her tail stood up like a banner
as she called, "Archers, fire!"
The waspish hiss of arrows halted the advance in its tracks, the back and
middle ranks colliding with the fallen in front.
"Slings away hard, crew!" Skipper's wild call boomed out across the melee.