Tarquin winked at Slipp. “Righto, but dont forget those pots and pans or Mellus will remind you with a ladle, wot?
The two Dibbuns held Blagguts paws as they guided him around the back of the main Abbey building. As they went, he questioned them. “You shore that its the real secret idden treasure of Redwalls hAbbey?
The mousebabe gave an exasperated sigh at Blagguts ignorance. “Phwaw! Course we sure. Its the mos se-cretest treasure in alia world, innit Furrtil?
The molemaid smiled and tapped her nose knowingly. “Yurr, that et be, an oanly usns know whurr et be buried.
At the southeast gable of the Abbey the mousebabe planted his back firmly against the wall and began striding out in measured steps, counting. Blaggut and Furrtil followed.
“One, two, three, five, seven, six, twennyfour, elev-enteen ...
The molemaid nodded her head in admiration. “Burr, oi wished oi knowed ow to count in numbers loik ee mousebaby do, eem tumble clever!
Blaggut watched the little figure striding boldly out.
“Twennyfifty, sixfortyeight, two again, leventy-twelve ...
“Bless me, eddications a wunnerful thing; look at im go!
The mousebabe halted at the southeast corner of the outer wall, and he pointed down.
“There, you has to dig now!
Blaggut looked at the spot. “Who dug the ole in the first place?
Furrtil pointed a digging claw at herself. “Oi did, zurr. Ho twurr aid wurk, oi tell ee!
Blaggut leaned up against the wall. “Yore a mole. Why cant you dig the treasure up?
The mousebabe looked at him as if he had taken leave of his senses. “Cos she messed up er frock diggin it inna first place. Dyou want to get *er sended off t bed again, silly!
With a look of long suffering Blaggut knelt down to dig.
The black shadow fell over him.
Startled, he looked up in time to see the hooded figure on the walltop draw back out of sight. Grabbing the Dib-buns paws, die searat rushed them off across the Abbey grounds. Suddenly the quiet summer afternoon was laden with unspeakable dread for him.
The molemaid held on to her mobcap as he whisked them along. “Whurr be ee rushen usns off to, zurr?
“Save yer breath, little unkeep runnin!
“But wot about ee gurt secret treasure?
“Ferget it. Cmon, back to the pond.
The mousebabe broke away and sped off yelling, “Ahoy ahoy, back to our boats!
They made it back to the pond when the Joseph bell tolled out a single boom. Teatime. Trestles had been set up for a summer orchard tea. Strawberries and cream, toffee apples, yellow dandelion bread, and dark, fizzy elderberry cordial.
Tarquin placed a slab of white celery cheese on some dandelion bread, took a bite, chewed critically, ears flapping slowly, then washed it down with a beaker of the cordial. “First rate, top hole! All in order, compliments to the cook, couldnt ask for nicer, grade-one tuck!
“Keep talking. While youre spouting, you arent scoffing!
Tarquin wrinkled his nose at Sister Roses remark. “So beautiful, yet so cruel, marm. Pray be seated. Ill join you presently, if I may.
He turned and stalked to where Blaggut and Slipp were seated side by side, both scrubbed and wearing clean tunics. The hare wagged a warning paw at them. “Best behavior now, you chaps. Mind ymanners an dont go piggin everything in sight.
Me 1 his murmured quietly to Simeon, “Thats rich coming from Woodsorrel the walloper; dont go pigging everything in sight. Did you hear him?
“A case of glutton shall speak unto glutton, Id say! Simeon smiled as he nodded.
Saxtus rang his table bell and everybeast folded paws and lowered their eyes. Brother Mallen nudged the two searats to do likewise. Then Father Abbot of Redwall said grace.
“Thanks to seasons, praise the fates,
For this peace within our gates.
Welcome, friends, who gladly toil,
In our fertile Redwall soil.
May we never famine fear,
Mid the summers goodness here.
Mother Mellus inspected the mousebabes paws approvingly. “My, my, these are very clean indeed!
Mousebabe rolled his eyes skyward, impatient to be eating. “Hmm, should be clean paws; losed me paddle, an I been rowin my ship rounda pond wiv them.
Slipp kicked Blaggut under the table. “Well, wheres the treasure, did yer get it? he whispered.
Keeping his eyes straight ahead, Blaggut applied himself to the business of strawberries and cream. “Uh uh, Capn, sorry. You told me never tmention it as long as I lives.
“Never tmention wot? Tell me! said Slipp, and he bit a slice of cheese savagely.
Blaggut chose a strawberry, dipping it in the rich golden-tinged cream. It vanished into his mouth. “Mmmm, wunnerful! No, Capn, Im only obeyin orders. You told me never to mention that black shadder as long as I lives, so I cant tell yer.
Slipp felt the hair rise at the nape of his neck again. “Black shadow, was the black shadow there? he croaked.
Blaggut sorted through his bowl of strawberries until he found the biggest of all. “Cant tell yer, Capn. You said black shadders dont appen an I was to ferget it all, so Im fergettin it, Capn!
Slipp was trying hard to keep his claws away from Blagguts obstinate neck. He tried another ploy. “Yore right, mate. Dont mention that other shadow thing; just tell me about the treasure, or the place its buried in.
Blaggut piled cream onto his big strawberry until it was completely covered and held it near his mouth. “ Ang on a tick, Capn. Glopp! Mmmff, mmmff!
The infuriated Slipp had to sit waiting while his former boatswain munched away with a look of delight pasted on his oafish face. Blaggut finished and licked the cream from his lips. “Aaahhh, never ad more prime vittles in me life! Oh, now, where was I? The secret treasure of Redwall hAbbey, aye, thats where I was. Its buried at the corner of the southeast wall, eleventynine steps from thebuildin itself ...
“Eleventynine steps ysay? The Captain managed to keep a straight face.
“Aye, thats ow the mouseybabe measured it out, an that liddle cove knows ow to count, take my affydavit on it. I knows the hexact spot where it lies. Truth to tell, I was startin* to dig it up when ... Oho, but I promised I wouldnt mention that. Beggin yer pardon, Capn.
Slipp relaxed and began searching his own bowl for big strawberries to dip in the cream. “Ive got it now, he said. “Yore tellin me that you knows where the treasure is buried, the very spot. Now, you was just goin tdig it up when wot we vowed never to mention again came an scared you off, is that right?
Blaggut poured himself some cordial, watching it fizz.
“Eddications a great thing, Capn. Ow do they put the liddle bubbles in this grog? Yowch! I told you I knows where the treasure lies, Capn, no need ter keep kickin me!
Further conversation was halted by the tinkle of the Abbots bell. A smile hovered about the face of Saxtus as he made his announcement.
“Attention, friends, tonight at dusk we will gather by the pond for a concert. Everybeast is allowed to take part, but I beg you to keep any songs and dances brief, so that all may have a chance to perform. There will be a number of prizes, the main one being a silver cup donated by Mellus. Dibbuns can stay up late to take part. Thank you!
There was a rousing cheer from the Redwallers, then they left the tables to go about any remaining chores, discussing with one another what they would do at the concert.
Slipp murmured out of the corner of his mouth to Blag-gut, “Perfect! While theyre singin an jiggin, well be diggin the treasure up.
Blaggut was about to raise an objection when a large, black shadow fell over them both. He covered his face with both paws and tried to hide beneath the table, but it was only Mellus.
“Slipp, havent you got work to finish in the kitchens? she asked. “Blaggut, come from under that table; youll be needed to gather wood for the fire by the pond. Come on you two, look lively or you wont get a chance to do your bit at the concert this evening.