Meldrum the Magnificent pulled his twitching ears in below the top of the bark. “The blighters are shootin at us; nearly had my bally ears pierced just then. Much further tgo, chaps?
Dandin held tight to the sheet of bark, sidestepping as an arrow thudded into the earth close to his paw. “What dyou think, Iris, is this far enough? he asked.
The otter squinted through a knothole at the castle. “This will do. Here goes number one!
She ran from behind die shield, a shaft already strung tightly on her bowstring. Taking quick aim, Iris fired and nipped uuck behind the shield as a volley of arrows zipped from the battlements at her.
“Too high, she said. “It hit the stones above the gatehouse window, but Mariel knows what were up to now. Shes pulled back out of sight and put a table upright in the window space. Right, here goes my second shotit wont hit; its only a rangefinder.
Notching another arrow on her string, the otter leaped out and fired. She watched the arrow in flight for a brief moment before diving back under cover. “Thought sotoo low! Give me the arrow with the message tied to it, Dandin. Ive got the range now.
Fitting the third arrow to her bow, Iris waited a moment as a hail of arrows passed overhead.
“One ... Two ... Now!
She sprang into the open, bowstring taut against her cheek, and squinting one eye along the arrow she released it.
Sssssst thunk!
Muta and Rab stood guarding the door against any sudden attack as Mariel tugged at the arrow buried in the tabletop. “Whew, whoever shot that one knew what they were doing! she said, admiringly.
Nagru and Silvamord had both been in line with the rats on the battlements, shooting arrows for all they were worth. The Foxwolf put aside his bow as the three figures retreated behind their shield.
“Stop shooting, he ordered. “Theyre out of range now. All down to the drawbridge. Come on, you fumblepawed lot, shift yourselves!
A big gray rat named Crutch was in charge of the ranks that stood six deep blocking the open drawbridge entrance. He saluted Nagru smartly. “All quiet here, Lord. No sign of any attack yet.
The Foxwolf glanced up at the gatehouse window high above. “It will come, though. Crutch, I want this entrance guarded night and day. No lapsesstay alert. Those three in the gatehouse have received a message from their friends.
Mariel unrolled the thin strip of cloth from around the arrowshaft and read aloud the charcoal scrawl to the badger and the otter. “Hold gatehouse long as you can. Gael gone to raise an army. It is war!
28
Pearl Queen skimmed over the summer seas like a great bird, ever southward, cutting white-crested rollers, with webs of sunlit water patterns racing along her hull above the seashadows. Finnbarr and Joseph leaned over the stern rail, watching their vessels creamy wake trail out until it merged with the distant main. The sea otter squinted at the feathery clouds being chased across the sky by playful breezes.
“Were makin good headway, Joseph. Lets ope our luck stays with us, mate, he said.
The Bellmaker could not resist smiling at this remark. “Luck? Weve been holed by rocks, attacked by toads, fought off a shark, lost our rudder, had a mast snapped off like a twig, and been chased by a double-crewed shipload of searats, and thats besides losing the Roaringburn current that was supposed to take us to Southsward. What more luck do we need, you puddle-headed old seadog?
Finnbarr threw a tattooed paw about the Bellmakers shoulders, hugging him fondly.
“Yew mizzuble ole bellbonger, I never said twas goin t be easy, did I? We aint sittin on the bottom o the briny with a sunken ship, thats lucky. Mayaps those three liddle orphans we took aboard at the island are our lucky charms, eh?
Joseph turned and watched the three young ones. They were playing skip the rope on the hatch covers with Rufe, Durry, and Patch. “Poor little mites, they could do with a bit of luck themselves. Were the only ones theyve got left in this world now. Benjy will be useful to us; he knows Southsward.
“Wot about the other two young coves? Finnbarr nodded toward Wincey and Figgs.
“Fortunately they have no memory of Southsward, or if they do, its never mentioned. From what Benjy told me it was a terrible place to be once the creature called Foxwolf came there. He rules the land by terror; theres none to stand against him and his rat horde. The Urgan Nagru is his other name, and he has a mate called Sil-vamord. Benjys not sure whether theyre wolves or foxes. They murdered and tricked their way into powerhave you ever heard of them, Finn?
The sea otter touched his twin sword hilts ominously. “No, but when we meet Im sure the pleasure!! be all mine, matey. Ive alms been a freebeast, an I never could take to tyrants an conquerors, specially those whod make orphans of liddle uns. Bad fortune to em says I, an Im the beast wholl bring it to em!
Figgs was not built for rope skipping. She attached herself to Rosie, knowing that the hare was a good food provider.
“Figgs wants pudden, Rosie, more pudden!
Rosie Woodsorrel gave a gusty whoop. “Whoohaha-hooh! I say, what a good idea, Figgs. So do I. Come on, old scout, lets chuck those shrews out the galley and see what we can jolly well cook up between us, wot?
Foremole stumped about opening supply lockers and searching the galley cupboards gloomily. “Baint much vittles left, miz Rose; wem shouldve taked on more supplies at ee island. Burr, soon usns be a drinken ee sea an cooken ee sails furr zoop!
Rosie frowned as she turned a few withered apples out of a drawer. “Well lack a day, you mean theres no tucker left?
Log-a-Log crawled out of an empty locker saying, “Theres a bit, but not much. Ive just been sounding the water casks; were going to have to ration the drinking water from now on. If we dont sight land soon I think fish would be a good idea, eh, Foremole?
“Burr, nay zurr Log, wem ad one gurt fish aboard, that wurr enuff furr oi, thankee!
Figgs followed Rosie about, throwing her paws in the air and repeating over and over, “Lack a day, no tuckers left, lack a day!
A meeting of the crew was called. Joseph faced them across a small heap of supplies, all that was left aboard Pearl Queen. The Bellmakers face was grave as he addressed the assembly.
“This is the sum total of our food, and from now on the water is rationed. We must go carefully.
Rosie watched Figgs toddling about repeating her lament: “Lack a day, no tuckers left, no tucker, lack a day!
The kindly hare gathered the little otter to her. “Well, Im not really hungry, doncha know. Give my share to young Figgs here.
Finnbarr shook his head saying, “O no, marm, an all you others who volunteered tgive their vittles tthe young uns. No, it cant be done. Wed all starve an theyd be left alone agin. Everybeast must take their rations an eat em tkeep up strength. Thats an order!
Lookouts were posted in the rigging to watch out for land. Benjy sat up on the bowsprit with Durry, Rufe, and Patch. They scanned the horizon constantly with no success. Mid-noon became hot, and the breeze dropped until Pearl Queen was practically lying becalmed. Joseph filled a water dipper from a pail to give the sea otter his ration.
“Looks like that luck you were talking about has run out, he said.
Finnbarr sipped steadily, his single eye roving the sea. “Keep yer chin up, Bellmaker. Bit o a breeze is all we needs to shift us on tfresh fortune.
Benjy was the youngest of the four who sat on the bowsprit. He stared unhappily at the empty wastes of water stretching as far as his eye could see.
“Patch, whatll happen if we dont get food? he asked. The shrew was the eldest by a season. He winked at Durry, saying, “If we dont get food, well probly have to eat one o the crew. Thats what they do at sea, aint it, mates?
Durry and Rufe went along with the joke. “Aye, thats right. Wonder who Mr. Finnbarr will pick to cook for supper tonight?