Lask pointed back to the shore. "Creaturez from Redwall are after uz. I left five and the three gullz to hold them off. I do not know how many they are!"
Romsca snapped orders to her crew. "Up anchor an' let 'er drift further offshore fer safety. See, Lask, I told yer those Redwallers were fighters."
************************************
Grath Longfletch crouched low in her longboat, watching Waveworm from a distance. It was drifting from its original mooring, further out to sea. A long shout like a warcry rang out from the shore.
"Eulaliaaaaaa!"
In the falling light, Grath saw the steersrat Bladetail topple over the stern, pierced by an arrow from the shore. A stoat leapt up on the stern, whirling a slingshot to retaliate. Grath decided to help out. Grabbing her bow, she placed a shaft on the string and whipped it back.
Lask watched in surprise as an arrow seemed to grow out of the stoat's skull. Pandemonium broke out aboard Waveworm as the vermin staggered backward and fell to the deck. Lask Frildur dashed into his cabin and slammed the door, and the other Monitors ran for cover.
Slashing the air with her blade, Romsca roared out orders. "Take 'er out deeper where arrers can't reach! Make some sail that'll move us along faster! Break out some boat'ooks an' long-pikes in case they tries t'board us! Stir yer stumps!"
Abbot Durral acted then. Lifting Viola, he shuffled to the rail and threw her over the side, shouting, "Swim, little one, make for the shore!"
A searat grabbed the Abbot; throwing a noosed rope over him, he bound the old mouse's paws to his side, then he dragged him to the mast where he made the rope fast.
Romsca dashed to the rail, shouting, "Get the maid out o' the water, look lively!"
A searat ran halfheartedly to the rail with a rope; he screamed and fell wounded by a green-feathered arrow, yelling, "Longboat t'the port side 'eadin' this way!"
Grath Longfletch laid aside her weapon, racing toward the small figure floundering in the water as the outgoing tide carried it seaward. Gripping the little tiller tight the otter sent her craft skimming between the waves. Viola was pulled by the current; she swallowed seawater, scrabbling at Waveworm's prow as she drifted in front of it, blinded by stinging salt water.
Grath was close enough to see now. It was either a mouse or a voleno searat this. Risking everything on a desperate gamble, the otter lashed the tiller to her stern seat with the aft line. She saw the enormous prow of Waveworm looming up, but regardless of danger she grabbed the volemaid's apronback with both paws and pulled her clear of the advancing ship's bow.
Bump! Craaaack!
Waveworm caught the longboat, ramming it amidships and turning the small craft momentarily over on its side. Grath was in the sea, with Viola clinging to her. Striking away from the ship, she shouted, "Take a good deep breath an' hold on t'me!"
Swimming as only a powerful grown otter can, Grath Longfletch dived and turned underwater, streaking away from Waveworm towards the shore. Viola bankvole closed both eyes and held her breath, dark water rushing past her as the otter sped them both out of danger. Then panic overtook Viola, the breath ran from her in a stream of bubbles and she began swallowing water.
The next thing she knew a paw was patting her back as Clecky spoke to her in a reassuring voice. "Dearie me, missie, fancy tryin' to swallow all the sea in one go! C'mon, give it back, cough it all up now, you'll be fine!"
Between coughs and spurts of seawater Viola could see her rescuer introducing herself to Martin.
Waveworm was now well out of reach. Grath crouched in the lee of some rocks with Martin, Clecky and Viola.
The Warriormouse watched the corsair vessel, saying, "Let's hope she's dropped anchor there, maybe tomorrow we'll be able to do something about Abbot Durral."
Clecky left off patting Viola's back. "I think we're on a loser at the moment, old chap, they're holdin' all the acorns in this little game, wot! Now if we had a ship ..."
"Stay here, I'll see what's happened to my boat!" Grath said, and she was off, running down the beach and disappearing into the sea.
Clecky shrugged and raised an eyebrow at Martin. "Odd sort o' gel that'n, fights like mad t'get ashore, then runs straight back into the bally water?"
Chapter 23
At the edge of Redwall Abbey pond the punt had been hauled out of the water and dragged around to the sandy shallows. Glenner the otter explained her plan to the four friends.
"Y'know wot they always say about the simplest plans, mates? They're the best 'uns. We stand this punt up on its side first. Well, come on, lend a paw there. I can't do it alone!"
It was an old flat-bottomed craft and quite heavy. They stood paw deep, grunting and gasping as they tried to lift the punt clear of the water. Auma the badger Mother was out for a stroll around the grounds with three Dibbuns, the molebabes Gurrbowl and Diggum and the little squirrel Arven. They wandered across to the pond.
Auma watched the curious proceedings, then enquired, "I don't know what you're up to, Rollo, but d'you need any help?"
Placing both paws on his back, the old Recorder straightened up. "Ooh, my aching bones! We'd be extremely grateful if you'd help us to stand this punt on its side in the shallows."
Little Arven rolled his smock sleeves up briskly. "Stanna side, Roily, we do it easy. Cummon, moles, we showem 'ow to lifta boat, us on'y likkle but we's horful strongly!"
As the three Dibbuns charged into the shallows, Auma scooped them neatly up in her huge paws and set them back on the bank. "Keep an eye on these rogues, Tansy. Everybeast stand clear now!"
Then the big badger set the punt on its side with a single powerful heave. "There, is that what you wanted? What do you expect to do with the boat in this position?''
Glenner picked up the long punting pole. "There's one o' them pink pearls somewhere on the pond bottom, marm, but there's also a big ole female grayling. So I'm goin' to dive down there an' chase 'er into the shallows with this pole. The plan is to drop the punt upside down on 'er, so the fish'll be trapped, then I can search for the pearl without that big ole grayling botherin' me. You'll all need t'stand on the boat; yore weight will stop the fish escapin'. It should work."
At the mention of a big fish, the Dibbuns became excited. They danced about on the bank squealing and shouting.
"Hurrhurr, oi'll swim down with ee an' chase ee gurt fish-erbeast!"
"H'an' I bite its tail off. Chomp! Like dat wi' my big sharp teefs!"
"Burr aye, an' oi'll sit unner ee boat anold ee gurt fishbeast 'ard an' toight, so ee don't 'urt you'm creeturs!"
Auma shook a warning paw at them. "You'll stay with me and keep tight hold of my paws or I'll tan your tails and send you off to bed!"
All the helpers were huddled behind the boat. Auma poked her head around the side and called to Glenner, who was wading through the reeds at the pond's far edge, "We're all ready here, down you go, Glenner. Be careful!"
The otter submerged into the crystal-clear water, holding the pole like a lance in front of her. The female grayling lurked in the boulders at the deep center of the pond, unwilling to move away from the skeletal remains of her long-dead mate. Glenner tapped her gently on the head with the pole, but she refused to budge. However, a second tap brought the big fish's dorsal fin upright, and she became aggressive. Like a flash she charged, but the otter fended her off skillfully, tapping away sharply with the butt end of the pole and bumping the grayling on her head, sides and tail until she ceased her attack and turned in retreat. Glenner was right after her, urging her along, shepherding her with the punting pole.
Auma peered around the side of the punt. "Here she comes, get ready now, when I say push ..."