Amid gales of laughter from all who knew what had happened, Florian glared daggers at the cheeky shrew. “Flippin’ spiky-mopped waterbeetle, mind your own business, wot! Chap has the right t’stand or sit as he jolly well pleases, without your bottle-nosed inquiries, flamin’ fatbellied boat-bobber! Shove some salad down that great gob of yours an’ give it a flippin’ rest!”

“I was just about to do that, sir,” Bargle shouted cheerfully back, “but I can’t find the salad fork noplace. But we all trust you, mister Florian. You will find it!”

Adding insult to injury, Mayon roared out, “Aye, you’ll get t’the bottom of things, won’t ye, sir!”

The outraged hare loaded two plates high with food and marched off, balancing a flagon of October Ale between the platters. “A frog’s feather for you lot. I’ll go an’ dine elsewhere. I’m not standin’ here t’be insulted!”

“Then sit down if y’dare!”

Redwallers held their aching ribs, sobbing with laughter, as much at Bargle’s parting shot as at the sight of Florian Dugglewoof Wilffachop, strutting off with a heavily bandaged rear end.

23

23

Late night turned extremely cloudy, leaving the four travelers paddling in complete blackness for long periods when the moon became hidden by heavy cloudbanks. The stream had grown much deeper—wider, too—and they could no longer feel the odd touch of paddle against streambed. Dann caught the first overhanging branches that he could reach and hauled them in to the bank. “That’s enough for one night, pals. The stream may get pretty treacherous in the dark. Let’s make camp.”

Pulling the Swallow up onto dry ground, they sat on a partially mossed rock shelf. Song peered about her, but could not make out much in the thick tree groves surrounding them. “What d’you think, Dann? Shall we chance a fire?”

The young squirrel was busy digging food out of their packs. “Hmm, I don’t see why not, eh, Burb?”

“Ah yiss yiss, a bit of an ould blaze always cheers things up, an’ we might see where we’ve landed. Yiss!”

Dippler went off to look for fuel, and was soon back, staggering under a load of wood. “Found a stricken pine tree back there. Good dry stuff ’tis.”

Dann struck flint against his swordblade onto some dry moss, and soon they had a bright crackling little fire. Supper consisted of a few scones, some almonds and raisins and a brew of Goody Brimm’s mint and burnet rose hip tea. Only the immediate area of their camp was lit up; beyond that the woodland looked thick, dark and impenetrable.