“Yiss yiss, an’ I wager the first ould creature we find down there’ll be the bold Song, eh?”

“Haha, right, an’ she’ll say, Wot took you lot so long, you should’ve come down the quick way like I did!”

It was the worst night of their lives, climbing down a spray-drenched cliff face, with the waterfall pounding along on their left side. Dann found that the broken length of rope proved invaluable. He would lower himself down, then have the Swallow lowered to him before guiding the other two safely on their descent. No easy task by night, even though the rocks on that side were not smooth. But with great good fortune, lots of rests on ledges and good cooperation between them combined with Dann’s great climbing skills, they had covered halfway by dawn. Stopping on a small crag, they made a scratch breakfast.

Dippler peered down. He could see the pool below the falls through the misty spray. “I’d say we could make it by midday, if things go all right.”

“Yiss yiss, midday, or even just before. We’d best save some vittles. Miss Song’ll be about ready fer lunch when we arrive.”

Dann sighed heavily, but managed to force a smile. “Come on, you two, let’s get goin’ instead of guzzlin’.”

About midmorning Song confided her thoughts to Megraw on the streambank.

“Suppose they went right by us during the night? We didn’t have anything to make a signal fire with, and my friends could quite easily have rowed past in our boat, not knowing we’re here.”

Megraw flapped the useless wing at his side. “Aye, ye could be right, Song. What d’ye suggest?”

The squirrelmaid stood up, pointing downstream. “I think we’d do well walking slowly along the bank in clear sight. I’ll bet they find us before the day’s through.”

The osprey rose and walked along with her. “Ach, anythin’s better than squattin’ in one place, or sittin’ in yon fussy auld cormorant bird’s nestie. Did ye hear her?”

Megraw could not help chuckling as Song imitated the cormorant.

“Rrrr! Squiddles’n’eagles not stay in my nest, glock no. They not fishes, gluck gluck, eat up my eggchicks. Rrrrr!”

“Haw haw haw! Did ye mind the look on yon laddie’s beak when I threatened tae eat his wife? He looked fair happy so he did!”

*

Mokkan could see the lake in the distance. The Marlfox stood on a hilly rise where the river flowed downward toward the huge body of water. He watched the wild rapids plunging down to the lake, thinking. Now he had come this far there was no point in having the logboat wrecked with himself and the tapestry aboard. He chose two of his remaining water rats.