Echoes of the call bounced back from all directions, but there was no reply, only the distant boom of the falls and a steady plip-plot of water dropping from the high cavern ceiling into the pool. It all sounded very eerie.

Dippler gave Dann a worried glance. “Pore ole Burb. Wot if he’s . . .”

The young squirrel placed a paw to the shrew’s lips. “Don’t even mention it, Dipp. Come on, maybe he’s been washed farther downriver. Don’t fret, we’ll find him.”

Keeping close to the river edge, they pressed onward, sometimes wading waist deep, other times jumping from rock to rock. Dippler followed Dann. He was in a gloomy mood and took every opportunity to let his companion know it, voicing his thoughts aloud as they went.

“Huh, I’ve gone an’ lost me blade. Wot sort o’ Guosim must I look like, widout a rapier by me side? It’s all right fer you, mate, you’ve still got that great sword slung over yore back. Pore ole me, I’ve got nothin’ to defend meself with.” Dippler’s voice re-echoed about the tunnel they were sloshing through after leaving the cavern. “An’ I’m so wet’n’cold that I don’t think I’ll ever get dry’n’warm agin. Blinkin’ head’s achin’, too!”

Dann waded forward, trying to ignore Dippler’s complaints. “Proper little ray o’ sunshine, aren’t you, Dipp? Moanin’ ain’t goin’ t’do us any good. One more word out of you an’ I’ll die an’ never talk to you again!”

“Help! Gerroff me, y’dirty great hooligan! Heeeeeelp!”

Echoes of Burble’s voice boomed all around the tunnel. Dann drew his sword, looking about wildly. “It’s Burb. Which way are those sounds coming from?”

Dippler pushed past Dann, stumbling and splashing ahead. “Well, he wasn’t back where we were, so he must be up thataway!”

The tunnel opened out into another vast cavern. Like the previous one, this also had a rockbound pool, but far larger than the first. They scrambled up onto the rocks and saw Burble.