The watervole was clinging fiercely onto a stalagmite at the shallow side of the pool, flat out in the water. He was caught by the tail, and a veritable monster of a fish was trying to drag him into the deeps. The fish was a barbel, white as snow and completely blind from living in the dark subterranean depths. It was a fearsome sight, with a head as wide as Dann was tall. Dippler hurtled into the shallows and grabbed Burble’s paws as they slipped from the smooth rounded stalagmite. He began a tug of war against the barbel, with Burble roaring in a panic, gripping the young Guosim’s paws, trying to lever himself forward as Dippler dug in, bending over backward, grunting as he tried to heave his friend away from the huge fish. The watervole felt his wet paws slipping from Dippler’s grasp as the monstrous barbel pulled, dragging him farther into the fathomless pool with it.

“Don’t let ’im get me, Dipp! Pull, pull! Dann, heeeeelp!” he shrieked.

Dann dashed forward and tripped, cannoning into a stalagmite, the limestone column snapping as he struck it. Scrambling upright, the young squirrel hurtled onward, booming echoes of his shouts ringing round the cavern.

“Hold on, Burb, I’m comin’! Redwaaaaaalllll!”

Without thinking, Dann had seized hold of the broken-off stalagmite, unconscious of its weight. Sloshing into the shallows, he swung the cylindrical chunk of limestone like a club, whacking the fish a mighty blow on its jaw. The barbel’s awesome mouth flew open and Burble shot forward, collapsing in a heap atop Dippler. Dann let go of the stalagmite and leapt to safety, landing upon his two friends in a jumble of thrashing limbs. Like a steel trap the barbel’s mouth slammed shut, trapping the stalagmite in its jaws. It slid backward, completely stunned. Slipping from the shallow rock ledge, the leviathan of the pool dropped back into the depths. Slowly it sank from sight in the green translucent water, leaving behind a spiraling trail of carmine from its injured mouth. They lay exhausted, shuddering with shock and fear.

Dann sat up first, massaging his limbs briskly, wide eyes riveted on the still pool. “Uuugh! What an evillookin’ monster. Are you all right, Burb?”

The irrepressible vole inspected his skinned tail ruefully. “Yiss yiss, ’twas a big ’un all right. Pity we couldn’t ’ave dragged it ashore an’ ate it. I’m starvin’!”

Dann burst into laughter at the gluttonous watervole. “Hahaharr! Trust you, Burb, always thinkin’ of yore stomach!”

Burble shook himself indignantly. “Ah now, yer wrong there, bucko, I was thinkin’ of the big fish’s stomach, an’ wot it’d be like livin’ inside it. But thank ye, Dann, that’s a useful ould club you swung there, yiss yiss!”