Rusvul stared ashen-faced at Florian and Janglur. “They means t’burn this Abbey down with us in it!”

Another volley of blazing shafts came flying in. Redwallers dashed hither and thither amid the smoke, dodging arrows and flapping away at burning tapestry hangings with wet sacks. Foremole and his crew were trying to set up a bucket chain from Great Hall to the kitchens, but the mole leader shook his velvety head in despair as he passed buckets of water. “Hurr, lackaday, us’n’s goin’ to run short o’ water soon!”

Cregga came pounding downstairs to hold a hasty conference with Janglur and Rusvul. They agreed with her plan immediately.

Janglur ordered the scheme into action, quietly and without fuss. “Splikker, arm yore shrews. Tragglo, get all the able-bodied Redwallers together an’ see they have weapons. Mister Florian, go t’the windows an’ tell ’em we’re comin’ out.”

Florian leapt up on the table, calling to the attackers, “Truce, you chaps, I say, truce! You can pack in tryin’ to burn the old place, we’re comin’ out. Hold y’fire!”

Predak signaled the archers to cease firing, and called back to the Abbeydwellers, “Come out unarmed, all of you, right now, or I’ll order the archers to double their fire!”

Florian’s head popped into the frame of a broken window. “Keep y’shirt on, Marlfox, we’ve got wounded an’ young ’uns to carry out. Just give us a tick an’ we’ll be there!”

A pitifully small group had gathered by the door, armed with anything that came to paw. Cregga placed her paws about Janglur and Rusvul. “You’re sure you want to do this, my friends?”

Janglur’s hooded eyes gazed levelly at the big blind badger. “Wouldn’t ’ave it no other way, marm. You just hold that door an’ stop ’em gettin’ to those inside ’ere.”

Cregga’s great striped head nodded solemnly. “Never fear, Janglur Swifteye, I’ll hold the door as long as Redwall Abbey stands. It has been a pleasure knowing you.”

Janglur bowed gallantly. “The pleasure was all mine, marm. Open the door, Reguba!”

Raventail watched as the Abbey door opened slowly. No more than twoscore Redwallers filed out, but he saw the glint of weaponry as the door closed behind them. There they stood, facing the foebeast in the morning sun. The barbarian ferret grinned in anticipation. “Kye arr, theybeasts come out to makefight!”

Florian Dugglewoof Wilffachop had momentarily forgotten all his dramatic eloquence and posturing. He raised a sharpened window pole and roared as he began to dash forward.

“Chaaaaaaarge!”

And charge they did, giving full voice to the time-honored war cries as they hurtled toward the vermin army.

“Regubaaaa! Logalogalogaloooggg! Redwaaaaaallll!”

Vannan stood confidently, watching them come. The vixen drew her ax, remarking to Predak, “So the day of reckoning has finally come. Now they will pay with their miserable lives . . .”