“They sailed right by here, round about twilight, six boatloads of ’em, water rats, with the two foxes sittin’ for’ard in the first boat that passed. So I went t’take a look.”

“So, tell me, what did y’see?”

The squirrel’s long lashes flickered idly. “Wasn’t much to see. I figgered they wouldn’t stop to chat with me, so I worked the ole rear ambush an’ captured one.”

Log a Log leapt up and drew his rapier. “You captured one? Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?”

Janglur rose with a sigh. “Because you called me fat an’ said I was three seasons dead. Come on, stop lookin’ so injured, an’ I’ll take you to him.”

The water rat was fully conscious, but his face showed little emotion as Janglur loosed the bonds and hauled him down from the crack willow. Log a Log’s rapier point was swiftly at the rodent’s throat. The shrew’s voice dripped menace.

“Now, matey, yore goin’ t’do a bit o’ fast talkin’. Who are these Marlfoxes, how many of ’em is there, an’ what are you doin’ in these parts? Make it easy on yoreself an’ speak!”

The rat’s face was blank, his eyes devoid of either fear or hatred of his captors.

Janglur prodded the rat’s chest with a hard paw. “Where d’you come from? Are you from the same place as those foxes? I hear they come from a secret island at the center of a great lake. Tell us about it. Who rules there?”

The rat’s expression never changed, though Log a Log noticed that his paws were trembling visibly. The shrew leaned close to Janglur and spoke in a whisper so the water rat would not hear them. “Wot d’yer make o’ this one, mate? Mayhap he’s a mute . . . Look out!”

Before either creature could stop him, the rat dashed back a few paces and flung himself into the swift-flowing stream. Log a Log and Janglur rushed to the water’s edge and stood helplessly, watching as the rodent was swept away on the wild racing surge. It was far too rough and speedy, even for a water rat, and his paws struggled feebly against the surging mass until a broken rowan tree came hurtling like an arrow on the current. It struck the unfortunate rat and he sank instantly. Log a Log screwed up his face in disgust.

“’Tis always bad when a life’s wasted for no reason, even the life of a vermin like that’n.”

Janglur fastened the sling back around his waist. “I wouldn’t say the rat’s life was wasted fer no reason, mate. We mightn’t know why he did it, but no creature could live in that current, so he knew what he was doin’. He must have been really terrified if he killed himself rather than betray any information.”