Deesum gave a yowl and sprang upright. Borrakul looked in awe at Ellayo. “You soon brought ’er outta that faint, marm. You must ’ave good medicine.”

Ellayo clambered up into the cart. “Good medicine nothin’. I could tell she was fakin’, so I just bit the tip of ’er tail. That brought ’er round all right. This’s a good little cart, save my ole paws a bit. Move over, young ’un!”

Dwopple moved, scowling at the old squirrel. She scowled right back. “Just put a paw near that slingshot o’ yourn an’ I’ll bite yore tail clean off to teach ye good manners!”

Elachim the otter yelled, “Here’s the good ole sun come to chase the dull clouds away!”

After the prolonged rain, wind and dark skies, a bright summer sun set everybeast’s spirits soaring. Cheering and laughing, they continued their journey to Redwall.

*

Late afternoon found Tragglo and Dannflor out on the path by the Abbey, gathering dandelions and the sticky-budded burdock. The Cellarkeeper explained the finer points of the plants as they culled them into a rush basket.

“Dannelions, now, you can use ’em fer brewin’ or in salads. Pick the young ’uns with plenty o’ buds on, they’re the sweetest.”

Dannflor smelled the lemony fragrance of a young bud and nibbled it. “Right, Tragglo, they do taste good. Which burdock do I pick?”

*

The hedgehog pointed them out. “Those smaller ones. They’re the lesser burdock, much better’n the big ’uns, which’re called greater burdock. Good juice in lesser burdock. Y’can use it fer treatin’ burns an’ bruises, or y’can take the whole plant fer brewin’, or use the stalks in salads too. Hold ’ard there, young Dann, who be they comin’ up yon path?”

Dannflor shaded his eyes against the sun, watching the strange assortment of creatures and the canvas-covered cart approaching the Abbey. An otter out in front raised his paws and called out, “Redwaaaaaalll!”

Tragglo climbed out of the ditch where they had been gathering plants, wiping his paws on his apron. He chuckled. “Me ole pal Skipper an’ some friends by the look of ’em. Go an’ give the bells a toll, Dann, let everybeast know we got company!”

The young squirrel scampered off, delighted to have the privilege of being bellringer. Hurrying into the ground floor of the belltower, he grabbed the two ropes, one in each paw, high up and pulled with all his might.

Bong! Boom!

Dannflor’s footpaws shot off the floor. He dangled there a moment, then came down to the ground again as the bells tolled a second time. Releasing the ropes, he ran outside and joined the Redwallers who were hurrying toward the gate, eager to meet the visitors.

Dannflor’s father recognized a friendly face instantly. Hugging and back-patting, they greeted one another.

“Janglur Swifteye, you haven’t changed a hair since the old days!”

“Hahaha! Neither have you, Rusvul Reguba, you old warrior!”