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Chapters (64)
  1. CAPTURED!
  2. Other Books
  3. Title Page
  4. Map
  5. Introduction
  6. BOOK ONE
  7. 1
  8. 2
  9. 3
  10. 4
  11. 5
  12. 6
  13. 7
  14. 8
  15. 9
  16. 10
  17. 11
  18. 12
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. 19
  26. 20
  27. 21
  28. 22
  29. 23
  30. 24
  31. 25
  32. BOOK TWO
  33. 26
  34. 27
  35. 28
  36. 29
  37. 30
  38. 31
  39. 32
  40. 33
  41. 34
  42. 35
  43. 36
  44. 37
  45. BOOK THREE
  46. 38
  47. 39
  48. 40
  49. 41
  50. 42
  51. 43
  52. 44
  53. 45
  54. 46
  55. 47
  56. 48
  57. 49
  58. 50
  59. 51
  60. 52
  61. 53
  62. 54
  63. 55
  64. What’s next onyour reading list?

Orlando wiped a dusty paw across his brow. “I’m glad it’s you and not me trying that. By the way, please take care not to lose my battleaxe down there.”

“Oh, stop fussing, you great lump, and help that shrew up on to the rope.”

*   *   *

Jess’s plan worked well and the operation went smoothly, though with one or two minor hitches. Sir Harry was kept busy flying to and fro to borrow belts for those who had none. When Orlando’s turn came he persevered bravely. However, his size and weight caused the axe handle to bend and the rope to belly. The badger was stuck in the middle, hanging perilously over the abyss. He was moved by Matthias and his friends throwing their weight on and off the rope until it began to twang and vibrate, and Orlando moved slowly along it. At the edge, he had to be hauled over the brink by Basil, Cheek and several shrews. When it was her turn to go, last of all, Jess the champion squirrel of Redwall did the crossing in swashbuckling style. Untying the rope, she bound Orlando’s axe to her back and leapt straight into the gorge, grasping the end of the bridge rope. Down she sped, suddenly snapping to a halt, then with practised skill she swung across and bounded up the rope, paw over paw.

“Here, Orlando,” she panted, “hurry and get this clumping great hatchet off my back. I can’t stand straight with the weight of it.”

“I’ll leave you tied to it if you call it a hatchet again, squirrel.”

*   *   *

The pool among the bushes was like a cool oasis. They washed the dust off, bathing and splashing in the clear water. All save Jabez Stump, who sat munching cow parsley.

“’Tain’t natural, bathin’, otherwise we’d have all been born fishes,” the hedgehog objected.

The foragers found plenty of berries, fruit and plants, even a crabapple tree laden with tiny golden crabapples. The friends lounged about, eating and dozing, almost reluctant to leave this haven of plenty.

Log-a-Log nibbled wild celery as he made his report to Matthias.

“The scouts have picked up the trail, going south as usual. It’s easy to follow.”

Matthias nodded, studying the map and the poem. “Aye, it looks like plain travelling. There’s no obstacle ahead, unless you count these two rocks, the badger and the bell!”

39

“Constance, Abbot! Birds are trying to steal our tapestry!”

Brother Trugg tripped over his habit and fell as he dashed from the barricade where he had been standing sentry duty.

“Get slings, arrows and javelins. Pull the table aside quickly!”

The defenders rushed up the stairs into Great Hall.

Three magpies were struggling with the wall fastenings of the heavy tapestry. They ignored the charging animals, remaining intent on what they were about.