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Back Mattimeo
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?

“I do. Now go and keep a watch on that lot.”

Threeclaws saluted smartly and marched off with his head high.

“Fool!” Slagar sneered beneath the silken hood as he watched the weasel go.

*   *   *

Halftail was slumbering against the bell rock when Slagar stirred him.

The stoat tried to give the impression that he was alert. “Is that you, Chief? I was just lying quiet here, watching the captives,” he pretended.

“Good, good. I’ve often noticed that you’re the one who stays awake and keeps a check on things, Halftail.”

“You have? Oh, er, yes, well. Somebeast has to do it, I suppose.”

“I know I can depend on you. I often say to myself, it’ll be all right for me to take a nap, Halftail’s looking after things. Listen to me, my good friend. I’ll have to take a short trip soon. I’ll leave you in charge here, but don’t say anything. I want you to watch Threeclaws carefully. He’s been getting a bit big for his fur lately. I don’t trust him.”

Halftail nodded wisely. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed it too, Chief. Those weasels are all the same, I’ve never trusted them.”

“That’s because you’re like me, Halftail. You’ve got sense and you’re a natural leader. You stick with me, friend, and I’ll see that you’re well rewarded. I’ll take care of you.”

Halftail opened his eyes wide. “You mean it, Slagar?”

“Of course I do. Faithful service should always be well rewarded. By the way, have you seen Vitch about?”

“Yes, he’s over there by those bushes.”

“Right, I’ll go and have a word with him. I may need to take him with me for a day or two. Remember now, mouth shut, eyes open. I’m counting on you, Halftail.”

“You can trust me, Slagar.”

*   *   *

The Sly One sat down by Vitch beneath the bushes. The young rat drew back slightly, afraid of Slagar.

“Listen carefully, Vitch, I have something to tell you.”

“But Slagar, I haven’t done anything wrong, I’ve been wa—”

“Quiet, Vitch. Keep your voice down. I know you’ve done nothing wrong, in fact you’ve been very good lately.”

“I have? Oh, I have. I’ve been keeping those Redwallers on their paws, and the others too. I make them march as fast as they can go.”