“By the fur and the claw, and the law, I’m glad we found you lot, though you’ve got our Log-a-Log to thank for that. If he hadn’t decided to rest here awhile we’d have gone right past you and you’d have rotted in there.”

Laughing happily, Mattimeo knelt to shake Log-a-Log by the paw.

“I knew you’d find us. Oh, I just knew it would happen someday. Thank you, Log-a-Log. Oh, thank y—”

The Log-a-Log of all the Guosim was smiling, even though his eyes had closed for the last time. He had lived long enough to keep his promise to his friends. He had found their young ones.

*   *   *

Matthias was growing tired. The Wearet seemed to have hidden stores of insane energy. The strange beast was wounded in a dozen different places, but his size and mad ferocity seemed to buoy him up. The warrior mouse went into the sword fighter’s stance, blade held ready to cut, sweep and thrust, gaining a small respite for breath as the Wearet circled him, looking for an opening. Matthias turned slowly as the Wearet tried to get behind his back.

In the mouth of the tunnel, Orlando stood alongside Basil, watching the gruelling conflict.

“That creature can’t get the better of our Warrior, but I think Matthias is looking very tired now. Is that a very deep gash on his brow, d’you think, Basil?”

“Tchah! A mere scratch, old lad. I’ve done more damage to a salad with a spoon. Don’t let the Champion of Redwall fool you, Orlando, oh dear no. In a moment or two he’ll decide it’s time for lunch and he’ll settle old thingummybob’s hash, you mark my words!”

Basil was proved right. The moment Matthias saw he had the Wearet with his back to the wall, he came in like a hungry wolf. Sparks flew from the rocks as Matthias smashed home a devastating attack. He seemed to be everywhere at once, roaring, slashing and milling. The confident sneer faded from the Wearet’s face as he found himself battling for dear life. The mouse warrior fought with the strength of two and the skill of many seasons. The Wearet pushed himself from the rocks with a gigantic effort and lunged savagely forward with both spears. Matthias darted to one side, and his blade crashed down like summer lightning, shearing through both spear handles in one heroic sweep. The warrior mouse turned a half-circle with the momentum, but the Wearet was swifter than a shadow. He leaped at Matthias’s unprotected back. Passing his paws over Matthias’s head, he began strangling the warrior mouse with the broken handles of the spears which he had held on to.