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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?

They looked at one another. Basil and Jess nodded. Matthias thought for a moment, then he too nodded.

“Go on then, Cheek. Give us your good information and maybe we’ll let you come with us,” the warrior mouse agreed.

Cheek sprang from underneath the cart and spread his paws wide. “It’s stopped rainin’. ’ow’s that for good information?”

Basil clapped his paws together. “Absolutely top-hole, Cheek old lad. Top marks for ingenuity. Matthias, I think we need a brainy feller like this if we’re to get anywhere. What d’you say?”

The warrior mouse picked up his sword. “Aye, top marks for sheer cheek. Well, come on then, sir, seeing as you’ve no mum or dad, but behave yourself.”

*   *   *

The sky had ceased its weeping over Mossflower. Grey clouds started rolling back to reveal a powder-blue vault above, and warmth began seeping through to dry the woodlands as the sun continued its journey into summer. White feathery steam rose in banks off trees, grass, flowers and shrubs as the four companions stepped out on the track the two weasels had taken.

*   *   *

Toward evening, Mrs. Churchmouse led the members of the original search party back through the main gates of Redwall Abbey. She made her report to Constance and the Abbot, showing them the empty food bag they had found on the road.

“We travelled north until midday, then we turned back for Matthias, Basil and Jess, wondering what had become of them. When we reached the spot we had rested at in the morning we found this.”

Abbot Mordalfus turned the bag over and read the wording that had been written in charcoal. “East thro’ woods, signs of cart. B. S. Hare.”

Constance inspected the bag. “Good, they’ve found tracks. If ever there were three who could follow a trail, fight an enemy and bring the young ones back, it’s Matthias, Basil and Jess.”

Mrs. Churchmouse’s lip quivered. “Oh, I do wish I could have gone with them, just to see my Tim and Tess again.”

Constance patted her paw. “There, there. Don’t upset yourself. We all would have liked to have gone with them, though you had more right than most. Those three won’t rest until the young ones are safe, you’ll see. Why, one day pretty soon now I wouldn’t be at all surprised to hear banging on the gate and find Matthias, Basil and Jess standing there with the young ones looking hungry as hawks and ready for supper. Why don’t you go and see how baby Rollo is? He’s been asking after you, and Cornflower will have a nice bowl of mint tea waiting for you. Look in on Mr. Churchmouse too. You’ll find he’s a lot better.”