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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?

“Hmm,” the badger yawned. “They’re always shouting about one thing or another, though where they’re taking us, well, your guess is as good as mine. I’m Auma. What’s your name?”

“Jube.”

“That’s a good name.”

“Glad you like it. I don’t. It’s short for Jubilation. I’m the only male in a family of ten females. You should see my sisters, great big bullies they are. When I was born Mum said to Dad: ‘It’s not a female. What’ll we call him?’ My old dad was so pleased he shouted: ‘O Jubilation!’ But you can call me Jube. I’d dearly hate to be this Slagar fox when my family catches up with him and these rascals.”

For the first time in a long while the friends found themselves chuckling at the young hedgehog. He seemed quite unconcerned that he had been made captive, looking on it as only a temporary measure until his family caught up with the slavers.

Mattimeo dearly wished he could share Jube’s optimism.

16

Cheek the young otter was never still. He kept bounding ahead of Jess, Matthias and Basil and running back to chide them.

“Come on, it’ll be the middle of next season before we get anywhere, the way you plod along.”

Basil sniffed and shot a frosty glare at Cheek. “Out of m’way, scallawag. We’re following a trail and you’re jumping over the pawprints. See, Matthias, here and here. I’d stake me reputation there’s two of ’em. Weasels, prob’ly.”

Cheek wrinkled his whiskers impudently. “Oh, for goodness sake! I know that, I’ve found their weapons up ahead.”

Jess grabbed Cheek by the paw. “Where? Why didn’t you tell us?”

“Huh, ’cos you never asked me, that’s why. You’re always too busy tellin’ me off. ‘Don’t run, come here, go there. . . .’”

Jess released the young otter. “Right, show us.”

They ran behind Cheek as he bounded and scampered between the trees in the early morning sunlight. Suddenly he stopped and pointed.

Matthias was hurrying forward when Basil pulled him back as his paws began sinking.

“Steady on, old chum, it’s a bally swamp. Now then, young feller m’laddo, see the danger of dashing ahead?”

The Warrior hopped to the firm ground, aided by Basil. “Wait, I’ll cut a long branch and we’ll fish those weapons back.”

It was the work of a moment for Matthias to lop off a long larch branch. Jess held tight to Cheek as the young otter fished the weapons onto solid earth. They stood looking at the shattered spear and the curved sword which had been snapped clean through the center of its blade. Basil gave a low whistle of amazement as he turned the ruined weapons over with his paw.

“Blow me down, what sort of creature has the strength to do this?” he wondered.