Mattimeo dashed the leaf from her paw, his face livid with anger. “It’s all right for you to talk, your father isn’t buried in there, is he? Where in the name of the claw has that hedgehog got to? It’s going to take him half a season to find a branch so we can lever these rocks out—”

“Over here, little hero. We’ve got your friends over here!”

Bageye and Skinpaw had Jube and Cynthia tied by their necks on a rope.

Still flushed with temper, Mattimeo grabbed a chunk of rock. “Come on Auma, Sam, let’s charge them!”

They had reached the lower edge of the rubble when Slagar’s voice rang out mockingly behind them, “My, my, aren’t we the bold ones? Go ahead, try it.”

Mattimeo whirled about to face Slagar and half a dozen others who had circled round to join him. They were all heavily armed. The young mouse, still driven by rage, hurled a rock. Slagar dodged it easily and drew out his fearsome weapon. The three leather thongs whirred as he swung them in a circle, the metal balls at the ends of the thongs clacking together viciously. The masked fox pointed at Tess Churchmouse.

“Drop that rock, mouse. Any of you runaways make a move and I’ll smash little missie’s skull to a pulp. I never miss.”

Tess closed her eyes tight and clasped her paws together. “Run, Mattimeo! Run for your life back to Redwall. Bring help!”

“Go on, do as she says,” Slagar sniggered with glee. “After I’ve killed her, I’ll kill you. To slay the Warrior of Redwall and his son in such a short time would make my revenge complete.”

The rock fell from Mattimeo’s open paw. Hot tears sprang to his eyes as he hung his head in defeat.

They were roughly herded together by Bageye and Skinpaw. The rope was looped about the neck of each of the friends as Bageye bound their paws in front with thongs.

Slagar nodded towards the south woodland fringe. “Right, let’s go. Oh, you can take your time now, there’s nobody following us anymore. Hahahaha!”

Auma made a strangled noise, halfway between a growl and a sob. Dragging the captives with her, she fell back upon the huge mound of rubble and began digging furiously. It took all the slavers to drag her off.

Beating with canes and rope ends, they bludgeoned the little group off along the south trail through the summer woodlands.

Realization of what had taken place hit Sam Squirrel like a bolt, and tears trickled from his eyes. They all cried.

All except Mattimeo. His eyes were dry. Jaws clenched tight, he strode upright, ignoring all about him but Slagar. Never once did his gaze leave the figure of the masked fox.

Slagar dropped back a pace to talk to Skinpaw.

“How far off are the others?” he asked.