But there was still no trace of Gonff the mousethief. Having climbed upward in the search, they spanned the high cave galleries, leading off a central pathway that rose steeply. At the top Lord Cayvear stopped. He turned, barring the path with outstretched wings.

“We go no further, no further,” he stated.

Martin pointed upward. “But, Lord Cayvear, I’m certain I can see the glimmer of daylight up ahead.”

The great bat was unmoved. “So you can, Martin. So you can. The outside world may be reached from up there, but none may venture further. There is a large bird of prey roosting higher up, far bigger than any bat. It is a killer. Many of my bats who went up that way were never seen again, never seen again.”

Martin gave one last dejected look at the slim shaft of light and turned back.

* * *

The little bats were curious and delighted with Dinny. They were under the impression that the mole was a fat bat without wings. Dinny liked the idea.

“Ho urr, batmousen. Oi do fly under ’ee soil. That’s as ’ow oi wore moi wings out wi’ all that diggen.”

The little bats laughed. “Mr. Dinny, you are funny, funny!”

Martin called Dinny and Log-a-Log together to discuss their position.

“As I see it, there’s one way into Bat Mountpit, and that’s the way we came in. As for the way out, it’s a high passage with an opening, but it’s barred by some large bird of prey. Even Lord Cayvear fears to go up there.”

“Burr, do ’ee say wot sort of burdbag it be?” Dinny asked.

Martin shrugged. “That I don’t know, Din. I only hope poor Gonff wasn’t taken by it. Listen, we must find a way past that bird to continue the quest. Gonff would have wished it.”

Log-a-Log was not optimistic. “If the big bird could kill Lord Cayvear, what chance would we have?”

Martin unwound his sling. “Still, we’ve got to give it a try.”

“You’m caint do it wi’ slings, Marthen. But if yon burdbag is ’igh up, then oi knows an ole mole trick to cave ’im out,” Dinny promised.

Lord Cayvear materialized out of the gloom. “How would you do it? What is your plan, your plan?”

“Urr, oi get’n b’neath ’im an’ dig away ’ee nest, then push so it fall out’ards down ’ee mounting,” the mole explained.

Lord Cayvear flapped his wings and flew upward, hanging upside down by his claws.

“Can you do it, do it?” His voice was an excited hiss.

Martin patted Dinny on the back. “Lord Cayvear, if this mole says he can do it, then rest assured, he can. Come on, we can give him some assistance.”

* * *

Darkness had scarcely fallen over the woodlands. Treetops were touched by the fires of the setting sun, and evening birdsong was thinning out to the last few warblers. The thickets at the east side of Kotir were packed with squirrels and otters, each one personally paw-picked by Skipper and Lady Amber. The two leaders listened to reports coming in.