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Chapters (50)
  1. TRAPPED
  2. Title Page
  3. Map
  4. BOOK ONE
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. BOOK TWO
  21. 16
  22. 17
  23. 18
  24. 19
  25. 20
  26. 21
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. 24
  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. 27
  33. 28
  34. BOOK THREE
  35. 29
  36. 30
  37. 31
  38. 32
  39. 33
  40. 34
  41. 35
  42. 36
  43. 37
  44. 38
  45. 39
  46. 40
  47. 41
  48. 42
  49. 43
  50. 44

Log-a-log’s speedy victory over Tugbutt, combined with his tough, authoritative air, turned the tide in his favor. The two shrews grabbed the struggling Tubgutt and tied him up.

Log-a-log sheathed his weapon and turned to both crews. “I’m still Log-a-log here, Blackstone or not. Anybeast who thinks he’s shrew enough to challenge me, let him do it now!”

There was a momentary silence, then a big tough-looking shrew stood up and made his way along to stand by the leader. “Anyone who challenges Log-a-log challenges me too. He’s always been fair and just to all of us!”

Nordo stood up with Mara and Pikkle. He spoke for all three: “We stand with Log-a-log!”

An old shrew with long whiskers waved his paddle. “Good old Log-a-log! Old? What’m I talkin’ about, he’s only a young snip compared t’ me, heeheehee!”

Other voices now made themselves heard . . .

“Aye, Log-a-log’s always been a good un. I like him!”

“Me too. He’s always played square with young an’ old. What d’you say, shrews?”

The crews of both logboats raised a mighty cheer for Log-a-log as he vaulted back into the boat with Nordo.

“Hooray for Log-a-log, leader of the Guosssom. Hooray!”

“I say, chaps, d’you mind sittin’ down or we’ll all end up in the flippin’ drink. Wot, wot!”

*   *   *

The rest of the day passed by uneventfully. The sun set over the west lakeside horizon in crimson glory as the hot summer day came to an end. The shrews shipped paddles, ate supper and settled down as best they could for the night. Lying awake in the bows of the lead craft, Log-a-log passed Mara a jug of sweetmaple cordial.

“Mara, I want to thank you and Pikkle for backing me—you especially. The way you crept up on Tubgutt was very brave. He had a lot of the others ready to follow him. I know he lost a lot of face in the contest with Pikkle, but out here on the water with everybeast terrified by Deepcoiler they were ready to follow Tubgutt because he was all for turning back. Fear is a great motivator; it was touch and go there for a while. You could have quite easily got a rapier between your ribs back there. You are a true friend, Mara. I will never forget what you did for me.”

The badger maid pretended to yawn and snuggle down, embarrassed by Log-a-log’s praise for her. “Oh, that’s what pals are for. Now go to sleep, you old water-walloper.”

Stilled for the night, the two logboats rocked gently on the calm surface of the vast lake.

23

“Yew tew better keep quiet, they’re just up ahead o’ us.”

Samkim and Arula peered into the night-shaded woodlands.

“How far ahead, Spriggat?”