Tubgutt went down on all fours. Taking Mara’s paw, he placed it on his head. “I’m sorry I ever spoke out against you, badger. I owe you my life. From now on I will be at your side. Your friends are my friends and your enemies my enemies, this I swear upon my oath as a Guosssom shrew!”

Mara chuckled to hide her embarrassment. “Thank you, Tubgutt. But I wouldn’t try to outscoff Pikkle again, if I were you. Next time you might swell up and explode.”

*   *   *

Minutes stretched slowly into hours. Dawn was a long time in coming as the two boats rocked gently on the surface of the great waters. Throughout the night watches everybeast sat awake, too fearful for sleep.

Log-a-log, Nordo and Tubgutt repaired paddles as best as they could. Mara and Pikkle issued a scratch meal from the depleted rations. Other shrews tended to their injured comrades. All through the long night countless worried glances were directed at the silent dark waters, dreading a return attack from the Deepcoiler.

*   *   *

Daylight arrived in rosy mist-shrouded splendor, lifting the spirits of the voyagers. The sun banished wreathing vapors from the lake and a cloudless blue sky heralded another glorious summer day as they paddled over the vast deep. Trailing lines and small nets were thrown out, and they trapped a few trout fry and some freshwater shrimps. These were cleaned and spread in the sterns to cure by sun-drying. Midafternoon brought with it a cry from the lookout.

“Land ho!”

Log-a-log had been baling out water from the damaged boat. He looked up gratefully and called back, “Where away?”

“It’s an island, straight for’ard as we go!”

Mara stood carefully on tip-paw. Sure enough, there was an unmistakable smudge on the horizon that could only be an island of some kind.

Pikkle bobbed up and down at her side. “Well, blow me down with a feather. Is that it? I say, good show! I don’t give a frog’s hoot how many ghosty ol’ badgers live there—take me to it. Anything’s better than floatin’ about out here waitin’ for that blinkin’ Deepthingy to work up an appetite again.”

Log-a-log scooped busily at the water building up in the bottom of the boat. “Fligg, Rungle, lend a paw here! This is worse than I thought. We’ve got a crack running halfway under the hull. Huh, we’ll be lucky to make land in this leaky tub, though we might stand a chance if we bale fast and paddle even faster!”

Mara took up a paddle and moved to the prow. Nordo, Pikkle and Tubgutt joined her. The badger maid struck out deep and strong.

“Right, come on, Gousssom shrews. Let’s see what you’re made of. Me and Pikkle are only landlubbers, but I’ll wager we can paddle the paws off you idle lot!”