The giant hornbeam was so high that it was difficult to see Samkim when he was at the top. With the speed and agility of a born climber he whizzed back down again, leaping lightly to the ground, eager to deliver his news.

“I could see them, I could see them! They’ve taken that stream on the left!”

Alfoh leapt back into the boat. “Lucky for them. This’n on the right would’ve taken them into another waterfall and the mountain caves. How far away are they?”

Samkim jumped in beside him. “Only about two hours good paddling I’d say.”

*   *   *

The boats pushed off down the left fork of the stream. It sloped slightly and ran straight as a die as far as the eye could see. Alfoh struck out with his paddle.

“Seems they’re headed right for the sea, but keep your eyes peeled anyway. You never can tell wi’ vermin.”

The wind increased. Now dark cloud masses could be seen drifting over from the northeast. Spriggat snapped up a mayfly that had been silly enough to try a landing on his paw.

“Looks like rain’s goin’ to bucket down afore long!”

*   *   *

Halfway through the afternoon Alfoh peered at the left bank. It was heavily overgrown with willows and bushes. He had been watching out for this particular place.

“Pull over here, shrews. That’s it, now back water an’ hove to.”

Samkim watched intently as the elder inspected the thicketed edge. “What is it, Alfoh? What are you looking for?”

Alfoh slashed at some vegetation with his rapier and pulled a clump of bush lupin to one side. “Hah! I thought so. Look here!”

It was a hidden side creek, overgrown by bush and tree, which wound its way into thick woodland. Alfoh pointed to recent scrapes in the clay of the bank at water level.

“Aye, that’s a fox for ye, always one jump ahead of a grasshopper! The villain knew we’d follow t’ get our boat back, so he’s sidetracked off down here—though I suspect he doesn’t know where he’s goin’ to. This isn’t the way to the sea.”

“Whurr do et lead to, zurr Affaloh?” Arula peered up the dim overgrown waterway.

Alfoh scratched his chin. “Only one place it can lead to, Arula: the Great Lake.”

It was like paddling through a long green tunnel. The water reflected the trees overhead as they crowded low, and the mossy banks, and everywhere was green. Samkim looked at the faces around him, tinged by the green light. Apart from the muted sound of paddles, they were in a cocoon of verdant silence. Spriggat paddled and snacked upon various winged denizens of the hidden waterway, lifting his eyes as the splash of water on the leaves above announced the arrival of the rain. They ate as they went, passing back oatcakes and small fruit scones preserved in honey and flower syrup.