Samkim took charge, coming up with a fast and workable solution. “It’s going to be light soon—we’ll have to move fast. Pikkle, tell Loambudd that we’ve gone up the mountain to reinforce those inside. If she brings the rest up through this opening we can mount a two-pronged assault.”

Alfoh clapped him on the back. “Good idea. Are you sure you’ve never done this sort of thing before, young squirrel?”

Samkim shouldered Martin’s sword with a wry grin. “There’s a first time for everything, matey!”

Pikkle was gone in a spray of loose sand. Strapping his mighty club to his back, Urthwyte began climbing. Arula threw up her paws in resignation as she started the ascent.

“Burrhoo! Oi doant loik ’igh places, bein’ naught but ’ee mole. Bohurr, yur goes one cloimbin’ young beast.”

*   *   *

Dawn broke in roseate splendor over Salamandastron as Mara and Loambudd thundered over the sands with the Guosssom of Log-a-log hard on their heels. Pikkle rested a moment as they surged by him. Eventually he regained his breath and grabbed a paddle.

“I say, chaps. Wait for me!”

*   *   *

Moonpaw was slain defending the stairwell. The gallant hare placed Pennybright and Lingfur behind her. The two young ones thrust either side of Moonpaw with their lances at the ravening pack of vermin that pressed its way forward up the stairs.

Wounded in a dozen places, Moonpaw yelled to the two young ones, “Get back to Oxeye quickly. Tell him to send reinforcements.” She gazed for a moment at Pennybright’s tearstained face. “Don’t stand there gawping, young Pen. Do as I say. Go on!”

Moonpaw had a double-pointed javelin. Wildly she broke it in half over the head of a ferret. Brandishing both halves, she dived headlong into the press of foebeasts, yelling a last warcry.

“Eulaliaaaaaa!”

Breathlessly the two young hares sobbed out their story to Oxeye. He sat them down, keeping his voice calm.

“Well, it looks as if we’ve lost the lower levels. Sorry I haven’t any food or drink to offer you two. Sit there and rest awhile. I say, Barty old thing, how’re you feelin’?”

Bart Thistledown flexed his paws. Nodding to two other hares, he picked up his bow and quiver of arrows and limped off. “Oh I suppose I’m about ready for another scuffle, Big Ox. Come on, you chaps—duty calls, an’ all that. Oh, if I don’t manage t’ make it back, you’ll know its bye-bye Barty. Under those circumstances you’d be best movin’ His Lordship out of here an’ up to another chamber, wot? Toodle-oo!”

The sounds of yelling, chanting vermin stamping about inside the mountain was growing louder. Big Oxeye threw a paw about Lingfur’s trembling shoulders and chuckled. “Noisy old lot, aren’t they?”

*   *   *

In the full flood of bright morning sunlight, Urthwyte’s party neared the top of the crater.