The shrew leader took up his paddle. “I think you’re right. He’s certainly traveling in the right direction—that branch stream will make a good shortcut, now I come to think about it. Right, let’s follow the bird. Up paddles, Guosssom. Take the watercourse on the portside. We’ve got a new navigator to take us to Samkim’s home!”

“Beating up the river, paddling down the stream,

Find me a berth, lads, somewhere I can dream,

Still quiet waters there, where the lilies float,

Cool and green, dark and clean, there I’ll moor this boat.

Oho, you old paddle, you have made me sore,

Bent all my back and wearied all my paw.

Pull me into harbor, there I’ll make my thanks,

Lie by the river, slumber on the banks.

Where the willow’s leaning o’er

And the waters kiss the shore,

That’s the place that I will rest, linger evermore.”

*   *   *

“Abbess, marm, Missus Spinney, would you please get in the cart!” Thrugg stood with the harness about his shoulders, and the little green Abbey cart stood waiting on its four small wheels. Abbess Vale and Faith Spinney had been roused when it was barely dawn and hustled out of gatehouse and Abbey dormitory by Tudd and Sister Nasturtium. They stood hastily dressed on the lawn.

Thrugg looked over his shoulder at them. “Come on, ladies. Stir yore paws. Hop in the cart an’ we’ll go a nice ride down the path, eh?”

Faith Spinney fussed with her cloak fastener. “Mercy me, Mr. Thrugg, whatever for?”

The otter snorted impatiently. “For some o’ those violets an’ saxifrage wot grows in the churchyard of old Saint Ninian’s, of course! I’ve told ye, Brother’ Ollyberry needs ’em fer a new batch o’ physick. Now come on, Marms. We can’t be lettin’ ’im down, can we?”

Reluctantly the two friends climbed into the cart, plumping themselves on the cushions that had been placed on the seats specially for them.

“But why must we go now—it’s barely dawn?” Abbess Vale shook her head.

Tudd Spinney opened the main gate and waved the cart out onto the path. “That’s the best time for violets ’n’ saxifrage, so I’m told. Off you goes now, gels. ’Ave a nice time!”

Faith wagged a severe paw at her husband. “Tudd Spinney, you ol’ fibber. What’s got into you, sendin’ us off like this? I’m sure there’s lots of spry young uns who could pick plants better’n us two old creatures.”

Thrugg jogged off south down the path through the mists of the rising dawn. “Aha, that’s where yore wrong, marm. ’Ollyberry says them young uns don’t know lupins from lilacs. He says that you an’ the Abbess ’ave the beauty of experience.”

Mightily flattered, Abbess Vale arched her neck and fluttered her eyelids. “Hollyberry isn’t given to untruths, Faith. He could be right!”