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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

Foremole came trundling back in, shaking his head. “Everybeast be a-searchen for they stoaters, but yurr this. Marthen’s gurt swoard be gone too. Oi ’spect enfurmation any moment naow.”

Bremmun’s angry voice broke the shocked silence. “The great sword of Martin the Warrior gone? Those filthy thieving vermin! They’ll pay dearly for this when we lay paws on ’em. Why, I’d like to . . .”

Indignant voices joined the squirrel until the Abbess rapped the tabletop sharply to restore order.

“Silence, please.” She held up a paw. “We won’t get anywhere shouting and threatening.”

There was a knock upon the door and Tudd Spinney entered. “Mornin’ to ye all. Sorry I can’t say good mornin’, ’cos it’s not. Foremole, did you check all the wallgate locks last night?”

Foremole nodded vigorously. “Oi allus do, maister, wi’out fail.”

Tudd shook his walking stick. “I knew ye did, ’cos you’re a good ’n’ thorough feller. Well, I’ve just checked the wallgates an’ the east one is unlocked!”

In the silence that followed, Foremole ticked off further information on his paws. “Burr hurr, an’ food fer young uns is gone from Gurt’ All, an’ thurr be arrers a-sticken in table an’ sporty ’quipment tossed all o’er the place.”

Abbess Vale stood up. “As soon as we have laid Brother Hal to rest in the grounds, we will organize a party to search for the stoats and bring them back here! Now I must go straightaway to Samkim to tell he has nothing to reproach himself for. He’ll need some comforting after the death of poor Hal.”

But Arula had been listening at the keyhole and was already on her way to the Infirmary.

*   *   *

The midmorning sun shone down brightly on a sad little ceremony in the grounds of Redwall Abbey. Brother Hal was laid to his final rest amid much mourning. There were wreaths and posies of wild flowers and small tokens from his friends. Thrugann reverently placed a small quill pen in tribute to the Recorder of the Abbey, and Baby Dumble put his favorite straw mousedoll alongside it on the neat heap of earth surrounded by brightly colored pebbles. Mrs. Faith Spinney recited a few lines:

“Your seasons have run their course, old friend.

In your goodlife we were proud to take part,

But in springtimes unborn and summers to come,

You will live in each Redwaller’s heart.”

*   *   *