Amid a scraping of wooden benches everybeast turned to watch two small figures emerge from the table nearest the door. Many a knowing nod was passed. Samkim and Arula again!

The young squirrel Samkim was a strongly built fellow, wearing a beret sporting a wren feather at a jaunty angle. Straightening his soft greencloth tunic, he strode up to the long table, unable to extinguish the roguish twinkle in his hazel eyes. Arula the young mole padded alongside him. She, too, was clad in beret and tunic, though her small round eyes were downcast. Samkim’s head was barely visible over the tabletop as he denounced himself to Bremmun.

“The arrow is mine. I shot it! Arula had no part in it.”

The mole shook her velvety head. “Ho no, zurr, ’twas oi who axed Sankin to shoot ’ee arpel, hurr aye. ’Tis moi fault, zurr Brumm’n.”

The squirrel’s voice was loud and stern. “Silence, missie! Samkim, this is not the first time. A short while ago an arrow was found lodged in the kitchen door, then one of the gatehouse windows was broken by an arrow. Later it was Brother Hal who was the victim of another arrow. He has a permanent furrow through his headfur—a fraction lower and he would not be with us today. Now it is poor Mrs. Spinney’s turn. The good lady was half frightened to death by your archery. What have you got to say for yourself, young squirrel?”

Samkim shrugged apologetically. “Sorry, I never meant to hurt anyone.”

Bremmun hurried around the table to face the culprit. “You never meant to hurt anyone? A bow and arrow is a weapon, not a toy! But you do not seem to realize that. Oh no, off you go, willy nilly, firing arrows carelessly without a thought for anybeast . . .”

Arula interrupted, pointing to herself. “Et wurr moi fault, zurr. ’Twas oi oo tol’ Sankin t’ do et!”

“Quite so, quite so, Arula.” Bremmun waved her aside distractedly. “Now, as for you, Samkim, you young wretch, you make me ashamed to call myself a squirrel! Mother Abbess was far too upset by your disgraceful behavior to speak to you; therefore it is my painful duty to do this. Both of you, Samkim and Arula, are confined to the Infirmary until further notice! I am sure Brother Hollyberry can find lots of tasks—scrubbing, bedmaking and washing floors—for both of you. Your meals will be delivered to you up there, you will sleep in the Infirmary and under no circumstances must either of you leave, until the Mother Abbess and I have decided that you are fit to join ordinary decent Redwallers again. Furthermore, Samkim, if I ever hear that you have been within paw’s length of a bow or arrows again, you will be in very deep and serious trouble. Do I make myself clear?”

Two young heads nodded miserably.

“Yes, sir.”

“Hurr, clearer’n broit summer morn, thankee, zurr.”