Skipper of Otters strolled through Redwall's main gate. He went to Abbot Huggle, who was sitting under a sycamore with a dibbun mouse. "I 'ave some bad news," he said, "three of me crew sighted vermin east of here, in Mossflower Woods."
The old mouse frowned, then replied, "I'll write to Finnbarr and he can help." The abbot got up and walked to Cavern Hole. He fetched a piece of elmbark an' a pot of ink and began to write:
To Finnbarr Galedeep:
We have heard that a vermin horde is lurking nearby in Mossflower Woods. We are short on warriors in Redwall so we'd appreciate it if you could help us by sending some.
Sincerely, Abbot Huggle of Redwall Abbey.����
�Huggle folded the letter and sealed it. He called for Ferfluf the goshawk. When Ferfluf came, he asked, "Please deliver this letter to Ruddaring Caverns, Ferfluf."
"Karr, do anyfun' fer Abbot 'uggle." Ferfluf took the letter an' flew away. He flew across the ocean, and after many days, reached Ruddaring, then entered through the top to fly into a cave by a cliff, where the elders live. He walked to Finnbarr Galedeep, the leader of Holt Ruddaring, and said, "Karr, Abbot gav letter meh send yah!"
Finnbarr took the letter an' opened it. He read it aloud to the elders. "So," he said, "looks like Redwall needs some 'elp!" After thinking awhile, the elders decided to send a special group known as the Masks of Death. These threescore otters wear green cloaks an' brown masks. Instead of usin' javelins and swords, which are typical otter weapons, they prefer blowpipes, daggers an' dirks. They were formed to find out information without the enemy knowing.
Finnbarr went to the commander, Major Greyfell Wreckwater. "Major, put your otters into three of our ships an' set sail!"
"Yes, sir!" he replied. Then the ships set sail. The wind blew fair, so they reached Mossflower in three days. After landing an' setting up camp, Greyfell had a talk with Captain Cardun and Lieutenant Pawsweep, his two commanding officers.
"This is wot we're gonna do," he began, "we'll split into three groups of twenty. I'll command group one, you two, Cardun, an' Pawsweep, you deal with three. Then we'll search fer vermin together. You c'n leave now."
After breakfast Cardun gave the otters their orders. They split into three groups an' traveled near each other. They went east into the woods. "Halt!" ordered Greyfell, with his voice a whisper. "Dagol," he said to his scout, "I c'n 'ear vermin. Find 'em!"
"Yesir!" replied Dagol. He ran a distance, then scrambled up a tree. Dagol saw a large vermin camp. He noted their position, then went back to group three. He reported to Greyfell . "Alert the rest!," he said. "I'm orderin' a three-prong assault. We'll attack from the east, Group two the southeast, an' group three the west. Attack now!" Cardun whispered to his group, "Now!"
They reached the surprised vermin and attacked them. First they threw a salvo of javelins before the shocked vermin could retaliate, and took quite a few of 'em down. Then the angry vermin began fighting. Cardun was surronded an' almost killed when Gartner saw his postion and charged through the vermin, screaming and hacking, "You dirty slimy creatures, you ain't gonna kill the Cap'n!" He finally broke through the ring an' reached Cardun.
"Thankee," Cardun gasped, "I thought I was a gonner!"
"No time to talk right now," Gartner muttered. Two otters fell for'ard, slain by arrows.
"Find shelter be'ind bushes an' trees!" shouted Cardun. The otters scattered abroad an' did as Cardun said. The enemy couldn't see them because of their green cloaks, so they just waited quiet like while Group Three prepared to attack agin. Suddenly without warning the vermin charged shreiking an' squealing as if an eagle were be'ind them and the battle continued. Otters stabbed left and right and killed many, but Cardun notised that if reinforcements weren't brought in soon, his company would be destroyed. Three more otters were killed but the attack was finally beaten off yet agin. an' Cardun began to get suspious. "Gartner, scout the area abit!"
Gartner came back in a few minuets to report "Sir, we're surrounded!" and the Captain's fears were confirmed: They were trapped! He rallied his group together an' spoke to them. "We are surounded without help but do not fear. Our job is to beat off enemy attacks untill help arrives. Can you manage?"
"Yes, sir!" chorused all the otters. Let's break out!" "Yes, sir!" �
Bakc to the Library
Try Another Tree
Email Lilac:[email protected]