A long time ago a Holt of otters lived on an island in the north. They lived there fer many seasons until a horde of searats an' corsairs came an' attacked the Holt, slaying many. Five otters managed to sneak away in one of searat captain's ships. They sailed away from the island an' got lost. After a few days, they came to a huge rock stickin' straight up from the sea. The five steered around the island, lookin' fer a place to dock up. Findin' none, they dropped their anchor near the rock. One of the otters, Gratun, stared at the rock fer awhile. Then when look to the sea he saw a small hole revealed fer an instant before bein' closed up agin. He started count the waves that hit the rock an' found out that after eighteen or nineteen waves hit the rock, the small hole would be revealed. He told the others about it an' they were all excited.
"Lit's check it out!" they all said. After they all saw it they decided fer one to try to see what was inside. Gratun said he would do it. He grabbed some rope an' when hole came into view, he dove into the water an' towards the hole. He reached it just in time, an' swiftly scrambled up the narrow tunnel. He exited the tunnel nearby a stream. He saw fields an' meadows an' streams an' lots more. He decided that the place was a hollowed out volcano. He fastened one end of the rope to a stump near the stream an' went back through the tunnel, carrying the other end of the rope with him, an' told the others what he saw.
"Its paradise, mateys! Come check it out with me!" They lowered a small raft into the water an' jumped aboard. They counted the waves an' at the moment when the hole was revealed agin, the four otters pulled the rope. They went shootin' through the hole an' exited it very quickly. They walked around, awed by the island's beauty. They named the island Ruddaring an' settled there. After many seasons travelers started visiting Ruddaring. Soon there was not only a Holt of otters but there was also shrews, mice, badgers, an' others. So ends the tale of Ruddaring Caverns, a big rock in the middle of the sea. �
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