Kugo and his friends woke up in the vole's house an hour after dawn

Kugo and his friends woke up in the vole's house an hour after dawn. Log Jack sighed. "Last night it was too dark to see, but now I realize where we are. We're only half a day's march from the ocean! That means that we're close to their ship. If they find it, they could ride the river's current to the sea. Once they reach the ocean, we'll have no chance of catching them!"

All three jumped as Mama vole walked in and said "Well, then ye'll need Legraw's Holt and Lady Teal's squirrels."

Log Jack sat up. "Of course! How could I forget about Lady Teal! But I've never heard o' this Legraw."

"He's a sea otter. He lives down where the river runs into the sea. His holt numbers about twoscore. They should be around here somewhere because they were here earlier. Didn't I tell you? Those vermin yore talkin' about passed by here earlier. Legraw and his crew chased 'em off with slingstones. In fact, I think they were planning on headin' out after them."

Log Jack sat bolt upright. "They passed through here? Not to be rude, marm, but it woulda helped to know that earlier! That'll be a real help, though. Thanks for the information, marm." He got up and headed toward the mouth of the cave. "I should be back soon." He ran out of the cave and flew off through the trees."

About an hour later Log Jack returned. He peeked his head around the cave mouth. "Warrior returnin' with squirrels an' otters aplenty, marm!"

Fenstall, Kugo, Rublo and Rublo's mother came out from the cave. There were about one hundred beasts in all, sixty squirrels and forty otters. Log Jack grinned. An' I already got a plan."

"We're goin' to attack tonight?" Kugo asked.

"If we don't then they'll be long gone. We have to hurry as it is. C'mon, I'll explain the plan along the way.

As they were headed downriver, Log Jack explained his plan. They all agreed it was simple but a good plan. Log Jack introduced Legraw to Kugo and Fenstall.

"So yore Kugo, huh? Jack tol' me about you and yore quest. I'll do anythin' I can to help!"

Lady Teal came over. She was a black furred squirrel like Kugo. Half her squirrels were, too. "I've heard about you too. You look familiar. Have I seen you afore?"

Kugo shook his head. "I don't think so."

They continued heading towards the river, closer and closer to the vermin crew, the sword of Martin the Warrior, and Tidon Poisonclaw.


Tidon Poisonclaw' crew were strewn about a rocky ledge farther down the river, nursing their cuts and bruises. The stones hadn't done any real damage physical damage, but the crew was dispirited. Again, Lokkon was sharing how he thought.

"We left our boat for a single sword, mates! Sure we got it, an' it's an excellent blade, but was it worth it? Now we're lost in th' middle o' the woods!"

Sharpclaw, a searat, sneered at him. "Yew shut up, addlebrain. We ain't even lost. This is a river right? Rivers lead to streams, an' our ship is hidden in a stream. I reckon it's around here somewhere."

Just then, a rat came running into camp. "Cap'n! Cap'n! I found the Bloodbug!"

Tidon looked up from polishing Martin's sword. "Haharr, here that, mates?" He got up and walked over to the rat that had found the ship.

"Let's get outta these nightmare woods!" The whole crew got up and followed the rat. "The sooner we get back to th' ship the sooner we can get away from Redwall!"



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