The next day, the rabbits returned to Watership Down, to
tumultuous applause from the rest of the rabbits. Apparently,
they had been considered 'war heroes'. Captain Broom was
quick to inform Captain Holly of the death of Colonel
Thornfoot, and the tragic deaths of both Blackberry and
Lieutenant Willow. He also introduced Chestnut to the
captain.
"And this is Scout Chestnut," said Broom. "He was our tracker, during the time that Blackberry had been captured and on our way back to the Down. He is of the Snow of the Mountain Owsla, whom we encountered on our journey. Captain Swordfern provided us with him for the time being."
"Good work, Scout Chestnut," said Captain Holly. "You did well."
"Thank you, Captain Holly-rah," said Chestnut. It was the first time Broom had heard him speak.
"Bigwig, arrange for some sleeping quarters for Chestnut," said Holly.
"Yes, Captain Holly-rah," replied Bigwig. He led Chestnut out of the chamber and down the tunnel.
"Now, of Colonel Thornfoot," Holly said to Broom. "Are you certain he's dead?"
"Well, he went down the rapids," said Broom. "That usually does the trick."
"Don't get clever with me, Captain," Captain Holly snapped. "The Efrafins are leaderless, and you have already told me that Thornfoot was good enough to kill that damned traitor Campion for us. I don't think they have anyone else in the running for chief. They'll have to find another warren before they can launch another assault, so we should have some peace, for a change."
"Well that's good news," said Broom.
"You are dismissed, Captain," said Holly.
"Thank you," replied Broom. He turned and was about to exit the room, and bumped into a messenger.
"Sorry, captain," said the messenger.
"Yes, what is it?" said Holly.
"Well sir," the messenger said, "one of our scouts was keeping guard next to the river, when this washed up against the shore."
Two other rabbits dragged a soaked and filthy rabbit into the chamber. There was blood staining the fur on the side of his mouth, and one of his ears was missing. He was laughing weakly, and with much effort. It looked strangely familiar to Captain Broom.
"I knocked him into the river during the battle!" said Broom. "He fell into the rapids!"
"I think he's trying to say something," said Holly.
Through his pronounced, choking sniggers, they could understand a few catches of speech.
"He'll be back.heh heh heh.no river kill him.heh heh.can't."
"Who?" Holly said.
He spluttered and coughed up bloody water. Then began tittering again.
"Who?" Captain Holly repeated.
"Heh heh.can't kill.heh heh heh."
"Who is it?" Holly barked, shaking him violently. Too violently. He began laughing maniacally, gave a choke and a hack, and his head lolled to the side. Holly dropped his limp form to the ground.
"Damn," Holly hissed.
There was a long silence.
"I think I may now who 'he' is," suggested Broom.
"Who?" said Captain Holly.
"Colonel Thornfoot," replied Captain Broom. "He fell into the river too, with Blackberry. Remember?"
"I feared it was so," sighed Holly, nodding his head. "I believe that this Efrafin was right; he won't give in to a river.not even a river of white water."
TO BE CONTINUED.
Yes, yes, I know it's short. Sorry. And I'm sorry it took so long for me to post it. Kind of ironic, isn't it? Anyhoo, thanks for reading and please review!
"And this is Scout Chestnut," said Broom. "He was our tracker, during the time that Blackberry had been captured and on our way back to the Down. He is of the Snow of the Mountain Owsla, whom we encountered on our journey. Captain Swordfern provided us with him for the time being."
"Good work, Scout Chestnut," said Captain Holly. "You did well."
"Thank you, Captain Holly-rah," said Chestnut. It was the first time Broom had heard him speak.
"Bigwig, arrange for some sleeping quarters for Chestnut," said Holly.
"Yes, Captain Holly-rah," replied Bigwig. He led Chestnut out of the chamber and down the tunnel.
"Now, of Colonel Thornfoot," Holly said to Broom. "Are you certain he's dead?"
"Well, he went down the rapids," said Broom. "That usually does the trick."
"Don't get clever with me, Captain," Captain Holly snapped. "The Efrafins are leaderless, and you have already told me that Thornfoot was good enough to kill that damned traitor Campion for us. I don't think they have anyone else in the running for chief. They'll have to find another warren before they can launch another assault, so we should have some peace, for a change."
"Well that's good news," said Broom.
"You are dismissed, Captain," said Holly.
"Thank you," replied Broom. He turned and was about to exit the room, and bumped into a messenger.
"Sorry, captain," said the messenger.
"Yes, what is it?" said Holly.
"Well sir," the messenger said, "one of our scouts was keeping guard next to the river, when this washed up against the shore."
Two other rabbits dragged a soaked and filthy rabbit into the chamber. There was blood staining the fur on the side of his mouth, and one of his ears was missing. He was laughing weakly, and with much effort. It looked strangely familiar to Captain Broom.
"I knocked him into the river during the battle!" said Broom. "He fell into the rapids!"
"I think he's trying to say something," said Holly.
Through his pronounced, choking sniggers, they could understand a few catches of speech.
"He'll be back.heh heh heh.no river kill him.heh heh.can't."
"Who?" Holly said.
He spluttered and coughed up bloody water. Then began tittering again.
"Who?" Captain Holly repeated.
"Heh heh.can't kill.heh heh heh."
"Who is it?" Holly barked, shaking him violently. Too violently. He began laughing maniacally, gave a choke and a hack, and his head lolled to the side. Holly dropped his limp form to the ground.
"Damn," Holly hissed.
There was a long silence.
"I think I may now who 'he' is," suggested Broom.
"Who?" said Captain Holly.
"Colonel Thornfoot," replied Captain Broom. "He fell into the river too, with Blackberry. Remember?"
"I feared it was so," sighed Holly, nodding his head. "I believe that this Efrafin was right; he won't give in to a river.not even a river of white water."
TO BE CONTINUED.
Yes, yes, I know it's short. Sorry. And I'm sorry it took so long for me to post it. Kind of ironic, isn't it? Anyhoo, thanks for reading and please review!