The rest of the day passed slowly and without incident for Gonff and his two new friends, Drakk and Wyst. Occasionally they would pass an otter or two on the banks, and Drakk and Wyst would call out to them, exchanging greetings. The weather remained in their favor, and it was in general an enjoyable trip, as long as they didn't focus on the real reason they were traveling on the river in the first place.

The sun had set, and it was growing dark, so the three travelers decided to find somewhere to camp for the night. Gonff wanted to keep going, but this time he had enough sense to realize that pursuing the ship in the dark would be fruitless. He reluctantly allowed the otters to begin scouting out a likely campground. Drakk looked on one side, and Wyst examined the other. Gonff watched up ahead.

Wyst was the first to find a suitable spot. "How about that area along the bank there?" he asked, gesturing with his paw. "It's sheltered by trees and it looks like there's some berry bushes up there. Most importantly, it's on a hill. I don't think there'll be any danger tonight, but we should find a safe spot anyway."

"I agree," said Drakk, patting his friend on the back. "Looks like a good spot. What do you say, Gonff me matey?"

Gonff nodded. "I think it looks fine. Then again, I'm so tired a pike's stomach would look good, as long as it was comfortable."

Drakk laughed. "Well, I don't think we'll have to worry about pikes here. This is a pretty tame part of the river."

The three companions steered their boat towards a slight inward dip of the river and climbed out, hauling the boat ashore with them.

Gonff made a face. "Mateys, I think these vittles are weighing our craft down!" he grinned. "Guess I'll just have to scoff 'em up all by myself, and quickly, too."

Wyst kept a straight face. "Oh no, me matey, we wouldn't put you through all that. You've been through enough today. Let us otters take care of those burdensome vittles. We'll get rid of 'em so fast, it'll be like they were never there. Right, Drakk?"

The otter regarded his companion seriously. "Oh, I agree. Gonff here needs to stay in prime shape, too. We otters can afford to eat those nuisances of vittles. And the two of us are far too thin, just look at us!" That had all three of them laughing. The two otters were in good shape, and certainly not wasting away. Gonff laughed again.

"Much as I hate to say this, I think we should share. I couldn't bear letting you poor creatures take on the task of eating all this."

The three laughed some more as they set up camp. Gonff got a fire going, and then joined the otters in fishing in the river. They were rewarded with a delicious meal, part of it made by the otters with the fish and shrimp the three had caught, and some of the food prepared by Drakk's mother made up the rest of the meal. After eating, the three friends sat around the fire, singing songs and telling stories.

Drakk nudged Gonff. "Tell us a little about your wife and son."

Gonff grew somber. "Well, my wife is Columbine, and a prettier mouse you've never seen. She's kind and caring, and....and my little son, Gonflet...he's just like I was at his age." Gonff laughed. "Actually, most would say I'm still just like that. But he's a great little son. He's a mischievous little rascal, but he's growing more mature. I miss him," he said quietly. "I miss them both so much."

Drakk put a paw on Gonff's shoulder. "Maybe talking about it was a bad idea, mate. I'm sorry."

Gonff looked up at his two concerned otter friends. "No, really, it's okay. Actually, it kind of helps to talk about them."

Wyst patted his friend's back. "If it helps, mate, then keep talking about 'em, by all means."

Encouraged, Gonff began to tell his friends about Columbine and Gonflet, telling them all sorts of stories. He told them about meeting Columbine, and how they were married right after Martin had defeated the wildcat Tsarmina and was still lying unconscious from the episode. He told them about Saint Ninian's, the little old church where he lived with Columbine and Gonflet.

When Gonff told them about Gonflet's adventures with his mischievous ring of Dibbuns and all the trouble and laughter they had caused, all three burst out in fits of laughing that went on into the night, before they finally fell asleep. Although talking about them made Gonff realize how much he missed them, he smiled as he thought of all the great times he had had with his wife and son, and all the more that would come. And there will be more good times, Gonff vowed, because I'm going to find them and bring them home. I'm coming, my Columbine and Gonflet. I'm coming.



Columbine was beginning to feel a little more cheerful, even on board the horrible ship. She felt better knowing she would get regular updates on the captain and his crew, even if it was not necessarily good news. She felt more useful knowing that she was at least learning more about the sea rat and his vermin followers, so that she could beat him when the time came.

Although feeling more cheerful, she was also confused. The ship had changed direction a few days ago, and she couldn't figure out why. The vermin crew was acting suspicious, and they were careful not to give her any information. She had asked Delpa if she knew anything about the mysterious change in the ship's course, but the kind hedgehog was as clueless as herself, promising to tell Columbine if she heard anything.

Another thing that she was not very happy about was that Gonflet was beginning to grow restless. The small mouse was irritated at having to be cooped up in the little room all the time, and even more anxious because of what he had heard about why they were here. He had pretended to be asleep when Delpa came in every night with the news she had to tell his mother. It was frightening to listen to. From what he had heard, he and his mother were he because the captain of the ship, the big scary sea rat, didn't like his father. In fact, he hated him. Gonflet had been consumed with fear when he heard that the sea rat planned to kill his father. The brave little mouse firmly shook his head. Not if I have anything to do with it, he thought. I'll protect Daddy!

Columbine thought about what her Gonff was doing every day. She knew he must be coming after her, but she also knew Martin and the others wouldn't let him come alone. They would talk some sense into him, and then when they did catch up to the ship, they would have a plan. Although these thoughts reassured her, she still felt desperately lonely at times. She had her son with her, and Delpa always visited at least once a day, but she longed for her Prince of Mousethieves to come. Every day she looked out the window at the water, waiting for her Gonff.

The next day, Delpa came early to the room. She looked frightened. "The captain's not very happy," she said, panting. "His nightmares have been getting worse. It's gotten so that he's killing off random crewmembers whenever the mood suits him, he's so upset over his nightmares.. I've heard him talk about what he will do when he finds Gonff," she paused, looking apologetic. "I'm sorry, I don't know what made me say that. I don't want to get you worried, Columbine, but some of the things he says he plans on doing..."

The hogwife leaned close to Columbine's ear and whispered what she had heard. Then she stopped. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I don't know why I'm telling you this. Please forgive me---"

She stopped as Columbine put a paw on her shoulders. "It's okay. I know you just want to help. Besides," she said, squaring her shoulders, "I'd rather know, anyway. Thank you for telling me."

After Delpa had left that night, Columbine lay awake, unable to sleep with the thoughts that were running through her head. As she had told Delpa, she was glad to know the reality of the situation, but that didn't stop her from trembling with fear as she thought about how badly the captain hated Gonff. She almost burst out crying. Why, of all creatures, did the sea rat have to loathe Gonff? Her husband, her Prince of Mousethieves, her Gonff...The only thing that matched the sea rat's hate for Gonff, she thought, is my love for Gonff. But that is enough, and that is what will win.

Captain Oloe was still in a bad mood. He had thought that his new plan would improve the situation, but he was still plagued in his sleep by nightmares of his enemy coming for him. This put him in a worse temper than before, and he took it out on his crewbeasts. The vermin crew was confused by the captain's order to alter the course and head back toward Redwall. Some unfortunate crewmembers were foolish enough to question this, and they didn't live long enough to hear an answer. Oloe was in a bad temper, and he lacked sleep. The only thing encouraging him was the thoughts of revenge.

Martin fought fiercely against the beast that was pulling him through the water, but the creature was strong, and the mouse's efforts were fruitless. He struggled, opened his mouth to cry out, and swallowed a mouthful of water. That was the last thing he remembered before he blacked out.

When Martin came to, he was lying on the floor of a cave, and several faces loomed over him. As his mind cleared, he recognized his friends Dinny, Mlira and Topra, as well as a few unfamiliar faces. He gradually realized that the unknown faces were otters. As he sat up, one of the otters laughed and spoke. "Lately every mouse that comes by this river wakes up on the floor of our cave."

Martin had no idea what he was talking about. "What do you mean?"

The otter spoke again. "I'm Treev. My tribe lives here in this cave. What I meant is that just a short time ago another mouse came by this way. Our tribe found him in the river and brought him back here. He woke up looking as confused as you do now, not that I could blame either of you."

Martin instantly sat up. "A mouse came by here a short time ago and you found him in the river? Did you by any chance get his name?"

The otter grinned. "Sure did. He was a cheeky little fellow, went by the name of---"

"Gonff," Martin finished.

Treev was surprised. "How did you know?"

"We've been searching for him," Martin explained. "My name is Martin, and these are my friends Dinny mole and Mlira and Topra the ottermaid twins. We come from Redwall, as did our friend. A few days ago, his family went missing. He went off by himself to look for them, instead of waiting for us to join him."

The otter paused. "He told us he was looking for his family, but he didn't say a thing about other creatures trying to find him."

Martin sighed. "That's because the little rascal was trying to go off and find them without us. He knew we were going to go with him. When I catch up to him---"

Treev laughed. "Easy, mate. I don't know too much about all this, but my guess is that Gonff just didn't want to risk you creatures, his friends."

Martin spoke seriously. "Yes, but what kind of friends would we be if we didn't help him? He could be in danger, and even if he's not at the moment, our Gonff has a knack for finding trouble."

Dinny laughed. "Burr aye, that be's the truth, hurr!"

The otter winked. "Don't you worry about your friend. He's not alone. We sent him along with two of our own otters, my son and his friend."

"How long ago did they leave?" Martin asked.

The otter thought for a moment. "Oh, about two days ago. Why?"

Martin was determined. "Because we're going after him."

The otter laughed. "How do you plan on doing that, mate?"

The mouse looked down. "I guess I haven't really thought just yet of how we're going to do that."

The otter had a twinkle in his eye. "I know how you're going to do it, mate. You're going to take one of our boats and a few otters with you."

Martin shook his head. "That's very kind of you, but we can't afford to bring any others with us. I'm afraid we don't have much time."

Treev weighed the situation. "True, and at the rate I'm going, my whole tribe will be gone, sailing off with assorted travelers. Very well, Martin my friend, you can go off without any of my tribe along with you, but I do insist that you take one of our boats, unless you have an invisible one."

Martin grinned wryly. "No, but an invisible boat would come in handy. Still, if you would lend one of your boats, we would be extremely grateful."

Treev brought the travelers a sleek craft that could have only been fashioned by the otters themselves, as was apparent by the obvious skill used in making it. They left the cave with the boat and also a huge package of food. They quickly crossed over onto the other side of the river to where their friends stood, looking confused. Martin filled them in, and told them to go back to the Abbey and tell their friends that they were on their way to find Gonff. Then the four travelers got into their boat and sailed off, waving to their Abbey and otter friends alike.

It was a peaceful night for Gonff and his companions at their campground, and all three felt refreshed in the morning. They ate breakfast, packed up their gear, and climbed back aboard their boat for another day in search of the big ship that had to be somewhere not so far ahead of them.

Drakk patted Gonff on the back. "Don't worry, matey. We'll catch up to them soon."

Wyst spoke. "What are we planning on doing when we find them, anyway?"

Gonff looked down, embarrassed. "To tell you the truth, I don't know. When it was just me going after them, I didn't even think about having a real plan. I kept thinking I would just jump aboard that ship, get my Columbine and Gonflet, and make whoever took them wish they'd never been born. That was pretty much where the planning stopped. I didn't really care what happened to me, as long as whoever took my family got what they deserved. But now that I've got you mateys along with me, I can't just have us all go on some suicide mission."

Wyst threw a paw around the mouse's shoulders. "We're with you no matter what, mate. Even if it does seem like a death wish, if you've got a plan in your head, we'll back you on it."

Drakk joined in. "Aye, mate, friends stick together. Although I think if we put our heads together we can think of something practical. Of course, we'll have to actually catch up to the ship first."

Gonff looked at his friends. "How long do you think that'll be?"

Wyst thought for a moment. "Well, we did stop over for the night back there, and the ship probably kept on going. Still, we otters make some mighty fine boats if I may say so myself, and I think we can still gain some on them. Don't worry, mate. We'll find them."
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