As the sun came up, Martin could see that the mountains were much closer. They were out of the desert now and had just come to a bridge over a wide stream.

"After we cross this bridge, we can rest for a few hours," Martin said. "Then we'll set off on our way again." He stepped onto the bridge.

A shout rang out from the far bank. "Stop right there, strangers!"

A snake and a lizard emerged from behind the willow trunk.

Bugs called out a friendly hail. "What's up, Doc? We're only crossin' the bridge, no need t'be afraid."

The snake reared up, flickering a slim tongue. "Hiss. Nobody crosses without paying us. I'm Deathcoil and this is Whipscale. We are the ford guardians. Pay us, or pay with your lives."

"What've you got for us?" the lizard asked, his voice harsh and aggressive. "Come on, move yourselves. Up on the bank here, and empty those packs out. Quick, now!"

Martin's face was grim. He stepped back onto the bank and raised one of the spears they'd taken from the vermin. "Listen, you two. You don't frighten us. We're travelers and we aren't carrying anything of value, but we'll fight if we have to, so you'd better stand clear."

Bugs lifted the other spear. Gonff drew his dagger.

The reptiles slithered toward them. Deathcoil bared his fangs at Martin. "Hiss, you'll leave your bones on this bank, mouse!"

A fraction before both sides joined in combat there was a deep gruff shout from the reeds. "Arriba! Arriba!"

A small, ferocious mouse wearing a giant sombrero hurled himself roaring onto Deathcoil and Whipscale. He belabored them mercilessly with a heavy hornbeam club.

"What've I told you two filthy reptiles?" he shouted. "Get off my bank. Aqui, take this with you, and this, and this too!"

The snake and the lizard were thrashed into the stream.

"Ouch, ow, no, please, owoo, ooff!" they cried as they were carried off by the current.

The mouse turned to Martin and his friends. "Pair of nuisances, I've warned 'em before about threatening honest travelers. Hola, I'm Speedy Gonzales!"

Martin smiled. "Thank you, sir," he said warmly. "I am Martin the Warrior. This is Gonff the mousethief, and this is Bugs Bunny. We are travelers, bound on a quest to Salamandastron."

"Salamandastron, senor? Porque do you want to go to the place of dragons?"

"Dragons?" Gonff gulped. "Miss Bella never said anything about dragons! She just said the Badger Lord, Boar the Fighter, lived there."

"Well, I don't know about a Badger Lord," said Speedy. "I just know everybody around here says the mountain is inhabited by dragons. And the name Salamandastron means 'place of the fire lizard,' after all."

"Well, maybe they're friendly dragons, Doc," said Bugs.

"Do you live around here, Speedy?" Martin asked.

"Si. I live alone. I expect you're hungry; travelers always are. Follow me to mi casa and I'll get you some food. Quickly, quickly, quickly!" Speedy was off like a shot, racing across the bridge and along the opposite streambank.

"Runs pretty fast for a mouse, don't he?" Bugs said.

"Guess that's why they call him Speedy," said Gonff. "We better catch up with him."

Speedy led them at a breakneck pace to a small cave hewn into the bank. The travelers had to catch their breath, but Speedy wasn't tired at all.

Inside the cave was a nest of untidy odds and ends. Fishing nets draped the walls. A fire smoldered in one corner.

"I know it's not much of a place," Speedy said apologetically as he served steaming bowls of shrimp soup.

"I like it," Martin said. "Reminds me of home."

"Well, that's nice of you, amigo, but I wish I could take you to the place where I used to live. Loamhedge."

"Loamhedge?" Martin repeated.

"Si. Loamhedge Abbey was a great big castle where I lived with a bunch of other mice. We were very happy there, until the sickness came. Dry Ditch Fever. It was horrible. Everything it touched withered and died. We had to pack up our bags and leave. We wandered around for a few seasons, until one day we were invaded by sea rats who sailed inland. They took many of us captive and put us to the oars of their galley."

"Gee, that's too bad," Bugs said.

Martin nodded. He knew what it was like to be a slave. He had once been taken captive by the evil Lord Badrang and forced to work on his fortress.

"Some died there, including our leader Abbess Germaine, but I escaped," Speedy continued. "One night I slipped out of my chains and went overboard, just south of Salamandastron. I swam ashore. Do you see those mountains? Well, I couldn't cross them, so I walked around them. Eventually I found my way to this place- the Great South Stream."

"Well, I guess we'll have to walk around the mountains too if we want to get to Salamandastron," said Martin.

Speedy shook his head. "No ya won't, amigo. I'll be travelling with you, and we can take my boat!"

"Oh, you have a boat?" Gonff said.

Speedy dashed outside. "Si, senor! I'll show it to you! Quickly, quickly, quickly!"

The others followed him out to find a large, skillfully made boat moored by the water's edge. "I built this myself," Speedy said. "I named it the Sylvaticus, after the first Abbess of Loamhedge."

Martin felt the sturdy polished hull. "It's beautifully crafted."

Speedy gestured to the stream. "This stream runs under the mountains and down to the sea. That's the shortest route to Salamandastron. I was afraid to make the journey by myself, but now I've got a crew!"

"So, I guess ya think the pirates are still hangin' around down there, an' you wanna go back an' save your pals from them?" Bugs asked.

Speedy nodded. "That's exactly right, amigo."

"Well, we'll be glad to help you free the Loamhedge mice if you help us get to Salamandastron and find Boar the Fighter," said Martin.

Speedy was so happy, he threw his sombrero up in the air. "Right! I'll get the mast and sail ready to rig up!"