Bugs had been gone for a few hours. Snakefish was getting impatient.
"Why doesn't your friend come back?" he demanded.
Martin shifted his paws nervously. "He'll be back eventually. He's probably still working on the tunnel."
"Bugs wouldn't abandon us," Gonff declared. "He's a creature of his word."
All of a sudden, they heard rushing water and Bugs shouting "Cowabunga, Doc!"
The sea came pouring through the tunnel Bugs had dug and into the Screamhole, taking Bugs with it. The water filled up the hole and then started flooding the entire swamp.
Martin felt like he was back under the river in Mossflower being towed along by Skipper again. Everything was pitch black and ice cold.
With a gasp, he thrust his head above the surface of the water. King Marshgreen's domain looked totally different now. The swamp had become a lake. Martin could see toads floundering in the water. (Of course, they wouldn't drown because they were amphibians.)
"Here, amigo. Take my paw!"
Martin turned to see Speedy, Bugs and Gonff riding on Snakefish's back like a surfboard. Speedy pulled Martin up there too.
"Thanks," Martin panted.
"Look up ahead, mateys," said Gonff.
In the distance, they could see sand and a big mountain with a column of fire spouting from its top.
Speedy whooped with joy. "That's Salamandastron!"
"Looks like our quest is almost at an end, huh?" said Bugs.
"I will take you to the shore," said Snakefish. "But first, a little detour."
A few yards away, Marshgreen's throne was floating on the water, and Marshgreen was trying to stay on top of it. When he saw the big eel, he screamed.
"Not kill Marshgreen!"
But Snakefish swam right at him and swallowed the toad in one gulp. A minute later, he burped, and Marshgreen's crown came flying out of his mouth.
"Mm, toadflesh." The eel licked his lips. "There's nothing like it."
Bugs made a face. "I'll take your woid for it, Doc."
Then Snakefish carried them all back to land. They all climbed off him and onto the sand. Gonff kissed the ground gratefully.
"Thank you for freeing me from the toad king's horrible trap," said Snakefish.
"Our pleasure," said Bugs.
With a flick of his tail, the eel was off, hunting for more toads to eat.
"It's always nice helpin' people," said Bugs. "Gives ya a warm fuzzy feelin' inside."
"The mountain's not far off," said Speedy. "We can reach it by tonight."
They started walking toward Salamandastron.