It had been a hot afternoon. The sun started to redden against a dusky purple sky as Tsarmina ventured to stand at her high window. There were Martin and Bugs, standing on top of the castle wall. They had climbed up using a ladder that had been left behind by the vermin.

Tsarmina raked her claws against the window ledge in helpless fury. "What do you want, mouse?" As she asked the question, she was groping furiously for her bow and arrows.

"The sun is nearly set, Tsarmina," Martin said. "Remember the ultimatum I gave you this morning?"

The wildcat queen played for time as she fumbled with the bow beneath the window ledge.

"Tell me again, mouse. Refresh my memory."

"The message has not changed. There is still time for you to take your army out of here and leave us in peace," he said reasonably. "You will not be harmed if you leave before the sun is down."

An arrow came speeding through the air towards Martin. Luckily, it only hit the pouch of slingstones he carried at his side.

"I guess that's your answer, Doc," Bugs said.

Martin looked up at Tsarmina. "Then it is finished. I will bring this place down around you stone by stone. You will travel to the gates of Dark Forest."

Before Tsarmina had time to load another arrow, Martin and Bugs had climbed back down the ladder.

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The good ship Woodship bobbed up and down on the surface of the River Moss. An otter named Bula lay crouched on the foredeck. She saw two dark shapes materialize silently from the trees by the bank.

"Who goes there?" she challenged them.

"Corim of Mossflower," came the reply.

"Advance and be recognized."

The two figures came forward, revealing themselves to be Bugs and Martin. "What's up, Doc?" Bugs asked.

"Not much. While you two were off fighting battles, I've been stuck aboard this ship all day."

"Sorry about that," Martin said. "But somebeast had to stay here and guard it."

"So, what happened to you two?" Bula asked.

"The cat ain't givin' in," Bugs said.

"Now it's time to put the second part of the plan into action," said Martin. "It involves this ship."

"What do we have to do?" asked Bula.

Bugs' reply was swift. "Sink 'er!"

Bula was taken by surprise. "You sure? This is a fine 'andsome vessel."

"Yep. Has to be done, Doc."

Martin and Bugs joined Bula aboard Woodship. The three of them went belowdecks and started opening all the portholes, letting water seep in. They hurried back up to the deck and hopped back to the bank.

Martin felt a little sad, watching the boat that had borne him back to Mossflowerdisappear below the water.

"Why did we do this again?" Bula asked.

"Well, it's simple, really," Bugs said. "Castle Kotir was built in a land depression- the area it stands on is a lot lower than the area around it. An' last winter I dug lots o' tunnels under Kotir, so me an' Gonff could get in an' steal stuff. Now, with Woodship sinkin' under the river like this, the flow of the current will be blocked."

Bula got it now. "And it'll redirect itself through your tunnels and right under Kotir! They'll be flooded out!"

Bugs smiled. "Exactly."

Already, only the tops of the boat's stem, stern, and masts were showing above the water.

Bugs tapped his foot on the ground. "I can already feel it flowin' beneath us."

"It's a shame that we had to sacrifice Woodship, but at least Tsarmina will get the greatest bath of her life tomorrow!" Martin said.

Bugs patted him on the shoulder. "I wouldn't worry about Woodship, Doc. I bet ya when this is all over, that guy Skipper will find a way to pull it out an' refloat it. C'mon, let's go back to Brockhall."