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mole. Hurr on y a liddleways, now gaffers, he chuckled secretively. Uz diggers do ave a foin tunnel
awaiten fer ee to excape thru.
Gratefully they were helped into the broad tunnel dug by the moles. As they progressed along it,
Columbine could hear Soilflyer filling in behind them. Up ahead, Foremole said comfortingly to some mice,
Never ee fear, liddle guddbeasts. We m a goen to Moledeep. None may foind ee thurr.
Tsarmina s determination was unabated. She pushed her forces ruthlessly forward.
Come on. Can t you see they aren t sending over as many arrows or stones? Keep going. We ve got
them.
Fortunata s ear throbbed unmercifully. The vixen was lucky that the arrow had not struck a bit lower,
or it would have been her skull. Clamping a pawful of her own herbs to the wound, she looked up dismally
as a large squirrel swung in laden with quivers of arrows. The fox dropped back a few paces, muttering
beneath her breath, If you think you ve got em, Milady, then go and get them yourself.
Two of Skipper s crew were driving long sharp stakes into the ground at the base of the elm trunk. Earth
had been piled around the stakes and leafy branches scattered on top. From a distance it looked for all the
world like a crew of otters lying in wait, armed with spears.
The newly arrived arrows drove the Kotir soldiers back a short distance, despite Tsarmina s threats and
blandishments. Lady Amber checked to see that the moles had got away with their charges.
Is it ready, Skip?
Skipper held up a paw. As ready as it ll ever be, marm.
Good. We ll fire a last couple of heavy salvos while you slip off with the crew. See you back at
Brockhall.
Aye. Good huntin , marm. Come on, crew.
Once again Amber s tail stood up straight. Archers, fire!
Tsarmina and Cludd heard the command.
Down flat, keep your heads down, shields up, Cludd bellowed to the soldiers.
When the invaders lifted their heads, the otters were gone. There followed an eerie silence, broken only
by the rustle of the treetops. Tsarmina knew this was the squirrels retreating. She straightened up and
ventured a pace forward. Cludd joined her.
Ha, bunch of cowards, eh, Milady. Looks like they ve run away.
Tsarmina peered toward the mound at the base of the elm. Maybe, maybe not. I think they might have
set up some sort of trap, or is that a crew of otters armed with spears? Take ten soldiers and investigate it,
Cludd. Go on, we re here to back you up.
Reluctantly Cludd selected ten creatures and set off gingerly for the enemy lines. He ducked once or
twice when someone stepped on a twig. Finally he arrived at the mound. Knowing the danger had passed,
Cludd kicked at a leafy bough, and prodded the mound with his spear.
All clear, Milady. It was only a stupid trick to make us think they were still here.
What about the squirrels, Cludd? Fortunata sounded cautious.
The weasel Captain peered upward into the elm branches then hurled his spear straight up. Several
soldiers dodged out of the way as it landed back, point up in the mound. A small amount of twigs and
leaves fell with it.
Not a hide nor hair of the lily-livered bunch! Cludd puffed his chest out as he retrieved his spear.
Relieved and exultant, the soldiers of Kotir rose up, cheering and stamping about in a victory dance.
We won, we won!
Won what? Tsarmina s voice rose angrily above the celebration. Fools, can t you see it s an empty
triumph: no plunder, no slaves, no submission. They ve vanished completely, and what have we gained? A
few yards of woodland that belongs to me anyway.
The sudden volley of arrows slashed down, taking them unawares. Soldiers threw up shields, diving
headlong for the undergrowth. Even the wildcat Queen had to beat an undignified retreat behind the elm
tree she had conquered.
Once again the chattering derisory laughter of squirrels, as they swung off into the fastnesses of
Mossflower, was all that remained of the woodlanders.
Gingivere had enlarged the two holes so that Ferdy and Coggs were able to squeeze through into his cell.
Gleefully they upturned the contents of the first pack.
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