The Bellmaker

10

Sighing restlessly, the boundless sea broke large rollers into white cream which hissed hungrily up to the tideline. A sea breeze, with no clouds to chase around the moonlit vault of the skies, spun dry sand into dancing spirals. Midnight laid its cloak over the Mossflower coast. The four logboats, propelled on muffled paddles by Log-a-Logs Guosim shrews, slid silently out over the remainder of the stream that stretched across the shore from dune to sea.

Finnbarr Galedeep and Log-a-Log sat in the prow of the leading vessel. Between them lay a mallet and a broken sword which would serve well as hammer and chisel. Hon Rosie and Joseph perched in the stern, both armed with strong throwing slings and satchels of sturdy pebbles. The female hare wriggled her ears delightedly, scarcely able to contain her excitement.

“I say, what a jape! Whoo ... Umff!

Joseph clamped strong paws about Rosies mouth, his voice stern and low. “Not one single giggle, dyou hear me, Rosie Woodsorrel?

Rufe, Durry, and Foremole wielded paddles in the second boat, the mole muttering darkly to himself, “OS doant moinds liddle boaters an streamwater, but those gurt shippers as sails on waves, boo hurr, no zurr!

Rufe mispaddled and splashed himself. “Wish I was back in Red wall. He sighed. “Id kiss the grass an never have aught to do with water again, not even to wash!

Durry Quill smiled across at the timid squirrel. “Acorns! By the end o this voyage youll be as big an old seadog as ever stood afore a mainmast. Keep yore tail up, Rufe, an dip that paddle deep.

The prows of all four boats bucked as they struck the first waves from the sea. Finnbarr turned to the crew sitting abaft of him, his single eye shining wildly, and shouted, “Now dig those paddles strong n deep, cullieswere on blue water!

Capn Slipp of the Pearl Queen sat alone on the shore beyond the headland toasting whelks over an open fire. He had been arguing with his brother, Capn Strapp, again. Though Slipp was the larger and stronger of the two searats, he did not possess Strapps eloquent tongue. Tonight they had argued over whether to sail north or south. Slipp wanted to sail north, but Strapp painted such a glowing picture of southern sun and easy pickings that both crews sided with him. They had all gone aboard his ship, the Shatloo, to celebrate, leaving Slipp alone to sulk over a small fire on the shore. Slipp was not worried; tomorrow he would continue the argument, escalating it into a fight, and he could always beat his brother hollow in a hard scrap. Then he would humiliate Strapp and rein gain command. Perhaps he might even imprison him aboard the Pearl Queen and have Rappsnout, his first mate, take over as Captain of the Shalloo. Slipp smiled to himself. Yes, that would teach Strapp to keep his high-flown opinions to himself.

Log-a-Log looked worried. He knew something was wrong with the plan as soon as he spotted the tiny fire on the shore, then his view was obscured as the hulks of the two ships loomed large in the dark.

“Finnbarr, did you see? Theres hardly anybeast on shore.

The sea otter thumped the prow with his paw. “Barnacles n bilgewater! I shoulda knowed twouldnt be all plain sailin. Hark though, mate, they must be all aboard the Shalloo. See the lights shinin from er ports an lissen to that racket. Theyre avin some sort o feast below decks. All the better for us, they wont ear the mallet.

Log-a-Log stared at him incredulously. “Youre not still thinking of scuttling the Shattool

Finnbarr was already slipping over the side into the inky seawater. “Course I am, messmate! I aint leavin no searat ship afloat to come chasin after us. Pass me those tools, he said as he stretched out a paw. , With a grunt of resignation, Log-a-Log grabbed the implements and dived over the side into the sea. He bobbed up beside Finnbarr and passed him the heavy mallet.

“Youre right, of course. Lets get it done!

As they swam off, the four boats hoved to on the seaward side of the Pearl Queen. Joseph seized hold of a rope that trailed down from the deck high above. “Come on, lets steal ourselves a ship!

Blaggut, boatswain of the Pearl Queen, was lying half asleep beside the mainmast, consoling himself with a flagon of seaweed grog. There were only himself and six crew left aboard while the others feasted and roistered aboard the Shalloo. Still, a ship had to have a watch, and at least the bad-tempered Capn Slipp was ashore. He took a pull at the flagon. Wiping a grubby paw across his lips, he blinked twicewas that a mouse and a big rabbit just come aboard? Blaggut staggered upright. “Ahoy, you two, whatn the name of fishes are ye do ...

Thunk!

Rosies slingstone collided with his jaw, sending him staggering backward. Tripping over the coaming, he fell into the hold with a loud bang. As the rest of the watch came pouring out onto the deck, disturbed by the shouting and the noise, Joseph shrugged. “Good shot, Rosie. Pity you never dropped him where he sat.

Hon Rosie fitted another stone to her sling. “Sat? The blighter was standing. Look out!

Joseph swung his loaded sling without letting its stone go and caught a second rat neatly across the skull, dropping him like a log. Then the shrews swarmed aboard, rapiers clenched in their teeth, followed by Durry, Rufe, and Foremole, Durry went down with a piercing yell as the flat of a searat cutlass smacked him across the back of his head. The rat stood over him, raising his weapon, about to strike when Rufe Brush came whistling through the air on a sail rope and booted him overboard. Rufe swung back and forth doing what the sea otter had told him to dogrowl.

“Garrroooaaarrreeeaaarrrrgghh!

As he careered to and fro, Rufes bottom accidentally bumped another searat, who was perched on the ships rail, ready to dive on Foremole. The rat was knocked overboard into the sea. Still growling in his most ferocious manner, Rufe slipped from the rope, rendering another rat senseless as he landed with a bump on the unfortunate creatures head. Throwing valor to the winds, the remaining two searats took one glance at the invaders and hurled themselves overboard.

Joseph sprang to the foredeck, gazing anxiously across the dark waters at the vessel Shalloo. Hon Rosie joined him.

“Hi ho and away we go on our very own stolen ship! Come on, Joseph, you old stick-in-the-mud, whats up?

The Bellmaker nodded toward the Shalloo. “Look, our noise must have roused the searats. The ships swarming with em. Finnbarr and Log-a-Log are in trouble!

Through the darkness the two creatures could barely be seen, swimming toward the Pearl Queen as searats hurled spears, arrows, and slingstones at them. Joseph began shouting orders.

“Get some ropes. Throw them out to Finnbarr and Log-a-Log as soon as they get close enough! Archers, slingers, give those searats something to think about. Keep their heads down so they cant get our friends in the water! The rest of you, make ready to sail, stand by to slip anchor, get up in the rigging, and loose the sails. Hurry!

As the arrows and stones whined out over the sea, Rufe found himself scrambling up the rigging alongside Durry. They slashed at the ties holding the sails furled, both roaring. “Groooaaarrgharrr!

A slingstone bounced off Log-a-Logs head, stunning him. He was going down, his mouth and nostrils filling with seawater. Finnbau dived and came up under him and, with the shrew lying across his back, the big sea otter struck out valiantly for the Pearl Queen.

“I say, Finn old lad, catch this! Hon Rosie was her usual accurate self. She slung the rope, landing it neatly a pawsbreadth from Finnbarr. The otter latched on to it with powerful jaws. Next moment he was streaking through the waters like a great minnow, as Rosie and several others heaved the line in paw over paw.

“Whoohahahahoo! Up you come, you two. Great seasons, look at the bump on old Log-a-things bonce. Righto, Ive got him! The sails were billowing, blown out taut by the wind. Pearl Queen strained against the anchor rope like a wild animal waiting to be unleashed. Joseph, aided by Finnbarr Galedeep, heaved against the tiller, forcing the rudder around until Pearl Queen was bowsprit out, facing the horizon. The tide swell was lifting at its peak when the sea otter bellowed, “Cut loose your anchor cable!

Foremole had found a ships axe, perfectly suited to the job. He struck the rope twice where it came through the forard port. Whack! Thwack!

Pearl Queen ran free, veering southwest into the heaving seas.

Capn Slipp was waist deep in the water, about to take the plunge and swim toward his ship, when he saw it buck from the anchor cable and begin heading out to sea. With a howl of dismay he hurtled forward into the waves and struck out for his brothers ship. Dizzy from roistering in the close confines of a hot and well-lit cabin, Capn Strapp shivered on deck, rubbed his eyes, and peered into the darkness, demanding, “Whatn the name o burstin bilges is goin on?

Rappsnout, mate of the Pearl Queen, explained as best be could. “That bangin amidships, Capn, it was two hanimals, otter an a shrew I fink. They musta been tryin : to bore an ole in yer vessel, I reckon.

Strapp peered anxiously over the side. “An did they? be asked.

“Bless yer cockles, no, Capn. We chased em off, Rappsnout said brandishing his cutlass. “But they swim-med oer to yer brothers craft; looks like themn their mates ave took off with it.

“Avast the Shalloo. Throw me a line! Strapps eyes were now accustomed to the night. He saw his brother swimming toward the Shalloo, and shouted, “Rappsnout, throw Capn Slipp a line. The dutiful mate grabbed a heaving line and hurled one end of it out to the figure in the water. Strapp chuckled wickedly. “Now throw him the other end of it! Rappsnout blinked and scratched his head in bewilderment. “Frow im the other end, Capn. Are you sure? Strapp was already shouting orders to the two crews he had aboard. “Hoist yer anchor! Bring er about souwest. Unfurl all sail smart like! Nip to it! He turned to Rappsnout. “Sure? Course Im sure, mate. Thats if yer want to be Capn of the Shalloo. When weve captured the Pearl Queen, Ill be master of er. Ive alhis wanted that vessel for meself. Nows the penance!

A slow smile spread over Rappsnouts dull features.

“Ho, I see! Yer a sly un, Capn. But wot about yore brother?

Strapp felt the ship shudder as the anchor was hauled free of the water; he watched the sails billow out into the wind. “My brother, that stinkin bully! Capn of the seashore, thats wot e can be ifn e makes it back to land. Throw im the other end of the line, Capn Rappsnout!

Proud of his new appointment, the former mate tossed the line to Slipp, sticking his snout in the air, and ignoring the swimmers cries, in a dignified manner as befits a Captain. Slipp floundered in the creamy wake of the Shal-loo, swallowing seawater as he watched the stern recede southwest.

“Strapp, ye double-dyed villain, come back! Rappsnout, stop im, matey! Ill ave yore liver n lights fer this, dyou ear me! Ill saw off yer tail an ang yer by it, you scum! Treading water and still grasping both ends of the useless line, the infuriated pirate shouted threats and insults until the Shalloo grew small in the distance.

Foremole thumped Log-a-Logs back as he spat out sea-water, holding a wet cloth to the swollen lump between his ears.

“Thurr, youm taken et easy naow, zurr Log. Wem all safe!

Finnbarr had relinquished the tiller to Durry and Rufe, while Joseph went below to check the ships supplies and weaponry. The sea otter nicked Log-a-Log in a blanket. “There now, shipmate. Pity we never ad a chance to sink the Shalloo, but never mind. We got us the Pearl Queen. Our lads did a good job takin over. I ear young Rufe accounted fer four searats single-pawed. Haharr, we got us a prime crew, no mistake!

Rufe and Durry clung bravely to the tiller, holding the ship on course until further orders. They grinned fear-somely at one another and growled like old seadogs.

“Gooarrarrarrurrgggg!

Rosie found an unopened flagon at the foot of the mast, uncorked it, and took a long pull.

“Pthoowah!

It sprayed out over several shrews. Rosie held the flagon at paws length, her face crinkled in disgust. “Whoa, corks, I say, is this the stuff they call bilgewa-ter?

Joseph was passing by. He took the flagon and sniffed it. “No, marm, this is the famous seaweed grog. Itll come in very useful for lighting the galley fires. Now I can get a decent supper cooked.

Wiping her mouth on a kerchief, Hon Rosie muttered, “Thats about all the blinkin stuff is any good for!

The ship was well stocked and in excellent repair. Joseph discovered a good cache of cutlasses, knives, spears, and archery equipment in her arms locker. A hot meal of biscuits and shrimp soup was dished out to the crew; they relieved each other in turns so they could all eat. Finnbarr Sat under a stern awning with Joseph and Log-a-Log. The shrew was curious to know what course they were taking. Finnbarr licked a paw and tested the wind saying, “Were runnin southwest as I ordered, mate.

Joseph watched the first streaks of dawn over to the cast. “Southwest? I thought we were supposed to be “heading south. The sea otter drank soup from the bowl, smacking his lips. “So we will, Bellmaker. Take my affydavit for it, mate, well be runnin due south the moment we strike Roaringburn.

Joseph and Log-a-Log repeated the name simultaneously. “Roaringburn?

“Aye, Roaringburn. Finnbarr chuckled as he stretched out to take a nap. “Its a currentnarrow, deep an very swift, only ever runs one way, south. Mind, itll take some findin, but the moment we hit it, well shift like the wind!

The shrew Bandle poked his head around the awning. “Then wed best find it quick; the Shalloos hard on our paws an bearin down on us fast!

They dashed out from under the cover and, sure enough, there was the Shalloo with every scrap of canvas piled on, double crewed and coming after them like a hungry, windblown hawk.

Dawn also found Capn SHpp wandering the shoreline in a daze, completely unsure of how he had ever gotten back to land. Stumbling back to his position of the previous night, he found the ashes of his fire. He crouched in the wind-tossed sand and blew on a glowing ember, adding sticks and dry grass to it until a small fire flickered. Miserably he perched by it, drying off and waiting for the sun to get up. Cursing and muttering the most dreadful oaths to himself, he scanned the stretch of beach left by the ebbing waves of the outgoing tide. The corpses of six drowned crewrats who had been his ships watch lay still, washed up with the jetsam of the previous nights encounter.

Shivering and damp, Slipp stood up, turning his back to warm it by the fire. Then he saw it.

Blaggut, boatswain of the Pearl Queen, was seated in a shrewboat paddling into shore. Slipp leaped up and down, waving to attract the others attention.

“Ahoy there, Blaggut! Matey, its me, yer good ole Capn!

Blaggut heard and acknowledged with a wave of his paddle. Leaping out into the shallows, he dragged the boat ashore and beached it, smiling and waving joyfully. “Capn, Capn Slipp, matey,tis yerself!

Laughing happily he ran toward Slipp, paws outstretched. “Ho, Capn, ydont know ow god it does me eart tsee yore face, an a fire too! Theres a stroke o luck. Im froze to the marrow an starvin.

When they met, instead of embracing his boatswain, Slipp leapt upon him and began punching and kicking him. “Boatswain, eh? Had of the watch? Keepin me vessel safe from invaders, was you! You ... you ... useless, gutless, brainless, spineless jellyfish!

Blaggut pranced about on the sand trying to avoid Slipp, who punctuated each word with a hard kick to the boatswains rear.

“Leave a ship with you, lardbottom! I wouldnt leave you in charge of a tadpoles tail! Ill wager you was full o grog an snorin when those ship robbers came aboard! Brainless, bumblin, bulb-nosed buffoon! Slipp had Blaggut tight by the ear and his seaboot squelched every time he booted the boatswains bottom. Blaggut howled.

“Owowowow, Capn! Mercy, spare me! There was undreds of em. I was wide awake an at me post, I swear it. Ouchooch! They ganged up on me! Ow, stoppit please! I fought like a madbeast! Aagh that urts! But they overwhelmed me. Honest, ouch! I remembers shoutin, “Elp, Im bein whelmed over!

Slipp flung the blubbering boatswain facedown in the sand. “Whats that thing yore paddlin about in, dogs-bottom?

Blaggut kept alternately covering his head and his rear with both paws, in case the Captain felt like kicking again. “Its a sorta liddle boat, Capn. I was paddlin up an down searchin for youcross me eart I was. I found a big stream back yonder with fresh drinkin water, nicensweet tis. Dyou want me to show it ye? You can drink yore fill!

Slipp drew his cutlass and whacked the boatswains back, hard. “Up on yore paws, bubblebrains. Take me to it.

Blaggut paddled the tide line with Slipp lying back in the boat, giving him the occasional cutlass prod. “Cmon, put yore back into it! Wheres this stream, or does it just run through yore empty ead?

Blaggut paddled harder. “Yowch! There it is up ahead, Capn. See the sun glintin on it? Good n sweet, just like I said.

The morning sun warmed Slipps back as he bent and lapped streamwater. Blaggut brightened up.

“Youll like it ere, Capn. Theres dunes an probly fruit growin nearby. I can fish for us, an well live ere snug as two bugs in a rug. Ill ... Yaagh! Slipp gave the boatswain a smack that sent him sprawling into the stream.

“Froghead! Get in that boat an start paddlin upstream. It must lead somewheres, maybe theres good pickins up there. Come on, bulgebelly, stir yer stumps. By noon Blaggut had paddled the shrewboat into the fringes of Mossflower Wood.