The Bellmaker - Jacques, Brian - Redwall 07 - The Bellmaker

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.