The Rogue Crew

Captain Rake spoke out so everybeast could hear. “Och, did Ah hear insubordination an’ insult to a corporal? We’ll have less o’ that, wee lassie. There’s no drink or vittles until we’re out o’ here, is that clear? So if’n ye quit jawin’ an’ start pawin’, mebbe we’ll get closer tae guid nourishment!”

This quickened the pace, which after a while became difficult. Young Wilbee complained, “I seem t’be goin’ slower. Huh, must be the air in this confounded place, or the lack of it.”

Buff Redspore knew the reason. “It’s because we’re marchin’ uphill. Can’t ye feel it?”

Though Skor Axehound was gasping for breath, he sounded happy. “Must mean we’re gettin’ somewhere. Not much further t’go, eh! Gil, Dreel, go ahead with the Long Patrol tracker. See wot ye can find an’ report back. I’ve got t’have a rest, Rake.”

The captain ordered a short halt.

This time it was Log a Log Dandy who began to go on about food. He started up an old Guosim river ditty. Nobeast tried to stop him, in fact, one or two joined in. It seemed to lighten the mood in all that gloom.

“My oh my oh my,

what would I give for a pie,

just like me dear old granny used to bake,

stuffed full o’ juicy plums, an’ to lubricate me gums,

enough good ale to fill a forest lake!

“Why oh why oh why,

doesn’t somebeast hear my cry,

an’ toss me just a hunk o’ bread’n’cheese,

with a pot o’ cold mint tea, I could sup not fussily,

go tell the cook that I ain’t hard to please!

“Dear oh dear oh dear,

I’m so close t’death, I fear,

who’s goin’ to grant a poor ole beast’s last wish?

If ye sit me in a seat an’ let me eat an’ eat an’ eat,

I’ll lick the pattern off the flamin’ dish!”

The trackers returned. Buff was behind Gil and Dreel, who reported jointly.

“The way’s pretty safe up ahead.”

“Aye, but the tunnel splits off two ways.”

“Er, so we weren’t sure which is the right un to take.”

Ambling up, Buff threw a casual salute. “’Cos they never stayed long enough t’jolly well find out, sah. The tunnel we follow is the one with the sweet scent.”

Dandy wrinkled his snout. “Sweet scent, wot sweet scent?”

Buff Redspore allowed herself a huge smile as she explained, “Fresh air, m’friend. What smells sweeter than that after wanderin’ about these musty old tunnels, wot!”

The news caused a joyous uproar. Creatures leapt up and made to run off and find the exit tunnel. It was Skor Axehound’s booming shouts which stopped them in their tracks.

“Stand steady, there. You ain’t had orders t’move off! Try an’ behave like warriors—an’ that goes for you hogs, too.”

Posy retorted sharply, “Oh, does it really. Well, where have your young scouts run off to, eh?”

Log a Log Dandy chuckled. “Aye, barrelbelly, ye should see to yore Rogue Crew afore shoutin’ at others. Where’ve Gil an’ Dreel gone, pray tell?”

The big chieftain’s head swivelled this way and that as he enquired of his crew, “Where’ve those two liddle rips gone?”

Ruggan shrugged. “Prob’ly dashed off to smell the air. Let’s hope they take the right tunnel this time. Don’t worry about ’em. They’ll be waitin’ for us out in the open.”

Skor slammed his rudder down hard. “Them young uns are my responsibility. Take yore brother, Swiffo, an’ get after ’em afore they come to some harm!”

Ruggan and Swiffo sped off along the tunnel.

After a while, the rest followed at a steady pace, following the upward sloping passage. Young Ferrul was the first to smell anything, even before they reached the junction where the tunnels split. She twiddled her ears with anticipation.

“Oh, I say, chaps, can ye sniff it? Fresh air, it’s better’n a fresh strawberry’n’plum fruit salad. Mmmmm!”

At the junction, one tunnel began to slope downward but the other continued to rise. From the latter, there was a summer breeze wafting in.

Sergeant Miggory breathed deeply. “Seasons h’of flowers’n’ferns, sah, h’aint it nice!”

Captain Rake sniffed appreciatively. “Och, ’tis like a wee butterfly kissin’ mah nose!” He was almost bowled over by the return of Ruggan and Swiffo, who hurtled down on him, waving their paws for silence.

Skor Axehound scowled at the pair. “Well, did ye find Gil’n’Dreel?”

Keeping his voice low, Ruggan appeared to be stifling laughter. “Aye, sir, they been captured by vermin!”

The sea otter Chieftain waved his battleaxe. “They’ve what? Been captured by vermin, an’ ye think ’tis funny?”

Swiffo stood in his father’s path, hastening to explain. “Steady on, Pa. There’s only about a score of ’em, runty stoats an’ rats. We followed ’em to their camp. It ain’t far off, an’ guess wot? They’re havin’ a feast!”

Skor glanced from one to the other. “Ye weren’t seen by the vermin, were ye?”

Ruggan smiled cannily. “Of course not, sir. A feast!”

His father caught the irony of the situation. He grinned slyly and licked his axeblade. “I’ll wager they’ll welcome guests to their feast, eh? Are ye ready, Rake an’ Dandy? Come on, let’s eat!”