Cluny spoke aloud to the picture of Martin, bound to his standard: "Ha, that fox should easily give those idiots of mine the slip. Then she can deliver my false plans to your Abbot. It's all going along quite smoothly. Bit of a blow for your side, eh, mouse?"

Twilight tinged Mossflower Wood. Sela sniffed the breeze. She glanced up at the sky. It would soon be dark and she could keep her rendezvous with the mouse Abbot at the old stump.

The rat leaped at Constance, swinging his cutlass expertly. For a heavy badger, his adversary moved lightly and skillfully. Neatly sidestepping a cutlass thrust, she cuffed the rat smartly on the point of the nose. Stung into retaliation, Redtooth charged Constance with the point of his blade .

A fierce kick in the ribs and a swift chop to the claw sent the rat and the cutlass in opposite directions. Redtooth lay winded upon the ground. Constance leaned over him,

"Get up and retrieve your weapon," the badger growled.

As Redtooth stood, he grabbed a handful of earth and flung it in Constance's eyes. The big badger staggered back, rubbing at the grit which clogged her vision. The rat picked up the cutlass and swung it, slashing wildly at his enemy's thick fur. He scored several hits.

Suddenly panic gripped him. The wounded badger had seized the blade regardless of its keen edge. Constance pulled Redtooth in close. She gave a sideways push, snapping the cutlass blade in two pieces. Kicking the rat over on his back, she flung the broken blade away and grabbed the rodent's tail tightly with both paws .

Redtooth screamed in terror as he felt himself leave the ground to go spinning aloft over the badger's head. With his tail pulled taut and the wind whistling through his fangs, Redtooth howled as the trees went by in a green blur. Like an athlete throwing the hammer, Constance whirled on her hind legs, faster and faster, until suddenly she threw her burden with a colossal heave.

Redtooth would have flown a record distance had there not been a stout sycamore tree several yards away. . . .

Ignoring her injuries, Constance called into the surrounding woods, "Over here, he's over here!"

Then she limped swiftly off in the direction of Redwall with the captured plans.

Only moments later Fangburn came blundering through the ferns. He tripped upon the groaning fox who was just coming round.

"Here, what's happened? Where's Redtooth?" he asked anxiously.

Sela sat up, rubbing her head, trying to recognize her surroundings. She saw the old stump littered with her herbs and potions. The pouch lay nearby. Holding her head with both paws, she tried to halt the thumping ache .

Damn that badger's hide! She'd taken the plans from Sela

as if she were confiscating acorns from a baby mouse. So much for the "rich rewards."

Fangburn prodded Sela with the spear. "Hey you, pay attention! I asked you where Redtooth is."

Sela probed a loosened tooth with her tongue. "Leave me alone. How should I know?"

Fangburn persisted. "Now listen, fox.  on here. I'm sure I heard Redtooth calling out. Hell's whiskers, wait until Cluny gets to hear about this!"

Sela pointed a shaky paw. "There's your rat, by that big sycamore yonder. Huh, looks like he's had a spot of bother, too."

Fangburn touched Redtooth with his foot. " Aaaaargh! He's dead. Look, this sword's been broken in two."