Chapters 17-18 Summary

As Chapter 17 opens, Vallug and Eefera are squatting near a small fire together while the others in the hunting party catch up. They have lost Tagg's trail and wonder if he might have tricked them. Vallug tells Eefera about the time when they first took Tagg from the river. Sawney had mentioned a place called Redwall, and the two of them speculate that Tagg might be headed in that direction. They decide to take off on their own to find Redwall, leaving the others behind. Although they agree to cooperate, neither one trusts the other fully.

Tagg and Nimbalo float down the stream for a time on an old log, then stop and camp for the night. They awaken to find themselves surrounded by hostile pigmy shrews led by a chief named Bodjev. Tagg defuses the situation and makes friends with...