"It was very early on a beautiful summer morning." "The sun, shining on Brambly Hedge, was beginning to feel warm, and the air, tinged with dew, smelled green and fresh." "Primrose Woodmouse didn 't want to waste one moment of such a spectacular day." "She was going to the Hornbeam to wake her friend Wilfred Toadflax." "Wilfred!" "Wilfred!" "Over here, Primrose!" "Left over right... and right over left...and pull!" " I did it!" " What?" " I did this sailor's knot." " Very good." "Why are you tying sailor's knots so early in the day?" "Primrose, haven't you heard?" "We've run out of salt." "The Salter won't come till next summer, so Dusty is going to sail to the sea to get some more." " Dusty's going to get salt?" " I'm going with him!" " You are?" " Yes!" "Yes!" "So I can go, too!" " No!" " What do you mean, " no" ?" "I mean that this is a journey for Intrepid Sailors only." "I can do sailors' knots, so I'm an Intrepid Sailor, but you, erm...aren't." "But I can learn!" "I'll go and ask Dusty myself." " Oh!" " Ask Dusty what?" "Wilfred?" "We're leaving soon." " Are you ready?" " Aye aye, Captain!" "So, what did you want to ask me, Primrose?" "Can I come with you?" "I can't tie knots..." "As long as it's all right with Lord and Lady Woodmouse." " But..." " The more the merrier!" "But hurry." "You must get down to the riverbank quickly." "I will!" "I will!" " Primrose!" "Primrose, wait!" " What for, Wilfred?" "For you to say I'm not an Intrepid Sailor?" "Well, are you?" "You've got to have what it takes." "Really?" "What does it take to be an Intrepid Sailor?" "According to Sir Hogweed Horehound, Brambly Hedge's..." "Greatest Explorer." "I know." "According to him, it takes three things." "One:" "An Intrepid Sailor must be brave." "Two:" "An Intrepid Sailor must be able to go with the flow." "Three:" "An Intrepid Sailor must be able to sail." " Can you sail?" " No, but Dusty's teaching me." "Good." "Then he can teach me as well!" "( Sighs )" "Lord and Lady Woodmouse happily let Primrose go on an exciting and important journey, as long as she did as she was told." "Primrose could hardly believe she'd sail down the river, all the way to the sea!" "What would it look like?" "How big would it be?" "I can be an Intrepid Sailor just like Wilfred." "I know I can!" "Dusty!" "Poppy!" "Oh!" " Hello, Primrose!" " Glad you made it!" " Hello, Wilfred." " I thought you wouldn't come." "Welcome aboard the Periwinkle." "Wilfred, show Primrose where to put her things." "Aye aye, Captain!" "Follow me!" "Oh, it's so cosy!" " Mind if I take the top bunk?" " Of course not." "Bunny would rather have the bottom bunk anyway." " I can't wait till we set sail!" " Nor can I. I want to steer!" "(Wilfred laughs )" "Primrose?" "You?" "Steer this big boat?" "And why not, Wilfred Toadflax?" "(Dusty ) Primrose?" "Wilfred?" "Dusty wants us!" "Come on!" "Come and look at this!" "Does it show where we're going?" "Yes it does." "It's the old Salter's map." "You see, here's our hedge, and we've got to sail right down this river until we get to Seagull Rock." "Which means we're near Sandy Bay." "Which means we've reached the sea!" "Ahoy there!" "It's Papa!" "Mama said they'd come to say goodbye." "Isn't this exciting?" "I can't remember anyone from the Hedge going downstream!" "Can you remember running out of salt?" "No..." "No, I can't say that I can." "Exactly." "I can't think where it's all gone." "Two whole years' supply!" "Perhaps I shouldn't have salted those walnuts." "Don't worry about that." "All ashore that's going ashore!" "Oh!" "I've always wanted to say that!" "They're about to leave." "Will they be all right?" "Dusty's never sailed so far before." "Betty, if the sea mice get the salt all the way up to us," "I'm sure Dusty can sail downstream to fetch more." " Bye, everyone!" " Bye-bye!" "Wilfred!" "Be a good mouse and do as Dusty says!" " Have a lovely time, Primrose!" " See you in a few days!" " Goodbye, Wilfred!" " Goodbye, son!" " Safe journey!" " Be good, Wilfred!" "We're on our way!" "Wilfred waved to the mice until they were out of sight." "But Primrose was watching Dusty steer the boat." "She wanted to learn as much about sailing as she could." "Here we are." "Lunch, everyone?" "Yes, please!" "It's a good wind." "If it stays like this, we'll get there in no time!" "Hours flew by." "The Periwinkle sped through the water, the brisk wind billowing her sails." " I'll get to steer first!" " Oh, no, you won't!" "I am!" "You know why?" "Because I'm an Intrepid Sailor!" "So am I!" "I'm going to be first!" "No, you don't!" " Ohh!" " Oooh!" " Careful!" "Oh!" " What's happening?" "Oh, no!" "Ohh!" " Why have we stopped?" " We've run aground!" "Oh, Dusty, I'm so sorry!" "There's nothing we can do about it now." " These things happen." " Not to Intrepid Sailors." " We'll never get to the sea!" " And it's all my fault!" "We'll be stuck here for ever!" "( Snoring )" "Next morning, after a fitful sleep," "Primrose woke when the boat lurched." " What?" " What's wrong?" " The boat's moving!" " Oh!" "You're right!" "Come on!" "There's no time to lie in your bunks!" "But what happened?" " I thought we were stuck!" " Not any more!" "It rained all night, so the water level rose and we floated clear." "(Both ) Oh, hooray!" "Once again the wind filled the Periwinkle's sails and the boat carried the mice further down the river." "Are you still thinking about learning to sail?" "It wasn't all my fault, you know." "You pushed me." " Look!" "There!" " What is it?" "I can see boats!" "I think it's Seagull Rock!" "Well spotted, Primrose!" "Trim the sails, Poppy!" " Are we almost there?" " Yes." "Soon we'll see the sea!" "As Dusty carefully steered the Periwinkle towards the jetty," "Primrose and Wilfred wondered when they'd reach the sea." "If at first you don't succeed..." "Ahoy!" "Are we on course for Sandy Bay?" "Yes, but not by boat!" "Anchor here and climb up to the cliffs!" "Throw me a rope!" "I'll make you fast!" "Primrose and Wilfred were so excited about getting off, they forgot to collect their belongings." "Aren't you two taking anything with you?" "(Both ) Oh!" " You want to get to Sandy Bay?" " Yes, please!" "We're looking for Purslane Saltapple." "Then this is what you do." "See that path?" "Ignore it because it's not the right one." "Now, see THAT path?" "Follow it up through the pine trees and onto the dunes." " You'll be there very soon." " Well, what are we waiting for?" "The excited mice slowly made their way up the steep path through the pine trees." "At last they stepped up to the brow of the hill." "There before them, glittering in the afternoon sun, was... the sea." "(Primrose ) It's so big!" "Oh!" "(Wilfred) And so blue!" "Well, we finally made it!" " Where do we go now?" " Look!" "Over there!" " I can see some mice!" " Oh, yes." "I think that might be Purslane." "Shell!" "Hello, Purslane!" "It's Dusty Dogwood!" "Dusty?" "From Brambly Hedge?" "Why are you so far from home?" " We've run out of salt." " Oh, dear." "I wasn't due to meet you till next summer." "That's right." "So that's why we're here now!" "I'm Poppy Dogwood." " I'm Primrose Woodmouse." " I'm Wilfred Toadflax!" "A pleasure to make your acquaintances!" "I'm Thrift Saltapple." "My son..." "Pebble." "That's my sister Shell." " And that's Shrimp." " Shell!" "Thank you, Shrimp!" "It's beautiful!" "Come in, come in!" "You must be hungry!" "This is lovely!" "Pebble, you and Shell show Primrose and Wilfred where they can wash and where they'll sleep." "Yes, Mum!" "This way!" " This is the bathroom." " Wow!" "And that's the water for washing." "And here is where you'll be sleeping!" "Did you really come in a boat?" "Did you get to steer?" "I would if Primrose hadn't run us aground!" "Wilfred!" "That's not fair!" "Not everyone can be an Intrepid Sailor." "( Sighs )" "See, what really happened was..." "Sorry to interrupt." "It's lunch time!" "( all) Lunch!" "I think she really likes you!" "I'm coming, Shrimp!" "Mmm!" "Seaweed!" "My favourite!" "Seaweed?" "And, Mummy, this marsh samphire is yummy!" "Marsh samphire?" "Mmm!" "An Intrepid Sailor goes with the flow, which means eating what's there!" "Mmm!" "Mm-mm!" "But Primrose couldn 't even bring herself to taste the strange food." "She was beginning to think that she wasn 't such an Intrepid Sailor after all." "Shall we go to the beach this afternoon?" "The beach!" "Oh, yes, please!" "Please!" "Let me check the weather." "Hmm." "Wet." "The seaweed's wet, which means rain's coming, possibly even a storm, but it's a beautiful day... (Both ) Oh, please can we go?" "Please?" "Please?" "Please?" "They have come a long way." "Oh...why not?" "I've got some things from Brambly Hedge we can take as a picnic." "Primrose, Wilfred, Dusty and Poppy spent the afternoon by the blue sea with the Saltapples." "The beach was unlike anything the Hedge mice had seen." "Primrose tried not to think about boats running aground or marsh samphire or Intrepid Sailors..." "Oh!" "Oh!" "There." "Could this be the storm you mentioned?" "No, no, no." "It's just a little breeze." " Trust me." " Oh." " Ohh!" " That was a big breeze!" "Purslane, I don't like the look of those clouds gathering." "Oh!" "Come on!" "We must get home before the storm breaks!" "We must cover the salt pan!" "Shell!" "Shell!" "What's in there?" "We put seawater in one pan." "The sun dries up the water and leaves the salt." "That's where the salt comes from!" "Yeah, and the other pan is where we catch rainwater to drink and use for washing." "It's going to be a bad one!" "We'll have to go in the storm bunker!" " Come on!" " Come on, Shrimp!" "Shrimp?" "Shrimp!" "Shrimp!" "Have we got everyone?" "Shrimp!" "Shrimp!" "(Wind howls )" "Shrimp!" "We must find the others and go into the storm bunker!" " Oh!" " Here we are!" "Where is everybody?" "(Wind howls and rages )" "Ah!" "Here we are!" " But...where is Shrimp?" " What about Primrose?" " I thought they were with you!" " No!" "They're in the storm!" " I'll go and find them!" " I'll come too!" " So will I!" " No." "I'll go alone." "We can't have more mice than necessary in the storm." "It's too dangerous." "Poppy!" "Dusty!" "Mr Saltapple!" "Wilfred!" "Shrimp, where is the storm bunker?" "Shell?" "(Primrose ) Oh!" "Oh!" "( Cries )" "There, there, Shrimp." "Everything will be all right." "I know!" "Let's pretend we're going on a boat!" "( Cries )" "Isn't it a lovely boat?" "Do you want to steer?" "( Cries )" "All right." "I'll steer." "Watch!" "Shrimp!" "Primrose!" "Oh, Mr Saltapple!" "I'm so glad to see you!" "Come on!" "I'm taking you to the storm bunker!" "Oh!" "The sand!" "In my eyes!" "Oww!" "Where's the water?" " Oh!" " Don't worry, Mr Saltapple!" "I'll get some more water!" "Come on, Shrimp!" "We're going to get some fresh water for your daddy's eyes." " Whoa!" " ( Cries )" "Hurry!" "The storm is right on top of us!" "Ohh!" "Here, Shrimp." "You carry this cloth." "I'll carry the jug of water." " Boat?" " No, the boat's back this way!" "Come on!" "Mr Saltapple." "Thank you, Shrimp." "Here." "Oh, yes!" "Ahh!" "Thank you!" "Oh!" "I can't stand it any more." "I've got to find out what's going on." " So have I!" " You're right." "I can't stay here worrying another minute!" " Is that better?" " Oh, yes." "Thank you so much, Primrose." "Are we going to the storm bunker?" "Shh." "One saltapple, two saltapples, three saltapples..." "Three saltapples between the lightning and the thunder." "The storm is definitely moving away." "The worst is over!" " Shrimp!" " Primrose!" "Where were you?" " I went to find Shrimp." " You did?" "!" "If it weren't for this brave mouse," "Shrimp would probably have been blown away, and I'd still have sand in my eyes!" " Thank you, Primrose!" " Anyone would've done it." " I'd have been too scared!" " Me too!" "You were really brave, Primrose." "Really brave." "J ust like an Intrepid Sailor." "Thank you, Wilfred!" "And I steered our boat without running aground." "Eh, Shrimp?" "Boat!" "( All laugh )" "Speaking of boats, now that the storm is over, we must head back to Brambly Hedge." "I want to make a good start before dark." "Dusty and Purslane loaded as many barrels of salt as the Saltapples' handcart could carry." "( Sighs )" "Well, I think that's just about it!" "Not quite!" "Here's some seaweed!" "(Both ) Oh...thank you." "I know you liked it, and you won't get it at the Hedge!" "And we've a present for you." "This is a special shell." "Hold it to your ear and you'll hear the sea and think of us." " Then you'll come back." " Oh, thank you!" "And so, laden with salt, luggage and gifts, the little party set off along the dune and made their way down the cliff to the Periwinkle." "Mind you keep that salt dry!" "But use it up quickly so you come back soon." " Come and visit us!" " We'll show you Brambly Hedge." "I'd love to see it!" "So would someone else I know!" "Hello!" "No stowaways!" "Cheeky young thing!" "Off you go!" "( Chuckles )" "You'd like to stay with Primrose, wouldn't you?" "Boat!" "It's all right, Shrimp." "I'll come and visit you again." " I hope you will!" " Me too!" "All aboard!" "Primrose, Wilfred, Dusty and Poppy hugged the Saltapples goodbye and thanked them for their help." "Though they looked forward to seeing their families, they were all sad to leave their new friends." "Primrose felt a little less sad when Dusty asked her if she wanted to steer." "To make herself feel even better, she started to sing." "# I'm a sailor on the salty sea" "# A-sailing on the foam" "# But the sailor's life is sweetest" "# When the sail is set for home..." "Two, three, four!" "# I'm a sailor on the salty sea" "# A-sailing on the foam" "# But the sailor's life is sweetest" "# When the sail is set for home #"