Cornflower, Basil Stag Hare, and Constance are gathered at Brother Methuselah's bedside, whose head injury inflicted by Chickenhound is finally taking its toll. They decide not to tell Matthias that his friend is dying so as not to upset him. Meanwhile, in Mossflower Woods, two moles encounter a traveling circus that is going to Redwall Abbey. As the circus passes, Redtooth and Fangburn leap from the bushes and steal a trunk from the back of the last wagon. Afterwards, Abbot Mortimer tells Matthias that Methuselah is dying. Methuselah gives Matthias some final advice, and then passes away.