Big Oxeye was a hare lieutenant in the Long Patrol under the Badger Lords Urthstripe the Strong and Urthwyte the Mighty. In one of Ferahgo the Assassin's retreats from the mountain of Salamandastron, Lord Urthstripe sent out a spying division consisting of Oxeye, Sapwood, and Pennybright. The retreat was actually a ruse by Klitch to gain hostages, and Oxeye and Sapwood were captured. Klitch had left the two hares tied up in the sea, but the water loosened their bonds until they escaped. Oxeye managed to swim back to the mountain with badly needed supplies for the defenders.