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dungeon of the best…guarded keep of the stoutest castle in all the length
and breadth of Merry England。
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THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
CHAPTER VII
THE PIPER AT THE GATES OF DAWN
The Willow…Wren was twittering his thin little song； hidden himself in
the dark selvedge of the river bank。 Though it was past ten o'clock at night；
the sky still clung to and retained some lingering skirts of light from the
departed day； and the sullen heats of the torrid afternoon broke up and
rolled away at the dispersing touch of the cool fingers of the short
midsummer night。 Mole lay stretched on the bank； still panting from the
stress of the fierce day that had been cloudless from dawn to late sunset；
and waited for his friend to return。 He had been on the river with some
companions； leaving the Water Rat free to keep a engagement of long
standing with Otter； and he had come back to find the house dark and
deserted； and no sign of Rat； who was doubtless keeping it up late with his
old comrade。 It was still too hot to think of staying indoors； so he lay on
some cool dock…leaves； and thought over the past day and its doings； and
how very good they all had been。
The Rat's light footfall was presently heard approaching over the
parched grass。 ‘O； the blessed coolness！' he said； and sat down； gazing
thoughtfully into the river； silent and pre…occupied。
‘You stayed to supper； of course？' said the Mole presently。
‘Simply had to；' said the Rat。 ‘They wouldn't hear of my going before。
You know how kind they always are。 And they made things as jolly for me
as ever they could； right up to the moment I left。 But I felt a brute all the
time； as it was clear to me they were very unhappy； though they tried to
hide it。 Mole； I'm afraid they're in trouble。 Little Portly is missing again；
and you know what a lot his father thinks of him； though he never says
much about it。'
‘What； that child？' said the Mole lightly。 ‘Well； suppose he is； why
worry about it？ He's always straying off and getting lost； and turning up
again； he's so adventurous。 But no harm ever happens to him。 Everybody
hereabouts knows him and likes him； just as they do old Otter； and you
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THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
may be sure some animal or other will come across him and bring him
back again all right。 Why； we've found him ourselves； miles from home；
and quite self… possessed and cheerful！'
‘Yes； but this time it's more serious；' said the Rat gravely。 ‘He's been
missing for some days now； and the Otters have hunted everywhere； high
and low； without finding the slightest trace。 And they've asked every
animal； too； for miles around； and no one knows anything about him。
Otter's evidently more anxious than he'll admit。 I got out of him that young
Portly hasn't learnt to swim very well yet； and I can see he's thinking of
the weir。 There's a lot of water coming down still； considering the time of
the year； and the place always had a fascination for the child。 And then
there arewell； traps and thingsYOU know。 Otter's not the fellow to be
nervous about any son of his before it's time。 And now he IS nervous。
When I left； he came out with mesaid he wanted some air； and talked
about stretching his legs。 But I could see it wasn't that； so I drew him out
and pumped him； and got it all from him at last。 He was going to spend the
night watching by the ford。 You know the place where the old ford used to
be； in by…gone days before they built the bridge？'
‘I know it well；' said the Mole。 ‘But why should Otter choose to watch
there？'
‘Well； it seems that it was there he gave Portly his first swimming…
lesson；' continued the Rat。 ‘From that shallow； gravelly spit near the bank。
And it was there he used to teach him fishing； and there young Portly
caught his first fish； of which he was so very proud。 The child loved the
spot； and Otter thinks that if he came wandering back from wherever he is…
…if he IS anywhere by this time； poor little chaphe might make for the
ford he was so fond of； or if he came across it he'd remember it well； and
stop there and play； perhaps。 So Otter goes there every night and watches
on the chance； you know； just on the chance！'
They were silent for a time； both thinking of the same thingthe lonely；
heart…sore animal； crouched by the ford； watching and waiting； the long
night throughon the chance。
‘Well； well；' said the Rat presently； ‘I suppose we ought to be thinking
about turning in。' But he never offered to move。
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‘Rat；' said the Mole； ‘I simply can't go and turn in； and go to sleep； and
DO nothing； even though there doesn't seem to be anything to be done。
We'll get the boat out； and paddle up stream。 The moon will be up in an
hour or so； and then we will search as well as we cananyhow； it will be
better than going to bed and doing NOTHING。'
‘Just what I was thinking myself；' said the Rat。 ‘It's not the sort of
night for bed anyhow； and daybreak is not so very far off； and then we
may pick up some news of him from early risers as we go along。'
They got the boat out； and the Rat took the sculls； paddling with
caution。 Out in midstream； there was a clear； narrow track that faintly
reflected the sky； but wherever shadows fell on the water from bank； bush；
or tree； they were as solid to all appearance as the banks themselves； and
the Mole had to steer with judgment accordingly。 Dark and deserted as it
was； the night was full of small noises； song and chatter and rustling；
telling of the busy little population who were up and about； plying their
trades and vocations through the night till sunshine should fall on them at
last and send them off to their well…earned repose。 The water's own noises；
too； were more apparent than by day； its gurglings and ‘cloops' more
unexpected and near at hand； and constantly they started at what seemed a
sudden clear call from an actual articulate voice。
The line of the horizon was clear and hard against