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less of richness and blaze of colour than they seemed to remember seeing
quite recently somewherethey wondered where。
The main river reached again； they turned the boat's head upstream；
towards the point where they knew their friend was keeping his lonely
vigil。 As they drew near the familiar ford； the Mole took the boat in to the
bank； and they lifted Portly out and set him on his legs on the tow…path；
gave him his marching orders and a friendly farewell pat on the back； and
shoved out into mid…stream。 They watched the little animal as he waddled
along the path contentedly and with importance； watched him till they saw
his muzzle suddenly lift and his waddle break into a clumsy amble as he
quickened his pace with shrill whines and wriggles of recognition。
Looking up the river； they could see Otter start up； tense and rigid； from
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out of the shallows where he crouched in dumb patience； and could hear
his amazed and joyous bark as he bounded up through the osiers on to the
path。 Then the Mole； with a strong pull on one oar； swung the boat round
and let the full stream bear them down again whither it would； their quest
now happily ended。
‘I feel strangely tired； Rat；' said the Mole； leaning wearily over his oars
as the boat drifted。 ‘It's being up all night； you'll say； perhaps； but that's
nothing。 We do as much half the nights of the week； at this time of the
year。 No； I feel as if I had been through something very exciting and rather
terrible； and it was just over； and yet nothing particular has happened。'
‘Or something very surprising and splendid and beautiful；' murmured
the Rat； leaning back and closing his eyes。 ‘I feel just as you do； Mole；
simply dead tired； though not body tired。 It's lucky we've got the stream
with us； to take us home。 Isn't it jolly to feel the sun again； soaking into
one's bones！ And hark to the wind playing in the reeds！'
‘It's like musicfar away music；' said the Mole nodding drowsily。
‘So I was thinking；' murmured the Rat； dreamful and languid。 ‘Dance…
musicthe lilting sort that runs on without a stopbut with words in it；
tooit passes into words and out of them againI catch them at intervals
then it is dance…music once more； and then nothing but the reeds' soft thin
whispering。'
‘You hear better than I；' said the Mole sadly。 ‘I cannot catch the words。'
‘Let me try and give you them；' said the Rat softly； his eyes still closed。
‘Now it is turning into words againfaint but clear Lest the awe should
dwellAnd turn your frolic to fretYou shall look on my power at the
helping hourBut then you shall forget！ Now the reeds take it upforget；
forget； they sigh； and it dies away in a rustle and a whisper。 Then the voice
returns
‘Lest limbs be reddened and rentI spring the trap that is setAs I
loose the snare you may glimpse me thereFor surely you shall forget！
Row nearer； Mole； nearer to the reeds！ It is hard to catch； and grows each
minute fainter。
‘Helper and healer； I cheerSmall waifs in the woodland wet Strays I
find in it； wounds I bind in itBidding them all forget！ Nearer； Mole；
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nearer！ No； it is no good； the song has died away into reed…talk。'
‘But what do the words mean？' asked the wondering Mole。
‘That I do not know；' said the Rat simply。 ‘I passed them on to you as
they reached me。 Ah！ now they return again； and this time full and clear！
This time； at last； it is the real； the unmistakable thing； simplepassionate…
…perfect'
‘Well； let's have it； then；' said the Mole； after he had waited patiently
for a few minutes； half…dozing in the hot sun。
But no answer came。 He looked； and understood the silence。 With a
smile of much happiness on his face； and something of a listening look
still lingering there； the weary Rat was fast asleep。
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CHAPTER VIII
TOAD'S ADVENTURES
When Toad found himself immured in a dank and noisome dungeon；
and knew that all the grim darkness of a medieval fortress lay between
him and the outer world of sunshine and well…metalled high roads where
he had lately been so happy； disporting himself as if he had bought up
every road in England； he flung himself at full length on the floor； and
shed bitter tears； and abandoned himself to dark despair。 ‘This is the end
of everything' （he said）； ‘at least it is the end of the career of Toad； which
is the same thing； the popular and handsome Toad； the rich and hospitable
Toad； the Toad so free and careless and debonair！ How can I hope to be
ever set at large again' （he said）； ‘who have been imprisoned so justly for
stealing so handsome a motor…car in such an audacious manner； and for
such lurid and imaginative cheek； bestowed upon such a number of fat；
red…faced policemen！' （Here his sobs choked him。） ‘Stupid animal that I
was' （he said）； ‘now I must languish in this dungeon； till people who were
proud to say they knew me； have forgotten the very name of Toad！ O wise
old Badger！' （he said）； ‘O clever； intelligent Rat and sensible Mole！ What
sound judgments； what a knowledge of men and matters you possess！ O
unhappy and forsaken Toad！' With lamentations such as these he passed
his days and nights for several weeks； refusing his meals or intermediate
light refreshments； though the grim and ancient gaoler； knowing that
Toad's pockets were well lined； frequently pointed out that many comforts；
and indeed luxuries； could by arrangement be sent in at a pricefrom
outside。
Now the gaoler had a daughter； a pleasant wench and good…hearted；
who assisted her father in the lighter duties of his post。 She was
particularly fond of animals； and； besides her canary； whose cage hung on
a nail in the massive wall of the keep by day； to the great annoyance of
prisoners who relished an afterdinner nap； and was shrouded in an
antimacassar on the parlour table at night； she kept several piebald mice
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