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cheap； windy； verbal triumphs； though he had a thing or two in his mind
that he would have liked to say。 He saw what he wanted ahead of him。
Running swiftly on he overtook the horse； unfastened the towrope and cast
off； jumped lightly on the horse's back； and urged it to a gallop by kicking
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it vigorously in the sides。 He steered for the open country； abandoning the
tow…path； and swinging his steed down a rutty lane。 Once he looked back；
and saw that the barge had run aground on the other side of the canal； and
the barge…woman was gesticulating wildly and shouting； ‘Stop； stop； stop！'
‘I've heard that song before；' said Toad； laughing； as he continued to spur
his steed onward in its wild career。
The barge…horse was not capable of any very sustained effort； and its
gallop soon subsided into a trot； and its trot into an easy walk； but Toad
was quite contented with this； knowing that he； at any rate； was moving；
and the barge was not。 He had quite recovered his temper； now that he had
done something he thought really clever； and he was satisfied to jog along
quietly in the sun； steering his horse along by…ways and bridle…paths； and
trying to forget how very long it was since he had had a square meal； till
the canal had been left very far behind him。
He had travelled some miles； his horse and he； and he was feeling
drowsy in the hot sunshine； when the horse stopped； lowered his head； and
began to nibble the grass； and Toad； waking up； just saved himself from
falling off by an effort。 He looked about him and found he was on a wide
common； dotted with patches of gorse and bramble as far as he could see。
Near him stood a dingy gipsy caravan； and beside it a man was sitting on a
bucket turned upside down； very busy smoking and staring into the wide
world。 A fire of sticks was burning near by； and over the fire hung an iron
pot； and out of that pot came forth bubblings and gurglings； and a vague
suggestive steaminess。 Also smellswarm； rich； and varied smellsthat
twined and twisted and wreathed themselves at last into one complete；
voluptuous； perfect smell that seemed like the very soul of Nature taking
form and appearing to her children； a true Goddess； a mother of solace and
comfort。 Toad now knew well that he had not been really hungry before。
What he had felt earlier in the day had been a mere trifling qualm。 This
was the real thing at last； and no mistake； and it would have to be dealt
with speedily； too； or there would be trouble for somebody or something。
He looked the gipsy over carefully； wondering vaguely whether it would
be easier to fight him or cajole him。 So there he sat； and sniffed and
sniffed； and looked at the gipsy； and the gipsy sat and smoked； and looked
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at him。
Presently the gipsy took his pipe out of his mouth and remarked in a
careless way； ‘Want to sell that there horse of yours？'
Toad was completely taken aback。 He did not know that gipsies were
very fond of horse…dealing； and never missed an opportunity； and he had
not reflected that caravans were always on the move and took a deal of
drawing。 It had not occurred to him to turn the horse into cash； but the
gipsy's suggestion seemed to smooth the way towards the two things he
wanted so badlyready money； and a solid breakfast。
‘What？' he said； ‘me sell this beautiful young horse of mine？ O； no； it's
out of the question。 Who's going to take the washing home to my
customers every week？ Besides； I'm too fond of him； and he simply dotes
on me。'
‘Try and love a donkey；' suggested the gipsy。 ‘Some people do。'
‘You don't seem to see；' continued Toad； ‘that this fine horse of mine is
a cut above you altogether。 He's a blood horse； he is； partly； not the part
you see； of courseanother part。 And he's been a Prize Hackney； too； in his
timethat was the time before you knew him； but you can still tell it on
him at a glance； if you understand anything about horses。 No； it's not to be
thought of for a moment。 All the same； how much might you be disposed
to offer me for this beautiful young horse of mine？'
The gipsy looked the horse over； and then he looked Toad over with
equal care； and looked at the horse again。 ‘Shillin' a leg；' he said briefly；
and turned away； continuing to smoke and try to stare the wide world out
of countenance。
‘A shilling a leg？' cried Toad。 ‘If you please； I must take a little time to
work that out； and see just what it comes to。'
He climbed down off his horse； and left it to graze； and sat down by
the gipsy； and did sums on his fingers； and at last he said； ‘A shilling a leg？
Why； that comes to exactly four shillings； and no more。 O； no； I could not
think of accepting four shillings for this beautiful young horse of mine。'
‘Well；' said the gipsy； ‘I'll tell you what I will do。 I'll make it five
shillings； and that's three…and…sixpence more than the animal's worth。 And
that's my last word。'
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Then Toad sat and pondered long and deeply。 For he was hungry and
quite penniless； and still some wayhe knew not how far from home；
and enemies might still be looking for him。 To one in such a situation； five
shillings may very well appear a large sum of money。 On the other hand； it
did not seem very much to get for a horse。 But then； again； the horse
hadn't cost him anything； so whatever he got was all clear profit。 At last he
said firmly； ‘Look here； gipsy！ I tell you what we will do； and this is MY
last word。 You shall hand me over six shillings and sixpence； cash down；
and further； in addition thereto； you shall give me as much breakfast as I
can possibly eat； at one sitting of course； out of that iron pot of yours that
keeps sending forth such delicious and exciting smells。 In return； I will
make over to you my spirited young horse； with all the beautiful harness
and trappings that are on him； freely thrown in。 If that's not good enough
for you； say so； and I'll be getting on。 I know a man near here who's
wanted this horse of mine for years。'
The gipsy grumbled frightfully； and declared if he did a few more
deals of that sort he'd be ruined。 But in the end he lugged a dirty canvas
bag out of the depths of his trouser p