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paws； glanced round at his comrades； and cried
‘The hour is come！ Follow me！'
And flung the door open wide。
My！
What a squealing and a squeaking and a screeching filled the air！
Well might the terrified weasels dive under the tables and spring
madly up at the windows！ Well might the ferrets rush wildly for the
fireplace and get hopelessly jammed in the chimney！ Well might tables
and chairs be upset； and glass and china be sent crashing on the floor； in
the panic of that terrible moment when the four Heroes strode wrathfully
into the room！ The mighty Badger； his whiskers bristling； his great cudgel
whistling through the air； Mole； black and grim； brandishing his stick and
shouting his awful war…cry； ‘A Mole！ A Mole！' Rat； desperate and
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determined； his belt bulging with weapons of every age and every variety；
Toad； frenzied with excitement and injured pride； swollen to twice his
ordinary size； leaping into the air and emitting Toad…whoops that chilled
them to the marrow！ ‘Toad he went a…pleasuring！' he yelled。 ‘I'LL pleasure
'em！' and he went straight for the Chief Weasel。 They were but four in all；
but to the panic…stricken weasels the hall seemed full of monstrous
animals； grey； black； brown and yellow； whooping and flourishing
enormous cudgels； and they broke and fled with squeals of terror and
dismay； this way and that； through the windows； up the chimney；
anywhere to get out of reach of those terrible sticks。
The affair was soon over。 Up and down； the whole length of the hall；
strode the four Friends； whacking with their sticks at every head that
showed itself； and in five minutes the room was cleared。 Through the
broken windows the shrieks of terrified weasels escaping across the lawn
were borne faintly to their ears； on the floor lay prostrate some dozen or so
of the enemy； on whom the Mole was busily engaged in fitting handcuffs。
The Badger； resting from his labours； leant on his stick and wiped his
honest brow。
‘Mole；' he said；' ‘you're the best of fellows！ Just cut along outside and
look after those stoat…sentries of yours； and see what they're doing。 I've an
idea that； thanks to you； we shan't have much trouble from them to…night！'
The Mole vanished promptly through a window； and the Badger bade
the other two set a table on its legs again； pick up knives and forks and
plates and glasses from the debris on the floor； and see if they could find
materials for a supper。 ‘I want some grub； I do；' he said； in that rather
common way he had of speaking。 ‘Stir your stumps； Toad； and look lively！
We've got your house back for you； and you don't offer us so much as a
sandwich。' Toad felt rather hurt that the Badger didn't say pleasant things
to him； as he had to the Mole； and tell him what a fine fellow he was； and
how splendidly he had fought； for he was rather particularly pleased with
himself and the way he had gone for the Chief Weasel and sent him flying
across the table with one blow of his stick。 But he bustled about； and so
did the Rat； and soon they found some guava jelly in a glass dish； and a
cold chicken； a tongue that had hardly been touched； some trifle； and quite
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a lot of lobster salad； and in the pantry they came upon a basketful of
French rolls and any quantity of cheese； butter； and celery。 They were just
about to sit down when the Mole clambered in through the window；
chuckling； with an armful of rifles。
‘It's all over；' he reported。 ‘From what I can make out； as soon as the
stoats； who were very nervous and jumpy already； heard the shrieks and
the yells and the uproar inside the hall； some of them threw down their
rifles and fled。 The others stood fast for a bit； but when the weasels came
rushing out upon them they thought they were betrayed； and the stoats
grappled with the weasels； and the weasels fought to get away； and they
wrestled and wriggled and punched each other； and rolled over and over；
till most of 'em rolled into the river！ They've all disappeared by now； one
way or another； and I've got their rifles。 So that's all right！'
‘Excellent and deserving animal！' said the Badger； his mouth full of
chicken and trifle。 ‘Now； there's just one more thing I want you to do；
Mole； before you sit down to your supper along of us； and I wouldn't
trouble you only I know I can trust you to see a thing done； and I wish I
could say the same of every one I know。 I'd send Rat； if he wasn't a poet。 I
want you to take those fellows on the floor there upstairs with you； and
have some bedrooms cleaned out and tidied up and made really
comfortable。 See that they sweep UNDER the beds； and put clean sheets
and pillow…cases on； and turn down one corner of the bed…clothes； just as
you know it ought to be done； and have a can of hot water； and clean
towels； and fresh cakes of soap； put in each room。 And then you can give
them a licking a…piece； if it's any satisfaction to you； and put them out by
the back…door； and we shan't see any more of THEM； I fancy。 And then
come along and have some of this cold tongue。 It's first rate。 I'm very
pleased with you； Mole！'
The goodnatured Mole picked up a stick； formed his prisoners up in a
line on the floor； gave them the order ‘Quick march！' and led his squad off
to the upper floor。 After a time； he appeared again； smiling； and said that
every room was ready； and as clean as a new pin。 ‘And I didn't have to lick
them； either；' he added。 ‘I thought； on the whole； they had had licking
enough for one night； and the weasels； when I put the point to them； quite
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agreed with me； and said they wouldn't think of troubling me。 They were
very penitent； and said they were extremely sorry for what they had done。
but it was all the fault of the Chief Weasel and the stoats； and if ever they
could do anything for us at any time to make up； we had only got to
mention it。 So I gave them a roll a…