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who； without having been consulted； and to his own extreme annoyance；
had been told off by Toad for the dustiest job in this dusty expedition。 He
frankly preferred the paddock； and took a deal of catching。 Meantime Toad
packed the lockers still tighter with necessaries； and hung nosebags； nets
of onions； bundles of hay； and baskets from the bottom of the cart。 At last
the horse was caught and harnessed； and they set off； all talking at once；
each animal either trudging by the side of the cart or sitting on the shaft； as
the humour took him。 It was a golden afternoon。 The smell of the dust they
kicked up was rich and satisfying； out of thick orchards on either side the
road； birds called and whistled to them cheerily； good…natured wayfarers；
passing them； gave them ‘Good…day；' or stopped to say nice things about
their beautiful cart； and rabbits； sitting at their front doors in the
hedgerows； held up their fore…paws； and said； ‘O my！ O my！ O my！'
Late in the evening； tired and happy and miles from home； they drew
up on a remote common far from habitations； turned the horse loose to
graze； and ate their simple supper sitting on the grass by the side of the
cart。 Toad talked big about all he was going to do in the days to come；
while stars grew fuller and larger all around them； and a yellow moon；
appearing suddenly and silently from nowhere in particular； came to keep
them company and listen to their talk。 At last they turned in to their little
bunks in the cart； and Toad； kicking out his legs； sleepily said； ‘Well； good
night； you fellows！ This is the real life for a gentleman！ Talk about your
old river！'
‘I DON'T talk about my river；' replied the patient Rat。 ‘You KNOW I
don't； Toad。 But I THINK about it；' he added pathetically； in a lower tone：
‘I think about itall the time！'
The Mole reached out from under his blanket； felt for the Rat's paw in
the darkness； and gave it a squeeze。 ‘I'll do whatever you like； Ratty；' he
whispered。 ‘Shall we run away to…morrow morning； quite earlyVERY
earlyand go back to our dear old hole on the river？'
‘No； no； we'll see it out；' whispered back the Rat。 ‘Thanks awfully； but
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I ought to stick by Toad till this trip is ended。 It wouldn't be safe for him to
be left to himself。 It won't take very long。 His fads never do。 Good night！'
The end was indeed nearer than even the Rat suspected。
After so much open air and excitement the Toad slept very soundly；
and no amount of shaking could rouse him out of bed next morning。 So
the Mole and Rat turned to； quietly and manfully； and while the Rat saw to
the horse； and lit a fire； and cleaned last night's cups and platters； and got
things ready for breakfast； the Mole trudged off to the nearest village； a
long way off； for milk and eggs and various necessaries the Toad had； of
course； forgotten to provide。 The hard work had all been done； and the two
animals were resting； thoroughly exhausted； by the time Toad appeared on
the scene； fresh and gay； remarking what a pleasant easy life it was they
were all leading now； after the cares and worries and fatigues of
housekeeping at home。
They had a pleasant ramble that day over grassy downs and along
narrow by…lanes； and camped as before； on a common； only this time the
two guests took care that Toad should do his fair share of work。 In
consequence； when the time came for starting next morning； Toad was by
no means so rapturous about the simplicity of the primitive life； and
indeed attempted to resume his place in his bunk； whence he was hauled
by force。 Their way lay； as before； across country by narrow lanes； and it
was not till the afternoon that they came out on the high…road； their first
high… road； and there disaster； fleet and unforeseen； sprang out on them
disaster momentous indeed to their expedition； but simply overwhelming
in its effect on the after…career of Toad。
They were strolling along the high…road easily； the Mole by the horse's
head； talking to him； since the horse had complained that he was being
frightfully left out of it； and nobody considered him in the least； the Toad
and the Water Rat walking behind the cart talking togetherat least Toad
was talking； and Rat was saying at intervals； ‘Yes； precisely； and what did
YOU say to HIM？'and thinking all the time of something very different；
when far behind them they heard a faint warning hum； like the drone of a
distant bee。 Glancing back； they saw a small cloud of dust； with a dark
centre of energy； advancing on them at incredible speed； while from out
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the dust a faint ‘Poop…poop！' wailed like an uneasy animal in pain。 Hardly
regarding it； they turned to resume their conversation； when in an instant
（as it seemed） the peaceful scene was changed； and with a blast of wind
and a whirl of sound that made them jump for the nearest ditch； It was on
them！ The ‘Poop…poop' rang with a brazen shout in their ears； they had a
moment's glimpse of an interior of glittering plate…glass and rich morocco；
and the magnificent motor…car； immense； breath…snatching； passionate；
with its pilot tense and hugging his wheel； possessed all earth and air for
the fraction of a second； flung an enveloping cloud of dust that blinded
and enwrapped them utterly； and then dwindled to a speck in the far
distance； changed back into a droning bee once more。
The old grey horse； dreaming； as he plodded along； of his quiet
paddock； in a new raw situation such as this simply abandoned himself to
his natural emotions。 Rearing； plunging； backing steadily； in spite of all
the Mole's efforts at his head； and all the Mole's lively language directed at
his better feelings； he drove the cart backwards towards the deep ditch at
the side of the road。 It wavered an instantthen there was a heartrending
crashand the canary…coloured cart； their pride and their joy； lay on its
side in the ditch； an irredeemable wreck。
The Rat danced up and down in the road； simply transported with
passion。 ‘You villains！' he shouted； shaking both fists； ‘You scoundrels；
you highwaymen； youyouroadhogs！I'll have the law of you！ I'll report
you！ I'll take you through all the Courts！' His home…sic