按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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
73
… Page 74…
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。
74
… Page 75…
THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
‘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 the sky； and in one
particular quarter it showed black against a silvery climbing
phosphorescence that grew and grew。 At last； over the rim of the waiting
earth the moon lifted with slow majesty till it swung clear of the horizon
and rode off； free of moorings； and once more they began to see surfaces
meadows wide…spread； and quiet gardens； and the river itself from bank to
bank； all softly disclosed； all washed clean of mystery and terror； all
radiant again as by day； but with a difference that was tremendous。 Their
old haunts greeted them again in other raiment； as if they had slipped away
and put on this pure new apparel and come quietly back； smiling as they
shyly waited to see if they would be recognised again under it。
Fastening their boat to a willow； the friends landed in this silent； silver
kingdom； and patiently explored the hedges； the hollow trees； the runnels
and their little culverts； the ditches and dry water…ways。 Embarking again
75
… Page 76…
THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
and crossing over； they worked their way up the stream in this manner；
while the moon； serene and detached in a cloudless sky； did what she
could； though so far off； to help them in their quest； till her hour came and
she sank earthwards reluctantly； and left them； and mystery once more
held field and river。
Then a change began slowly to declare itself。 The horizon became
clearer； field and tree came more into sight； and somehow with a different
look； the mystery began to drop away from them。 A bird piped suddenly；
and was still； and a light breeze sprang up and set the reeds and bulrushes
rustling。 Rat； who was in the stern of the boat； while Mole sculled； sat up
suddenly and listened with a passionate intentness。 Mole； who with gentle
strokes was just keeping the boat moving while he scanned the banks with
care； looked at him with curiosity。
‘It's gone！' sighed the Rat； sinking back in his seat again。 ‘So beautiful
and strange and new。 Since it was to end so soon； I almost wish I had
never heard it。 For it has roused a longing in me that is pain； and nothing
seems worth while but just to hear that sound once more and go on
listening to it for ever。 No！ There it is again！' he cried； alert once more。
Entranced； he was silent for a long space； spellbound。
‘Now it passes on and I begin to lose it；' he said presently。 ‘O Mole！
the beauty of it！ The merry bubble and joy； the thin； clear； happy call of
the distant piping！ Such music I never dreamed of； and the call in it is
stronger even than the music is sweet！ Row on； Mole； row！ For the music
and the call must be for us。'