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O my； how cold the water was； and O； how VERY wet it felt。 How it
sang in his ears as he went down； down； down！ How bright and welcome
the sun looked as he rose to the surface coughing and spluttering！ How
black was his despair when he felt himself sinking again！ Then a firm paw
gripped him by the back of his neck。 It was the Rat； and he was evidently
laughingthe Mole could FEEL him laughing； right down his arm and
through his paw； and so into histhe Mole'sneck。
The Rat got hold of a scull and shoved it under the Mole's arm； then he
did the same by the other side of him and； swimming behind； propelled the
helpless animal to shore； hauled him out； and set him down on the bank； a
squashy； pulpy lump of misery。
When the Rat had rubbed him down a bit； and wrung some of the wet
out of him； he said； ‘Now； then； old fellow！ Trot up and down the towing…
path as hard as you can； till you're warm and dry again； while I dive for
the luncheon…basket。'
So the dismal Mole； wet without and ashamed within； trotted about till
he was fairly dry； while the Rat plunged into the water again； recovered
the boat； righted her and made her fast； fetched his floating property to
shore by degrees； and finally dived successfully for the luncheon…basket
and struggled to land with it。
When all was ready for a start once more； the Mole； limp and dejected；
took his seat in the stern of the boat； and as they set off； he said in a low
voice； broken with emotion； ‘Ratty； my generous friend！ I am very sorry
indeed for my foolish and ungrateful conduct。 My heart quite fails me
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when I think how I might have lost that beautiful luncheon…basket。 Indeed；
I have been a complete ass； and I know it。 Will you overlook it this once
and forgive me； and let things go on as before？'
‘That's all right； bless you！' responded the Rat cheerily。 ‘What's a little
wet to a Water Rat？ I'm more in the water than out of it most days。 Don't
you think any more about it； and； look here！ I really think you had better
come and stop with me for a little time。 It's very plain and rough； you
knownot like Toad's house at allbut you haven't seen that yet； still； I
can make you comfortable。 And I'll teach you to row； and to swim； and
you'll soon be as handy on the water as any of us。'
The Mole was so touched by his kind manner of speaking that he
could find no voice to answer him； and he had to brush away a tear or two
with the back of his paw。 But the Rat kindly looked in another direction；
and presently the Mole's spirits revived again； and he was even able to
give some straight back…talk to a couple of moorhens who were sniggering
to each other about his bedraggled appearance。
When they got home； the Rat made a bright fire in the parlour； and
planted the Mole in an arm…chair in front of it； having fetched down a
dressing…gown and slippers for him； and told him river stories till supper…
time。 Very thrilling stories they were； too； to an earth…dwelling animal like
Mole。 Stories about weirs； and sudden floods； and leaping pike； and
steamers that flung hard bottlesat least bottles were certainly flung； and
FROM steamers； so presumably BY them； and about herons； and how
particular they were whom they spoke to； and about adventures down
drains； and night…fishings with Otter； or excursions far a… field with Badger。
Supper was a most cheerful meal； but very shortly afterwards a terribly
sleepy Mole had to be escorted upstairs by his considerate host； to the best
bedroom； where he soon laid his head on his pillow in great peace and
contentment； knowing that his new…found friend the River was lapping the
sill of his window。
This day was only the first of many similar ones for the emancipated
Mole； each of them longer and full of interest as the ripening summer
moved onward。 He learnt to swim and to row； and entered into the joy of
running water； and with his ear to the reed…stems he caught； at intervals；
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something of what the wind went whispering so constantly among them。
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CHAPTER II
THE OPEN ROAD
‘Ratty；' said the Mole suddenly； one bright summer morning； ‘if you
please； I want to ask you a favour。'
The Rat was sitting on the river bank； singing a little song。 He had just
composed it himself； so he was very taken up with it； and would not pay
proper attention to Mole or anything else。 Since early morning he had
been swimming in the river； in company with his friends the ducks。 And
when the ducks stood on their heads suddenly； as ducks will； he would
dive down and tickle their necks； just under where their chins would be if
ducks had chins； till they were forced to come to the surface again in a
hurry； spluttering and angry and shaking their feathers at him； for it is
impossible to say quite ALL you feel when your head is under water。 At
last they implored him to go away and attend to his own affairs and leave
them to mind theirs。 So the Rat went away； and sat on the river bank in the
sun； and made up a song about them； which he called
‘DUCKS' DITTY。' All along the backwater； Through the rushes tall；
Ducks are a…dabbling； Up tails all！
Ducks' tails； drakes' tails； Yellow feet a…quiver； Yellow bills all out of
sight Busy in the river！
Slushy green undergrowth Where the roach swim Here we keep our
larder； Cool and full and dim。
Everyone for what he likes！ WE like to be Heads down； tails up；
Dabbling free！
High in the blue above Swifts whirl and call WE are down a…
dabbling Up tails all！
‘I don't know that I think so VERY much of that little song； Rat；'
observed the Mole cautiously。 He was no poet himself and didn't care who
knew it； and he had a candid nature。
‘Nor don't the ducks neither；' replied the Rat cheerfully。 ‘They say；
〃WHY can't fellows be allowed to do what they like WHEN they like and
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AS they like； instead of other fellows sitting on banks and watching them
all the time and making remarks and poetry and things about them？ What
NONSENSE it all is！〃 That's what the ducks say。'
‘So it is； so it is；' said the Mole； with great heartiness。
‘No； it isn't！' cried the Rat indignantly。
‘Well then； it isn't； it isn't；' replied the Mole soothingly。 ‘But what I
wanted to ask you was； won't you take me to call on Mr。 Toad？ I've heard
so much about him； and I do so want to make his acquaintance。'
‘Why； certainly；' said the good…natured Rat； jumping to his feet and
dismissing poetry from his mind for the day。 ‘Get the boat out； and we'll
paddle up there at once。 It's never the wrong time to call on Toad。 Early or
late he's always the same fellow。 Always good…tempered； always glad to