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playing any pranks of that sort。 With a half…turn of the wheel the Toad sent
the car crashing through the low hedge that ran along the roadside。 One
mighty bound； a violent shock； and the wheels of the car were churning up
the thick mud of a horse…pond。
Toad found himself flying through the air with the strong upward rush
and delicate curve of a swallow。 He liked the motion； and was just
beginning to wonder whether it would go on until he developed wings and
turned into a Toad…bird； when he landed on his back with a thump； in the
soft rich grass of a meadow。 Sitting up； he could just see the motor…car in
the pond； nearly submerged； the gentlemen and the driver； encumbered by
their long coats； were floundering helplessly in the water。
He picked himself up rapidly； and set off running across country as
hard as he could； scrambling through hedges； jumping ditches； pounding
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across fields； till he was breathless and weary； and had to settle down into
an easy walk。 When he had recovered his breath somewhat； and was able
to think calmly； he began to giggle； and from giggling he took to laughing；
and he laughed till he had to sit down under a hedge。 ‘Ho； ho！' he cried； in
ecstasies of self…admiration； ‘Toad again！ Toad； as usual； comes out on the
top！ Who was it got them to give him a lift？ Who managed to get on the
front seat for the sake of fresh air？ Who persuaded them into letting him
see if he could drive？ Who landed them all in a horse…pond？ Who escaped；
flying gaily and unscathed through the air； leaving the narrow…minded；
grudging； timid excursionists in the mud where they should rightly be？
Why； Toad； of course； clever Toad； great Toad； GOOD Toad！'
Then he burst into song again； and chanted with uplifted voice
‘The motor…car went Poop…poop…poop； As it raced along the road。
Who was it steered it into a pond？ Ingenious Mr。 Toad！
O； how clever I am！ How clever； how clever； how very clev'
A slight noise at a distance behind him made him turn his head and
look。 O horror！ O misery！ O despair！
About two fields off； a chauffeur in his leather gaiters and two large
rural policemen were visible； running towards him as hard as they could
go！
Poor Toad sprang to his feet and pelted away again； his heart in his
mouth。 O； my！' he gasped； as he panted along； ‘what an ASS I am！ What a
CONCEITED and heedless ass！ Swaggering again！ Shouting and singing
songs again！ Sitting still and gassing again！ O my！ O my！ O my！'
He glanced back； and saw to his dismay that they were gaining on him。
On he ran desperately； but kept looking back； and saw that they still
gained steadily。 He did his best； but he was a fat animal； and his legs were
short； and still they gained。 He could hear them close behind him now。
Ceasing to heed where he was going； he struggled on blindly and wildly；
looking back over his shoulder at the now triumphant enemy； when
suddenly the earth failed under his feet； he grasped at the air； and； splash！
he found himself head over ears in deep water； rapid water； water that bore
him along with a force he could not contend with； and he knew that in his
blind panic he had run straight into the river！
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He rose to the surface and tried to grasp the reeds and the rushes that
grew along the water's edge close under the bank； but the stream was so
strong that it tore them out of his hands。 ‘O my！' gasped poor Toad； ‘if
ever I steal a motor…car again！ If ever I sing another conceited song'then
down he went； and came up breathless and spluttering。 Presently he saw
that he was approaching a big dark hole in the bank； just above his head；
and as the stream bore him past he reached up with a paw and caught hold
of the edge and held on。 Then slowly and with difficulty he drew himself
up out of the water； till at last he was able to rest his elbows on the edge of
the hole。 There he remained for some minutes； puffing and panting； for he
was quite exhausted。
As he sighed and blew and stared before him into the dark hole； some
bright small thing shone and twinkled in its depths； moving towards him。
As it approached； a face grew up gradually around it； and it was a familiar
face！
Brown and small； with whiskers。
Grave and round； with neat ears and silky hair。
It was the Water Rat！
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CHAPTER XI
‘LIKE SUMMER TEMPESTS CAME HIS TEARS'
The Rat put out a neat little brown paw； gripped Toad firmly by the
scruff of the neck； and gave a great hoist and a pull； and the water…logged
Toad came up slowly but surely over the edge of the hole； till at last he
stood safe and sound in the hall； streaked with mud and weed to be sure；
and with the water streaming off him； but happy and high…spirited as of
old； now that he found himself once more in the house of a friend； and
dodgings and evasions were over； and he could lay aside a disguise that
was unworthy of his position and wanted such a lot of living up to。
‘O； Ratty！' he cried。 ‘I've been through such times since I saw you last；
you can't think！ Such trials； such sufferings； and all so nobly borne！ Then
such escapes； such disguises such subterfuges； and all so cleverly planned
and carried out！ Been in prisongot out of it； of course！ Been thrown into
a canal swam ashore！ Stole a horsesold him for a large sum of money！
Humbugged everybodymade 'em all do exactly what I wanted！ Oh； I AM
a smart Toad； and no mistake！ What do you think my last exploit was？ Just
hold on till I tell you'
‘Toad；' said the Water Rat； gravely and firmly； ‘you go off upstairs at
once； and take off that old cotton rag that looks as if it might formerly
have belonged to some washerwoman； and clean yourself thoroughly； and
put on some of my clothes； and try and come down looking like a
gentleman if you CAN； for a more shabby； bedraggled； disreputable…
looking object than you are I never set eyes on in my whole life！ Now；
stop swaggering and arguing； and be off！ I'll have something to say to you
later！'
Toad was at first inclined to stop and do some talking back at him。 He
had had enough of being ordered about when he was in prison； and here
was the thing being begun all over again； apparently； and by a Rat； too！
However； he caught sight of himself in the looking…glass over the hat…
stand； with the rusty black bonnet perched rakishly over one eye； and he
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changed his mind and went very quickly and humbly upstairs to the Rat's
dressing…room。 There he had a thorough wash and brush…up； changed his
clothes； and stood for a long time before the glass； contemplating himself
with pride and pleasure； and thinking what utter idiots all the people must
have been to have ever mistaken him for one moment for a washerwoman。
By the time he came down again luncheon was on the table； and very
glad Toad was to see it； for he had been through some trying experiences
and had taken much hard exercise since the