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they could； but what was the good？ They were unarmed； and taken by
surprise； and what can two animals do against hundreds？ They took and
beat them severely with sticks； those two poor faithful creatures； and
turned them out into the cold and the wet； with many insulting and
uncalled… for remarks！'
Here the unfeeling Toad broke into a snigger； and then pulled himself
together and tried to look particularly solemn。
‘And the Wild Wooders have been living in Toad Hall ever since；'
continued the Rat； ‘and going on simply anyhow！ Lying in bed half the
day； and breakfast at all hours； and the place in such a mess （I'm told） it's
not fit to be seen！ Eating your grub； and drinking your drink； and making
bad jokes about you； and singing vulgar songs； aboutwell； about prisons
and magistrates； and policemen； horrid personal songs； with no humour in
them。 And they're telling the tradespeople and everybody that they've
come to stay for good。'
‘O； have they！' said Toad getting up and seizing a stick。 ‘I'll jolly soon
see about that！'
‘It's no good； Toad！' called the Rat after him。 ‘You'd better come back
and sit down； you'll only get into trouble。'
But the Toad was off； and there was no holding him。 He marched
rapidly down the road； his stick over his shoulder； fuming and muttering to
himself in his anger； till he got near his front gate； when suddenly there
popped up from behind the palings a long yellow ferret with a gun。
‘Who comes there？' said the ferret sharply。
‘Stuff and nonsense！' said Toad； very angrily。 ‘What do you mean by
talking like that to me？ Come out of that at once； or I'll'
The ferret said never a word； but he brought his gun up to his shoulder。
Toad prudently dropped flat in the road； and BANG！ a bullet whistled over
his head。
The startled Toad scrambled to his feet and scampered off down the
road as hard as he could； and as he ran he heard the ferret laughing and
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other horrid thin little laughs taking it up and carrying on the sound。
He went back； very crestfallen； and told the Water Rat。
‘What did I tell you？' said the Rat。 ‘It's no good。 They've got sentries
posted； and they are all armed。 You must just wait。'
Still； Toad was not inclined to give in all at once。 So he got out the
boat； and set off rowing up the river to where the garden front of Toad Hall
came down to the waterside。
Arriving within sight of his old home； he rested on his oars and
surveyed the land cautiously。 All seemed very peaceful and deserted and
quiet。 He could see the whole front of Toad Hall； glowing in the evening
sunshine； the pigeons settling by twos and threes along the straight line of
the roof； the garden； a blaze of flowers； the creek that led up to the boat…
house； the little wooden bridge that crossed it； all tranquil； uninhabited；
apparently waiting for his return。 He would try the boat…house first； he
thought。 Very warily he paddled up to the mouth of the creek； and was just
passing under the bridge； when 。 。 。 CRASH！
A great stone； dropped from above； smashed through the bottom of the
boat。 It filled and sank； and Toad found himself struggling in deep water。
Looking up； he saw two stoats leaning over the parapet of the bridge and
watching him with great glee。 ‘It will be your head next time； Toady！' they
called out to him。 The indignant Toad swam to shore； while the stoats
laughed and laughed； supporting each other； and laughed again； till they
nearly had two fitsthat is； one fit each； of course。
The Toad retraced his weary way on foot； and related his disappointing
experiences to the Water Rat once more。
‘Well； WHAT did I tell you？' said the Rat very crossly。 ‘And； now；
look here！ See what you've been and done！ Lost me my boat that I was so
fond of； that's what you've done！ And simply ruined that nice suit of
clothes that I lent you！ Really； Toad； of all the trying animalsI wonder
you manage to keep any friends at all！'
The Toad saw at once how wrongly and foolishly he had acted。 He
admitted his errors and wrong…headedness and made a full apology to Rat
for losing his boat and spoiling his clothes。 And he wound up by saying；
with that frank self…surrender which always disarmed his friend's criticism
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and won them back to his side； ‘Ratty！ I see that I have been a headstrong
and a wilful Toad！ Henceforth； believe me； I will be humble and
submissive； and will take no action without your kind advice and full
approval！'
‘If that is really so；' said the good…natured Rat； already appeased； ‘then
my advice to you is； considering the lateness of the hour； to sit down and
have your supper； which will be on the table in a minute； and be very
patient。 For I am convinced that we can do nothing until we have seen the
Mole and the Badger； and heard their latest news； and held conference and
taken their advice in this difficult matter。'
‘Oh； ah； yes； of course； the Mole and the Badger；' said Toad； lightly。
‘What's become of them； the dear fellows？ I had forgotten all about them。'
‘Well may you ask！' said the Rat reproachfully。 ‘While you were riding
about the country in expensive motor…cars； and galloping proudly on
blood…horses； and breakfasting on the fat of the land； those two poor
devoted animals have been camping out in the open； in every sort of
weather； living very rough by day and lying very hard by night； watching
over your house； patrolling your boundaries； keeping a constant eye on the
stoats and the weasels； scheming and planning and contriving how to get
your property back for you。 You don't deserve to have such true and loyal
friends； Toad； you don't； really。 Some day； when it's too late； you'll be
sorry you didn't value them more while you had them！'
‘I'm an ungrateful beast； I know；' sobbed Toad； shedding bitter tears。
‘Let me go out and find them； out into the cold； dark night； and share their
hardships； and try and prove byHold on a bit！ Surely I heard the chink
of dishes on a tray！ Supper's here at last； hooray！ Come on； Ratty！'
The Rat remembered that poor Toad had been on prison fare for a
considerable time； and that large allowances had therefore to be made。 He
followed him to the table accordingly； and hospitably encouraged him in
his gallant efforts to make up for past privations。
They had just finished their meal and resumed their arm…chairs； when
there came a heavy knock at the door。
Toad was nervous； but the Rat； nodding mysteriously at him； went
straight up to the door and opened it； and in walked Mr。 Badger。
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He had all the appearance of one who for some nights had been kept
away from home and all its little comforts and conveniences。 His shoes
were covered with mud； and he was looking very rough and touzled； but
then he had never been a very smart man； the Badger； at the best of times。
He came solemnly up to Toad； s