English
TheMolehadlongwantedtomaketheacquaintanceoftheBadger.
Heseemed,byallaccounts,tobesuchanimportantpersonageand,thoughrarelyvisible,tomakehisunseeninfluencefeltbyeverybodyabouttheplace.
ButwhenevertheMolementionedhiswishtotheWaterRathealwaysfoundhimselfputoff.'It'sallright,'theRatwouldsay.
'Badger'llturnupsomedayorother—he'salwaysturningup—andthenI'llintroduceyou.Thebestoffellows!
ButyoumustnotonlytakehimASyoufindhim,butWHENyoufindhim.'
'Couldn'tyouaskhimheredinnerorsomething?'saidtheMole.
'Hewouldn'tcome,'repliedtheRatsimply.'BadgerhatesSociety,andinvitations,anddinner,andallthatsortofthing.'
'Well,then,supposingwegoandcallonHIM?'suggestedtheMole.
'O,I'msurehewouldn'tlikethatatALL,'saidtheRat,quitealarmed.
'He'ssoveryshy,he'dbesuretobeoffended.
I'veneverevenventuredtocallonhimathisownhomemyself,thoughIknowhimsowell.Besides,wecan't.
It'squiteoutofthequestion,becausehelivesintheverymiddleoftheWildWood.'
'Well,supposinghedoes,'saidtheMole.'YoutoldmetheWildWoodwasallright,youknow.'
'O,Iknow,Iknow,soitis,'repliedtheRatevasively.
'ButIthinkwewon'tgotherejustnow.NotJUSTyet.
It'salongway,andhewouldn'tbeathomeatthistimeofyearanyhow,andhe'llbecomingalongsomeday,ifyou'llwaitquietly.'
TheMolehadtobecontentwiththis.ButtheBadgernevercamealong,andeverydaybroughtitsamusements,anditwasnottillsummerwaslongover,andcoldandfrostandmirywayskeptthemmuchindoors,andtheswollenriverracedpastoutsidetheirwindowswithaspeedthatmockedatboatingofanysortorkind,thathefoundhisthoughtsdwellingagainwithmuchpersistenceonthesolitarygreyBadger,wholivedhisownlifebyhimself,inhisholeinthemiddleoftheWildWood.
InthewintertimetheRatsleptagreatdeal,retiringearlyandrisinglate.
Duringhisshortdayhesometimesscribbledpoetryordidothersmalldomesticjobsaboutthehouse;and,ofcourse,therewerealwaysanimalsdroppinginforachat,andconsequentlytherewasagooddealofstory-tellingandcomparingnotesonthepastsummerandallitsdoings.
Sucharichchapterithadbeen,whenonecametolookbackonitall!
Withillustrationssonumerousandsoveryhighlycoloured!
Thepageantoftheriverbankhadmarchedsteadilyalong,unfoldingitselfinscene-picturesthatsucceededeachotherinstatelyprocession.
Purpleloosestrifearrivedearly,shakingluxurianttangledlocksalongtheedgeofthemirrorwhenceitsownfacelaughedbackatit.
Willow-herb,tenderandwistful,likeapinksunsetcloud,wasnotslowtofollow.
Comfrey,thepurplehand-in-handwiththewhite,creptforthtotakeitsplaceintheline;andatlastonemorningthediffidentanddelayingdog-rosesteppeddelicatelyonthestage,andoneknew,asifstring-musichadannounceditinstatelychordsthatstrayedintoagavotte,thatJuneatlastwashere.
Onememberofthecompanywasstillawaited;theshepherd-boyforthenymphstowoo,theknightforwhomtheladieswaitedatthewindow,theprincethatwastokissthesleepingsummerbacktolifeandlove.
Butwhenmeadow-sweet,debonairandodorousinamberjerkin,movedgraciouslytohisplaceinthegroup,thentheplaywasreadytobegin.
Andwhataplayithadbeen!Drowsyanimals,snugintheirholeswhilewindandrainwerebatteringattheirdoors,recalledstillkeenmornings,anhourbeforesunrise,whenthewhitemist,asyetundispersed,clungcloselyalongthesurfaceofthewater;thentheshockoftheearlyplunge,thescamperalongthebank,andtheradianttransformationofearth,air,andwater,whensuddenlythesunwaswiththemagain,andgreywasgoldandcolourwasbornandsprangoutoftheearthoncemore.
Theyrecalledthelanguoroussiestaofhotmid-day,deepingreenundergrowth,thesunstrikingthroughintinygoldenshaftsandspots;theboatingandbathingoftheafternoon,theramblesalongdustylanesandthroughyellowcornfields;andthelong,cooleveningatlast,whensomanythreadsweregatheredup,somanyfriendshipsrounded,andsomanyadventuresplannedforthemorrow.
Therewasplentytotalkaboutonthoseshortwinterdayswhentheanimalsfoundthemselvesroundthefire;still,theMolehadagooddealofsparetimeonhishands,andsooneafternoon,whentheRatinhisarm-chairbeforetheblazewasalternatelydozingandtryingoverrhymesthatwouldn'tfit,heformedtheresolutiontogooutbyhimselfandexploretheWildWood,andperhapsstrikeupanacquaintancewithMr.Badger.
Itwasacoldstillafternoonwithahardsteelyskyoverhead,whenheslippedoutofthewarmparlourintotheopenair.
Thecountrylaybareandentirelyleaflessaroundhim,andhethoughtthathehadneverseensofarandsointimatelyintotheinsidesofthingsasonthatwinterdaywhenNaturewasdeepinherannualslumberandseemedtohavekickedtheclothesoff.
Copses,dells,quarriesandallhiddenplaces,whichhadbeenmysteriousminesforexplorationinleafysummer,nowexposedthemselvesandtheirsecretspathetically,andseemedtoaskhimtooverlooktheirshabbypovertyforawhile,tilltheycouldriotinrichmasqueradeasbefore,andtrickandenticehimwiththeolddeceptions.
Itwaspitifulinaway,andyetcheering—evenexhilarating.
Hewasgladthathelikedthecountryundecorated,hard,andstrippedofitsfinery.
Hehadgotdowntothebarebonesofit,andtheywerefineandstrongandsimple.
Hedidnotwantthewarmcloverandtheplayofseedinggrasses;thescreensofquickset,thebillowydraperyofbeechandelmseemedbestaway;andwithgreatcheerfulnessofspirithepushedontowardstheWildWood,whichlaybeforehimlowandthreatening,likeablackreefinsomestillsouthernsea.
Therewasnothingtoalarmhimatfirstentry.
Twigscrackledunderhisfeet,logstrippedhim,fungusesonstumpsresembledcaricatures,andstartledhimforthemomentbytheirlikenesstosomethingfamiliarandfaraway;butthatwasallfun,andexciting.
Itledhimon,andhepenetratedtowherethelightwasless,andtreescrouchednearerandnearer,andholesmadeuglymouthsathimoneitherside.
Everythingwasverystillnow.Theduskadvancedonhimsteadily,rapidly,gatheringinbehindandbefore;andthelightseemedtobedrainingawaylikeflood-water.
Thenthefacesbegan.
Itwasoverhisshoulder,andindistinctly,thathefirstthoughthesawaface;alittleevilwedge-shapedface,lookingoutathimfromahole.
Whenheturnedandconfrontedit,thethinghadvanished.
Hequickenedhispace,tellinghimselfcheerfullynottobeginimaginingthings,ortherewouldbesimplynoendtoit.
Hepassedanotherhole,andanother,andanother;andthen—yes!—no!—yes!
certainlyalittlenarrowface,withhardeyes,hadflashedupforaninstantfromahole,andwasgone.
Hehesitated—bracedhimselfupforaneffortandstrodeon.
Thensuddenly,andasifithadbeensoallthetime,everyhole,farandnear,andtherewerehundredsofthem,seemedtopossessitsface,comingandgoingrapidly,allfixingonhimglancesofmaliceandhatred:allhard-eyedandevilandsharp.
Ifhecouldonlygetawayfromtheholesinthebanks,hethought,therewouldbenomorefaces.Heswungoffthepathandplungedintotheuntroddenplacesofthewood.
Thenthewhistlingbegan.
Veryfaintandshrillitwas,andfarbehindhim,whenfirstheheardit;butsomehowitmadehimhurryforward.
Then,stillveryfaintandshrill,itsoundedfaraheadofhim,andmadehimhesitateandwanttogoback.
Ashehaltedinindecisionitbrokeoutoneitherside,andseemedtobecaughtupandpassedonthroughoutthewholelengthofthewoodtoitsfarthestlimit.
Theywereupandalertandready,evidently,whoevertheywere!
Andhe—hewasalone,andunarmed,andfarfromanyhelp;andthenightwasclosingin.
Thenthepatteringbegan.
Hethoughtitwasonlyfallingleavesatfirst,soslightanddelicatewasthesoundofit.
Thenasitgrewittookaregularrhythm,andheknewitfornothingelsebutthepat-pat-patoflittlefeetstillaverylongwayoff.Wasitinfrontorbehind?
Itseemedtobefirstone,andthentheother,thenboth.
Itgrewanditmultiplied,tillfromeveryquarterashelistenedanxiously,leaningthiswayandthat,itseemedtobeclosinginonhim.
Ashestoodstilltohearken,arabbitcamerunninghardtowardshimthroughthetrees.
Hewaited,expectingittoslackenpace,ortoswervefromhimintoadifferentcourse.
Instead,theanimalalmostbrushedhimasitdashedpast,hisfacesetandhard,hiseyesstaring.'Getoutofthis,youfool,getout!'
theMoleheardhimmutterasheswungroundastumpanddisappeareddownafriendlyburrow.
Thepatteringincreasedtillitsoundedlikesuddenhailonthedryleaf-carpetspreadaroundhim.
Thewholewoodseemedrunningnow,runninghard,hunting,chasing,closinginroundsomethingor—somebody?
Inpanic,hebegantoruntoo,aimlessly,heknewnotwhither.
Heranupagainstthings,hefelloverthingsandintothings,hedartedunderthingsanddodgedroundthings.
Atlasthetookrefugeinthedeepdarkhollowofanoldbeechtree,whichofferedshelter,concealment—perhapsevensafety,butwhocouldtell?
Anyhow,hewastootiredtorunanyfurther,andcouldonlysnuggledownintothedryleaveswhichhaddriftedintothehollowandhopehewassafeforatime.
Andashelaytherepantingandtrembling,andlistenedtothewhistlingsandthepatteringsoutside,heknewitatlast,inallitsfullness,thatdreadthingwhichotherlittledwellersinfieldandhedgerowhadencounteredhere,andknownastheirdarkestmoment—thatthingwhichtheRathadvainlytriedtoshieldhimfrom—theTerroroftheWildWood!
MeantimetheRat,warmandcomfortable,dozedbyhisfireside.
Hispaperofhalf-finishedversesslippedfromhisknee,hisheadfellback,hismouthopened,andhewanderedbytheverdantbanksofdream-rivers.
Thenacoalslipped,thefirecrackledandsentupaspurtofflame,andhewokewithastart.
Rememberingwhathehadbeenengagedupon,hereacheddowntothefloorforhisverses,poredoverthemforaminute,andthenlookedroundfortheMoletoaskhimifheknewagoodrhymeforsomethingorother.
ButtheMolewasnotthere.
Helistenedforatime.Thehouseseemedveryquiet.
Thenhecalled'Moly!'severaltimes,and,receivingnoanswer,gotupandwentoutintothehall.
TheMole'scapwasmissingfromitsaccustomedpeg.Hisgoloshes,whichalwayslaybytheumbrella-stand,werealsogone.
TheRatleftthehouse,andcarefullyexaminedthemuddysurfaceofthegroundoutside,hopingtofindtheMole'stracks.Theretheywere,sureenough.
Thegolosheswerenew,justboughtforthewinter,andthepimplesontheirsoleswerefreshandsharp.
Hecouldseetheimprintsoftheminthemud,runningalongstraightandpurposeful,leadingdirecttotheWildWood.
TheRatlookedverygrave,andstoodindeepthoughtforaminuteortwo.
Thenhere-enteredthehouse,strappedabeltroundhiswaist,shovedabraceofpistolsintoit,tookupastoutcudgelthatstoodinacornerofthehall,andsetofffortheWildWoodatasmartpace.
Itwasalreadygettingtowardsduskwhenhereachedthefirstfringeoftreesandplungedwithouthesitationintothewood,lookinganxiouslyoneithersideforanysignofhisfriend.
Hereandtherewickedlittlefacespoppedoutofholes,butvanishedimmediatelyatsightofthevalorousanimal,hispistols,andthegreatuglycudgelinhisgrasp;andthewhistlingandpattering,whichhehadheardquiteplainlyonhisfirstentry,diedawayandceased,andallwasverystill.
Hemadehiswaymanfullythroughthelengthofthewood,toitsfurthestedge;then,forsakingallpaths,hesethimselftotraverseit,laboriouslyworkingoverthewholeground,andallthetimecallingoutcheerfully,'Moly,Moly,Moly!Whereareyou?It'sme—it'soldRat!'
Hehadpatientlyhuntedthroughthewoodforanhourormore,whenatlasttohisjoyheheardalittleansweringcry.
Guidinghimselfbythesound,hemadehiswaythroughthegatheringdarknesstothefootofanoldbeechtree,withaholeinit,andfromoutoftheholecameafeeblevoice,saying'Ratty!Isthatreallyyou?'
TheRatcreptintothehollow,andtherehefoundtheMole,exhaustedandstilltrembling.'ORat!'hecried,'I'vebeensofrightened,youcan'tthink!'
'O,Iquiteunderstand,'saidtheRatsoothingly.
'Youshouldn'treallyhavegoneanddoneit,Mole.Ididmybesttokeepyoufromit.
Weriver-bankers,wehardlyevercomeherebyourselves.
Ifwehavetocome,wecomeincouples,atleast;thenwe'regenerallyallright.
Besides,thereareahundredthingsonehastoknow,whichweunderstandallaboutandyoudon't,asyet.
Imeanpasswords,andsigns,andsayingswhichhavepowerandeffect,andplantsyoucarryinyourpocket,andversesyourepeat,anddodgesandtricksyoupractise;allsimpleenoughwhenyouknowthem,butthey'vegottobeknownifyou'resmall,oryou'llfindyourselfintrouble.
OfcourseifyouwereBadgerorOtter,itwouldbequiteanothermatter.'
'SurelythebraveMr.Toadwouldn'tmindcomingherebyhimself,wouldhe?'inquiredtheMole.
'OldToad?'saidtheRat,laughingheartily.'Hewouldn'tshowhisfaceherealone,notforawholehatfulofgoldenguineas,Toadwouldn't.'
TheMolewasgreatlycheeredbythesoundoftheRat'scarelesslaughter,aswellasbythesightofhisstickandhisgleamingpistols,andhestoppedshiveringandbegantofeelbolderandmorehimselfagain.
'Nowthen,'saidtheRatpresently,'wereallymustpullourselvestogetherandmakeastartforhomewhilethere'sstillalittlelightleft.
Itwillneverdotospendthenighthere,youunderstand.Toocold,foronething.'
'DearRatty,'saidthepoorMole,'I'mdreadfullysorry,butI'msimplydeadbeatandthat'sasolidfact.
YouMUSTletmeresthereawhilelonger,andgetmystrengthback,ifI'mtogethomeatall.'
'O,allright,'saidthegood-naturedRat,'restaway.It'sprettynearlypitchdarknow,anyhow;andthereoughttobeabitofamoonlater.'
SotheMolegotwellintothedryleavesandstretchedhimselfout,andpresentlydroppedoffintosleep,thoughofabrokenandtroubledsort;whiletheRatcoveredhimselfup,too,asbesthemight,forwarmth,andlaypatientlywaiting,withapistolinhispaw.
WhenatlasttheMolewokeup,muchrefreshedandinhisusualspirits,theRatsaid,'Nowthen!I'lljusttakealookoutsideandseeifeverything'squiet,andthenwereallymustbeoff.'
Hewenttotheentranceoftheirretreatandputhisheadout.ThentheMoleheardhimsayingquietlytohimself,'Hullo!hullo!here—is—a—go!'
'What'sup,Ratty?'askedtheMole.
'SNOWisup,'repliedtheRatbriefly;'orrather,DOWN.It'ssnowinghard.'
TheMolecameandcrouchedbesidehim,and,lookingout,sawthewoodthathadbeensodreadfultohiminquiteachangedaspect.
Holes,hollows,pools,pitfalls,andotherblackmenacestothewayfarerwerevanishingfast,andagleamingcarpetoffaerywasspringingupeverywhere,thatlookedtoodelicatetobetroddenuponbyroughfeet.
Afinepowderfilledtheairandcaressedthecheekwithatingleinitstouch,andtheblackbolesofthetreesshowedupinalightthatseemedtocomefrombelow.
'Well,well,itcan'tbehelped,'saidtheRat,afterpondering.
'Wemustmakeastart,andtakeourchance,Isuppose.
Theworstofitis,Idon'texactlyknowwhereweare.
Andnowthissnowmakeseverythinglooksoverydifferent.'
Itdidindeed.TheMolewouldnothaveknownthatitwasthesamewood.
However,theysetoutbravely,andtookthelinethatseemedmostpromising,holdingontoeachotherandpretendingwithinvinciblecheerfulnessthattheyrecognizedanoldfriendineveryfreshtreethatgrimlyandsilentlygreetedthem,orsawopenings,gaps,orpathswithafamiliarturninthem,inthemonotonyofwhitespaceandblacktree-trunksthatrefusedtovary.
Anhourortwolater—theyhadlostallcountoftime—theypulledup,dispirited,weary,andhopelesslyatsea,andsatdownonafallentree-trunktorecovertheirbreathandconsiderwhatwastobedone.
Theywereachingwithfatigueandbruisedwithtumbles;theyhadfallenintoseveralholesandgotwetthrough;thesnowwasgettingsodeepthattheycouldhardlydragtheirlittlelegsthroughit,andthetreeswerethickerandmorelikeeachotherthanever.
Thereseemedtobenoendtothiswood,andnobeginning,andnodifferenceinit,and,worstofall,nowayout.
'Wecan'tsithereverylong,'saidtheRat.
'Weshallhavetomakeanotherpushforit,anddosomethingorother.
Thecoldistooawfulforanything,andthesnowwillsoonbetoodeepforustowadethrough.'Hepeeredabouthimandconsidered.
'Lookhere,'hewenton,'thisiswhatoccurstome.
There'sasortofdelldownhereinfrontofus,wherethegroundseemsallhillyandhumpyandhummocky.
We'llmakeourwaydownintothat,andtryandfindsomesortofshelter,acaveorholewithadryfloortoit,outofthesnowandthewind,andtherewe'llhaveagoodrestbeforewetryagain,forwe'rebothofusprettydeadbeat.
Besides,thesnowmayleaveoff,orsomethingmayturnup.'
Sooncemoretheygotontheirfeet,andstruggleddownintothedell,wheretheyhuntedaboutforacaveorsomecornerthatwasdryandaprotectionfromthekeenwindandthewhirlingsnow.
TheywereinvestigatingoneofthehummockybitstheRathadspokenof,whensuddenlytheMoletrippedupandfellforwardonhisfacewithasqueal.
'Omyleg!'hecried.'Omypoorshin!'andhesatuponthesnowandnursedhisleginbothhisfrontpaws.
'PooroldMole!'saidtheRatkindly.
'Youdon'tseemtobehavingmuchluckto-day,doyou?Let'shavealookattheleg.
Yes,'hewenton,goingdownonhiskneestolook,'you'vecutyourshin,sureenough.
WaittillIgetatmyhandkerchief,andI'lltieitupforyou.'
'Imusthavetrippedoverahiddenbranchorastump,'saidtheMolemiserably.'O,my!O,my!'
'It'saverycleancut,'saidtheRat,examiningitagainattentively.
'Thatwasneverdonebyabranchorastump.
Looksasifitwasmadebyasharpedgeofsomethinginmetal.Funny!'
Heponderedawhile,andexaminedthehumpsandslopesthatsurroundedthem.
'Well,nevermindwhatdoneit,'saidtheMole,forgettinghisgrammarinhispain.'Ithurtsjustthesame,whateverdoneit.'
ButtheRat,aftercarefullytyingupthelegwithhishandkerchief,hadlefthimandwasbusyscrapinginthesnow.
Hescratchedandshovelledandexplored,allfourlegsworkingbusily,whiletheMolewaitedimpatiently,remarkingatintervals,'O,COMEon,Rat!'
SuddenlytheRatcried'Hooray!'andthen'Hooray-oo-ray-oo-ray-oo-ray!'andfelltoexecutingafeeblejiginthesnow.
'WhatHAVEyoufound,Ratty?'askedtheMole,stillnursinghisleg.
'Comeandsee!'saidthedelightedRat,ashejiggedon.
TheMolehobbleduptothespotandhadagoodlook.
'Well,'hesaidatlast,slowly,'ISEEitrightenough.
Seenthesamesortofthingbefore,lotsoftimes.Familiarobject,Icallit.Adoor-scraper!Well,whatofit?Whydancejigsaroundadoor-scraper?'
'Butdon'tyouseewhatitMEANS,you—youdull-wittedanimal?'criedtheRatimpatiently.
'OfcourseIseewhatitmeans,'repliedtheMole.
'ItsimplymeansthatsomeVERYcarelessandforgetfulpersonhaslefthisdoor-scraperlyingaboutinthemiddleoftheWildWood,JUSTwhereit'sSUREtotripEVERYBODYup.Verythoughtlessofhim,Icallit.
WhenIgethomeIshallgoandcomplainaboutitto—tosomebodyorother,seeifIdon't!'
'O,dear!O,dear!'criedtheRat,indespairathisobtuseness.'Here,stoparguingandcomeandscrape!'Andhesettoworkagainandmadethesnowflyinalldirectionsaroundhim.
Aftersomefurthertoilhiseffortswererewarded,andaveryshabbydoor-matlayexposedtoview.
'There,whatdidItellyou?'exclaimedtheRatingreattriumph.
'Absolutelynothingwhatever,'repliedtheMole,withperfecttruthfulness.
'Wellnow,'hewenton,'youseemtohavefoundanotherpieceofdomesticlitter,doneforandthrownaway,andIsupposeyou'reperfectlyhappy.
Bettergoaheadanddanceyourjigroundthatifyou'vegotto,andgetitover,andthenperhapswecangoonandnotwasteanymoretimeoverrubbish-heaps.CanweEATadoormat?orsleepunderadoor-mat?
Orsitonadoor-matandsledgehomeoverthesnowonit,youexasperatingrodent?'
'Do—you—mean—to—say,'criedtheexcitedRat,'thatthisdoor-matdoesn'tTELLyouanything?'
'Really,Rat,'saidtheMole,quitepettishly,'Ithinkwe'dhadenoughofthisfolly.
Whoeverheardofadoor-matTELLINGanyoneanything?Theysimplydon'tdoit.Theyarenotthatsortatall.Door-matsknowtheirplace.'
'Nowlookhere,you—youthick-headedbeast,'repliedtheRat,reallyangry,'thismuststop.
Notanotherword,butscrape—scrapeandscratchanddigandhuntround,especiallyonthesidesofthehummocks,ifyouwanttosleepdryandwarmto-night,forit'sourlastchance!'
TheRatattackedasnow-bankbesidethemwithardour,probingwithhiscudgeleverywhereandthendiggingwithfury;andtheMolescrapedbusilytoo,moretoobligetheRatthanforanyotherreason,forhisopinionwasthathisfriendwasgettinglight-headed.
Sometenminutes'hardwork,andthepointoftheRat'scudgelstrucksomethingthatsoundedhollow.
Heworkedtillhecouldgetapawthroughandfeel;thencalledtheMoletocomeandhelphim.
Hardatitwentthetwoanimals,tillatlasttheresultoftheirlaboursstoodfullinviewoftheastonishedandhithertoincredulousMole.
Inthesideofwhathadseemedtobeasnow-bankstoodasolid-lookinglittledoor,paintedadarkgreen.
Anironbell-pullhungbytheside,andbelowit,onasmallbrassplate,neatlyengravedinsquarecapitalletters,theycouldreadbytheaidofmoonlightMR.BADGER.
TheMolefellbackwardsonthesnowfromsheersurpriseanddelight.'Rat!'
hecriedinpenitence,'you'reawonder!Arealwonder,that'swhatyouare.Iseeitallnow!
Youargueditout,stepbystep,inthatwiseheadofyours,fromtheverymomentthatIfellandcutmyshin,andyoulookedatthecut,andatonceyourmajesticmindsaidtoitself,"Door-scraper!"
Andthenyouturnedtoandfoundtheverydoor-scraperthatdoneit!Didyoustopthere?No.
Somepeoplewouldhavebeenquitesatisfied;butnotyou.Yourintellectwentonworking.
"Letmeonlyjustfindadoor-mat,"saysyoutoyourself,"andmytheoryisproved!"Andofcourseyoufoundyourdoor-mat.
You'resoclever,Ibelieveyoucouldfindanythingyouliked.
"Now,"saysyou,"thatdoorexists,asplainasifIsawit.
There'snothingelseremainstobedonebuttofindit!"
Well,I'vereadaboutthatsortofthinginbooks,butI'venevercomeacrossitbeforeinreallife.
Yououghttogowhereyou'llbeproperlyappreciated.
You'resimplywastedhere,amongusfellows.IfIonlyhadyourhead,Ratty——'
'Butasyouhaven't,'interruptedtheRat,ratherunkindly,'Isupposeyou'regoingtositonthesnowallnightandTALKGetupatonceandhangontothatbell-pullyouseethere,andringhard,ashardasyoucan,whileIhammer!'
WhiletheRatattackedthedoorwithhisstick,theMolesprangupatthebell-pull,clutcheditandswungthere,bothfeetwellofftheground,andfromquitealongwayofftheycouldfaintlyhearadeep-tonedbellrespond.
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