English
TheWillow-Wrenwastwitteringhisthinlittlesong,hiddenhimselfinthedarkselvedgeoftheriverbank.
Thoughitwaspastteno'clockatnight,theskystillclungtoandretainedsomelingeringskirtsoflightfromthedepartedday;andthesullenheatsofthetorridafternoonbrokeupandrolledawayatthedispersingtouchofthecoolfingersoftheshortmidsummernight.
Molelaystretchedonthebank,stillpantingfromthestressofthefiercedaythathadbeencloudlessfromdawntolatesunset,andwaitedforhisfriendtoreturn.
Hehadbeenontheriverwithsomecompanions,leavingtheWaterRatfreetokeepaengagementoflongstandingwithOtter;andhehadcomebacktofindthehousedarkanddeserted,andnosignofRat,whowasdoubtlesskeepingituplatewithhisoldcomrade.
Itwasstilltoohottothinkofstayingindoors,sohelayonsomecooldock-leaves,andthoughtoverthepastdayanditsdoings,andhowverygoodtheyallhadbeen.
TheRat'slightfootfallwaspresentlyheardapproachingovertheparchedgrass.'O,theblessedcoolness!'hesaid,andsatdown,gazingthoughtfullyintotheriver,silentandpre-occupied.
'Youstayedtosupper,ofcourse?'saidtheMolepresently.
'Simplyhadto,'saidtheRat.'Theywouldn'thearofmygoingbefore.Youknowhowkindtheyalwaysare.
Andtheymadethingsasjollyformeasevertheycould,rightuptothemomentIleft.
ButIfeltabruteallthetime,asitwascleartometheywereveryunhappy,thoughtheytriedtohideit.Mole,I'mafraidthey'reintrouble.
LittlePortlyismissingagain;andyouknowwhatalothisfatherthinksofhim,thoughheneversaysmuchaboutit.'
'What,thatchild?'saidtheMolelightly.
'Well,supposeheis;whyworryaboutit?
He'salwaysstrayingoffandgettinglost,andturningupagain;he'ssoadventurous.Butnoharmeverhappenstohim.
Everybodyhereaboutsknowshimandlikeshim,justastheydooldOtter,andyoumaybesuresomeanimalorotherwillcomeacrosshimandbringhimbackagainallright.
Why,we'vefoundhimourselves,milesfromhome,andquiteself-possessedandcheerful!'
'Yes;butthistimeit'smoreserious,'saidtheRatgravely.
'He'sbeenmissingforsomedaysnow,andtheOttershavehuntedeverywhere,highandlow,withoutfindingtheslightesttrace.
Andthey'veaskedeveryanimal,too,formilesaround,andnooneknowsanythingabouthim.
Otter'sevidentlymoreanxiousthanhe'lladmit.
IgotoutofhimthatyoungPortlyhasn'tlearnttoswimverywellyet,andIcanseehe'sthinkingoftheweir.
There'salotofwatercomingdownstill,consideringthetimeoftheyear,andtheplacealwayshadafascinationforthechild.
Andthenthereare—well,trapsandthings—YOUknow.
Otter'snotthefellowtobenervousaboutanysonofhisbeforeit'stime.AndnowheISnervous.
WhenIleft,hecameoutwithme—saidhewantedsomeair,andtalkedaboutstretchinghislegs.
ButIcouldseeitwasn'tthat,soIdrewhimoutandpumpedhim,andgotitallfromhimatlast.
Hewasgoingtospendthenightwatchingbytheford.
Youknowtheplacewheretheoldfordusedtobe,inby-gonedaysbeforetheybuiltthebridge?'
'Iknowitwell,'saidtheMole.'ButwhyshouldOtterchoosetowatchthere?'
'Well,itseemsthatitwastherehegavePortlyhisfirstswimming-lesson,'continuedtheRat.
'Fromthatshallow,gravellyspitnearthebank.
Anditwasthereheusedtoteachhimfishing,andthereyoungPortlycaughthisfirstfish,ofwhichhewassoveryproud.
Thechildlovedthespot,andOtterthinksthatifhecamewanderingbackfromwhereverheis—ifheISanywherebythistime,poorlittlechap—hemightmakeforthefordhewassofondof;orifhecameacrossithe'drememberitwell,andstopthereandplay,perhaps.
SoOttergoesthereeverynightandwatches—onthechance,youknow,justonthechance!'
Theyweresilentforatime,boththinkingofthesamething—thelonely,heart-soreanimal,crouchedbytheford,watchingandwaiting,thelongnightthrough—onthechance.
'Well,well,'saidtheRatpresently,'Isupposeweoughttobethinkingaboutturningin.'Butheneverofferedtomove.
'Rat,'saidtheMole,'Isimplycan'tgoandturnin,andgotosleep,andDOnothing,eventhoughtheredoesn'tseemtobeanythingtobedone.
We'llgettheboatout,andpaddleupstream.
Themoonwillbeupinanhourorso,andthenwewillsearchaswellaswecan—anyhow,itwillbebetterthangoingtobedanddoingNOTHING.'
'JustwhatIwasthinkingmyself,'saidtheRat.
'It'snotthesortofnightforbedanyhow;anddaybreakisnotsoveryfaroff,andthenwemaypickupsomenewsofhimfromearlyrisersaswegoalong.'
Theygottheboatout,andtheRattookthesculls,paddlingwithcaution.
Outinmidstream,therewasaclear,narrowtrackthatfaintlyreflectedthesky;butwherevershadowsfellonthewaterfrombank,bush,ortree,theywereassolidtoallappearanceasthebanksthemselves,andtheMolehadtosteerwithjudgmentaccordingly.
Darkanddesertedasitwas,thenightwasfullofsmallnoises,songandchatterandrustling,tellingofthebusylittlepopulationwhowereupandabout,plyingtheirtradesandvocationsthroughthenighttillsunshineshouldfallonthematlastandsendthemofftotheirwell-earnedrepose.
Thewater'sownnoises,too,weremoreapparentthanbyday,itsgurglingsand'cloops'moreunexpectedandnearathand;andconstantlytheystartedatwhatseemedasuddenclearcallfromanactualarticulatevoice.
Thelineofthehorizonwasclearandhardagainstthesky,andinoneparticularquarteritshowedblackagainstasilveryclimbingphosphorescencethatgrewandgrew.
Atlast,overtherimofthewaitingearththemoonliftedwithslowmajestytillitswungclearofthehorizonandrodeoff,freeofmoorings;andoncemoretheybegantoseesurfaces—meadowswide-spread,andquietgardens,andtheriveritselffrombanktobank,allsoftlydisclosed,allwashedcleanofmysteryandterror,allradiantagainasbyday,butwithadifferencethatwastremendous.
Theiroldhauntsgreetedthemagaininotherraiment,asiftheyhadslippedawayandputonthispurenewapparelandcomequietlyback,smilingastheyshylywaitedtoseeiftheywouldberecognisedagainunderit.
Fasteningtheirboattoawillow,thefriendslandedinthissilent,silverkingdom,andpatientlyexploredthehedges,thehollowtrees,therunnelsandtheirlittleculverts,theditchesanddrywater-ways.
Embarkingagainandcrossingover,theyworkedtheirwayupthestreaminthismanner,whilethemoon,sereneanddetachedinacloudlesssky,didwhatshecould,thoughsofaroff,tohelpthemintheirquest;tillherhourcameandshesankearthwardsreluctantly,andleftthem,andmysteryoncemoreheldfieldandriver.
Thenachangebeganslowlytodeclareitself.
Thehorizonbecameclearer,fieldandtreecamemoreintosight,andsomehowwithadifferentlook;themysterybegantodropawayfromthem.
Abirdpipedsuddenly,andwasstill;andalightbreezesprangupandsetthereedsandbulrushesrustling.
Rat,whowasinthesternoftheboat,whileMolesculled,satupsuddenlyandlistenedwithapassionateintentness.
Mole,whowithgentlestrokeswasjustkeepingtheboatmovingwhilehescannedthebankswithcare,lookedathimwithcuriosity.
'It'sgone!'sighedtheRat,sinkingbackinhisseatagain.'Sobeautifulandstrangeandnew.
Sinceitwastoendsosoon,IalmostwishIhadneverheardit.
Forithasrousedalonginginmethatispain,andnothingseemsworthwhilebutjusttohearthatsoundoncemoreandgoonlisteningtoitforever.No!Thereitisagain!'hecried,alertoncemore.
Entranced,hewassilentforalongspace,spellbound.
'NowitpassesonandIbegintoloseit,'hesaidpresently.'OMole!thebeautyofit!
Themerrybubbleandjoy,thethin,clear,happycallofthedistantpiping!
SuchmusicIneverdreamedof,andthecallinitisstrongereventhanthemusicissweet!Rowon,Mole,row!
Forthemusicandthecallmustbeforus.'
TheMole,greatlywondering,obeyed.'Ihearnothingmyself,'hesaid,'butthewindplayinginthereedsandrushesandosiers.'
TheRatneveranswered,ifindeedheheard.
Rapt,transported,trembling,hewaspossessedinallhissensesbythisnewdivinethingthatcaughtuphishelplesssoulandswunganddandledit,apowerlessbuthappyinfantinastrongsustaininggrasp.
InsilenceMolerowedsteadily,andsoontheycametoapointwheretheriverdivided,alongbackwaterbranchingofftooneside.
WithaslightmovementofhisheadRat,whohadlongdroppedtherudder-lines,directedtherowertotakethebackwater.
Thecreepingtideoflightgainedandgained,andnowtheycouldseethecolouroftheflowersthatgemmedthewater'sedge.
'Clearerandnearerstill,'criedtheRatjoyously.'Nowyoumustsurelyhearit!Ah—atlast—Iseeyoudo!'
BreathlessandtransfixedtheMolestoppedrowingastheliquidrunofthatgladpipingbrokeonhimlikeawave,caughthimup,andpossessedhimutterly.
Hesawthetearsonhiscomrade'scheeks,andbowedhisheadandunderstood.
Foraspacetheyhungthere,brushedbythepurpleloose-strifethatfringedthebank;thentheclearimperioussummonsthatmarchedhand-in-handwiththeintoxicatingmelodyimposeditswillonMole,andmechanicallyhebenttohisoarsagain.
Andthelightgrewsteadilystronger,butnobirdssangastheywerewonttodoattheapproachofdawn;andbutfortheheavenlymusicallwasmarvellouslystill.
Oneithersideofthem,astheyglidedonwards,therichmeadow-grassseemedthatmorningofafreshnessandagreennessunsurpassable.
Neverhadtheynoticedtherosessovivid,thewillow-herbsoriotous,themeadow-sweetsoodorousandpervading.
Thenthemurmuroftheapproachingweirbegantoholdtheair,andtheyfeltaconsciousnessthattheywerenearingtheend,whateveritmightbe,thatsurelyawaitedtheirexpedition.
Awidehalf-circleoffoamandglintinglightsandshiningshouldersofgreenwater,thegreatweirclosedthebackwaterfrombanktobank,troubledallthequietsurfacewithtwirlingeddiesandfloatingfoam-streaks,anddeadenedallothersoundswithitssolemnandsoothingrumble.
Inmidmostofthestream,embracedintheweir'sshimmeringarm-spread,asmallislandlayanchored,fringedclosewithwillowandsilverbirchandalder.
Reserved,shy,butfullofsignificance,ithidwhateveritmightholdbehindaveil,keepingittillthehourshouldcome,and,withthehour,thosewhowerecalledandchosen.
Slowly,butwithnodoubtorhesitationwhatever,andinsomethingofasolemnexpectancy,thetwoanimalspassedthroughthebrokentumultuouswaterandmooredtheirboatattheflowerymarginoftheisland.
Insilencetheylanded,andpushedthroughtheblossomandscentedherbageandundergrowththatleduptothelevelground,tilltheystoodonalittlelawnofamarvellousgreen,setroundwithNature'sownorchard-trees—crab-apple,wildcherry,andsloe.
'Thisistheplaceofmysong-dream,theplacethemusicplayedtome,'whisperedtheRat,asifinatrance.'Here,inthisholyplace,hereifanywhere,surelyweshallfindHim!'
ThensuddenlytheMolefeltagreatAwefalluponhim,anawethatturnedhismusclestowater,bowedhishead,androotedhisfeettotheground.
Itwasnopanicterror—indeedhefeltwonderfullyatpeaceandhappy—butitwasanawethatsmoteandheldhimand,withoutseeing,heknewitcouldonlymeanthatsomeaugustPresencewasvery,verynear.
Withdifficultyheturnedtolookforhisfriendandsawhimathissidecowed,stricken,andtremblingviolently.
Andstilltherewasuttersilenceinthepopulousbird-hauntedbranchesaroundthem;andstillthelightgrewandgrew.
Perhapshewouldneverhavedaredtoraisehiseyes,butthat,thoughthepipingwasnowhushed,thecallandthesummonsseemedstilldominantandimperious.
Hemightnotrefuse,wereDeathhimselfwaitingtostrikehiminstantly,oncehehadlookedwithmortaleyeonthingsrightlykepthidden.
Tremblingheobeyed,andraisedhishumblehead;andthen,inthatutterclearnessoftheimminentdawn,whileNature,flushedwithfullnessofincrediblecolour,seemedtoholdherbreathfortheevent,helookedintheveryeyesoftheFriendandHelper;sawthebackwardsweepofthecurvedhorns,gleaminginthegrowingdaylight;sawthestern,hookednosebetweenthekindlyeyesthatwerelookingdownonthemhumourously,whilethebeardedmouthbrokeintoahalf-smileatthecorners;sawtheripplingmusclesonthearmthatlayacrossthebroadchest,thelongsupplehandstillholdingthepan-pipesonlyjustfallenawayfromthepartedlips;sawthesplendidcurvesoftheshaggylimbsdisposedinmajesticeaseonthesward;saw,lastofall,nestlingbetweenhisveryhooves,sleepingsoundlyinentirepeaceandcontentment,thelittle,round,podgy,childishformofthebabyotter.
Allthishesaw,foronemomentbreathlessandintense,vividonthemorningsky;andstill,ashelooked,helived;andstill,ashelived,hewondered.
'Rat!'hefoundbreathtowhisper,shaking.'Areyouafraid?'
'Afraid?'murmuredtheRat,hiseyesshiningwithunutterablelove.'Afraid!OfHIM?O,never,never!Andyet—andyet—O,Mole,Iamafraid!'
Thenthetwoanimals,crouchingtotheearth,bowedtheirheadsanddidworship.
Suddenandmagnificent,thesun'sbroadgoldendiscshoweditselfoverthehorizonfacingthem;andthefirstrays,shootingacrossthelevelwater-meadows,tooktheanimalsfullintheeyesanddazzledthem.
Whentheywereabletolookoncemore,theVisionhadvanished,andtheairwasfullofthecarolofbirdsthathailedthedawn.
Astheystaredblanklyindumbmiserydeepeningastheyslowlyrealisedalltheyhadseenandalltheyhadlost,acapriciouslittlebreeze,dancingupfromthesurfaceofthewater,tossedtheaspens,shookthedewyrosesandblewlightlyandcaressinglyintheirfaces;andwithitssofttouchcameinstantoblivion.
Forthisisthelastbestgiftthatthekindlydemi-godiscarefultobestowonthosetowhomhehasrevealedhimselfintheirhelping:thegiftofforgetfulness.
Lesttheawfulremembranceshouldremainandgrow,andovershadowmirthandpleasure,andthegreathauntingmemoryshouldspoilalltheafter-livesoflittleanimalshelpedoutofdifficulties,inorderthattheyshouldbehappyandlightheartedasbefore.
MolerubbedhiseyesandstaredatRat,whowaslookingabouthiminapuzzledsortofway.'Ibegyourpardon;whatdidyousay,Rat?'heasked.
'IthinkIwasonlyremarking,'saidRatslowly,'thatthiswastherightsortofplace,andthathere,ifanywhere,weshouldfindhim.Andlook!Why,thereheis,thelittlefellow!'
AndwithacryofdelightherantowardstheslumberingPortly.
ButMolestoodstillamoment,heldinthought.
Asonewakenedsuddenlyfromabeautifuldream,whostrugglestorecallit,andcanre-capturenothingbutadimsenseofthebeautyofit,thebeauty!
Tillthat,too,fadesawayinitsturn,andthedreamerbitterlyacceptsthehard,coldwakingandallitspenalties;soMole,afterstrugglingwithhismemoryforabriefspace,shookhisheadsadlyandfollowedtheRat.
Portlywokeupwithajoyoussqueak,andwriggledwithpleasureatthesightofhisfather'sfriends,whohadplayedwithhimsoofteninpastdays.
Inamoment,however,hisfacegrewblank,andhefelltohuntingroundinacirclewithpleadingwhine.
Asachildthathasfallenhappilyasleepinitsnurse'sarms,andwakestofinditselfaloneandlaidinastrangeplace,andsearchescornersandcupboards,andrunsfromroomtoroom,despairgrowingsilentlyinitsheart,evensoPortlysearchedtheislandandsearched,doggedandunwearying,tillatlasttheblackmomentcameforgivingitup,andsittingdownandcryingbitterly.
TheMoleranquicklytocomfortthelittleanimal;butRat,lingering,lookedlonganddoubtfullyatcertainhoof-marksdeepinthesward.
'Some—great—animal—hasbeenhere,'hemurmuredslowlyandthoughtfully;andstoodmusing,musing;hismindstrangelystirred.
'Comealong,Rat!'calledtheMole.'ThinkofpoorOtter,waitinguptherebytheford!'
Portlyhadsoonbeencomfortedbythepromiseofatreat—ajauntontheriverinMr.Rat'srealboat;andthetwoanimalsconductedhimtothewater'sside,placedhimsecurelybetweentheminthebottomoftheboat,andpaddledoffdownthebackwater.
Thesunwasfullyupbynow,andhotonthem,birdssanglustilyandwithoutrestraint,andflowerssmiledandnoddedfromeitherbank,butsomehow—sothoughttheanimals—withlessofrichnessandblazeofcolourthantheyseemedtorememberseeingquiterecentlysomewhere—theywonderedwhere.
Themainriverreachedagain,theyturnedtheboat'sheadupstream,towardsthepointwheretheyknewtheirfriendwaskeepinghislonelyvigil.
Astheydrewnearthefamiliarford,theMoletooktheboatintothebank,andtheyliftedPortlyoutandsethimonhislegsonthetow-path,gavehimhismarchingordersandafriendlyfarewellpatontheback,andshovedoutintomid-stream.
Theywatchedthelittleanimalashewaddledalongthepathcontentedlyandwithimportance;watchedhimtilltheysawhismuzzlesuddenlyliftandhiswaddlebreakintoaclumsyambleashequickenedhispacewithshrillwhinesandwrigglesofrecognition.
Lookinguptheriver,theycouldseeOtterstartup,tenseandrigid,fromoutoftheshallowswherehecrouchedindumbpatience,andcouldhearhisamazedandjoyousbarkasheboundedupthroughtheosiersontothepath.
ThentheMole,withastrongpullononeoar,swungtheboatroundandletthefullstreambearthemdownagainwhitheritwould,theirquestnowhappilyended.
'Ifeelstrangelytired,Rat,'saidtheMole,leaningwearilyoverhisoarsastheboatdrifted.
'It'sbeingupallnight,you'llsay,perhaps;butthat'snothing.
Wedoasmuchhalfthenightsoftheweek,atthistimeoftheyear.
No;IfeelasifIhadbeenthroughsomethingveryexcitingandratherterrible,anditwasjustover;andyetnothingparticularhashappened.'
'Orsomethingverysurprisingandsplendidandbeautiful,'murmuredtheRat,leaningbackandclosinghiseyes.'
Ifeeljustasyoudo,Mole;simplydeadtired,thoughnotbodytired.
It'sluckywe'vegotthestreamwithus,totakeushome.
Isn'titjollytofeelthesunagain,soakingintoone'sbones!
Andharktothewindplayinginthereeds!'
'It'slikemusic—farawaymusic,'saidtheMolenoddingdrowsily.
'SoIwasthinking,'murmuredtheRat,dreamfulandlanguid.
'Dance-music—theliltingsortthatrunsonwithoutastop—butwithwordsinit,too—itpassesintowordsandoutofthemagain—Icatchthematintervals—thenitisdance-musiconcemore,andthennothingbutthereeds'softthinwhispering.'
'YouhearbetterthanI,'saidtheMolesadly.'Icannotcatchthewords.'
'Letmetryandgiveyouthem,'saidtheRatsoftly,hiseyesstillclosed.
'Nowitisturningintowordsagain—faintbutclear—Lesttheaweshoulddwell—Andturnyourfrolictofret—Youshalllookonmypoweratthehelpinghour—Butthenyoushallforget!
Nowthereedstakeitup—forget,forget,theysigh,anditdiesawayinarustleandawhisper.Thenthevoicereturns—
'Lestlimbsbereddenedandrent—Ispringthetrapthatisset—AsIloosethesnareyoumayglimpsemethere—Forsurelyyoushallforget!Rownearer,Mole,nearertothereeds!
Itishardtocatch,andgrowseachminutefainter.
'Helperandhealer,Icheer—Smallwaifsinthewoodlandwet—StraysIfindinit,woundsIbindinit—Biddingthemallforget!Nearer,Mole,nearer!
No,itisnogood;thesonghasdiedawayintoreed-talk.'
'Butwhatdothewordsmean?'askedthewonderingMole.
'ThatIdonotknow,'saidtheRatsimply.'
Ipassedthemontoyouastheyreachedme.Ah!
nowtheyreturnagain,andthistimefullandclear!
Thistime,atlast,itisthereal,theunmistakablething,simple—passionate—perfect——'
'Well,let'shaveit,then,'saidtheMole,afterhehadwaitedpatientlyforafewminutes,half-dozinginthehotsun.
Butnoanswercame.Helooked,andunderstoodthesilence.Withasmileofmuchhappinessonhisface,andsomethingofalisteninglookstilllingeringthere,thewearyRatwasfastasleep.
Share this article to
FINISH