Ветер в ивах

           Bythistimethemoonwasshiningbrightly,andtheengine-driver,steadyinghimselfonthecoal,couldcommandaviewofthelinebehindthemforalongdistance.

           Presentlyhecalledout,"Icanseeitclearlynow!Itisanengine,onourrails,comingalongatagreatpace!Itlooksasifwewerebeingpursued!"

           ThemiserableToad,crouchinginthecoal-dust,triedhardtothinkofsomethingtodo,withdismalwantofsuccess.

           "Theyaregainingonusfast!"criedtheengine-driver."Andtheengineiscrowdedwiththequeerestlotofpeople!Menlikeancientwarders,wavinghalberds;policemenintheirhelmets,wavingtruncheons;andshabbilydressedmeninpot-hats,obviousandunmistakableplain-clothesdetectivesevenatthisdistance,wavingrevolversandwalking-sticks;allwaving,andallshoutingthesamething—‘Stop,stop,stop!’"

           ThenToadfellonhiskneesamongthecoals,and,raisinghisclaspedpawsinsupplication,cried,"Saveme,onlysaveme,dearkindMr.Engine-driver,andIwillconfesseverything!IamnotthesimplewasherwomanIseemtobe!Ihavenochildrenwaitingforme,innocentorotherwise!Iamatoad—thewell-knownandpopularMr.