Ветер в ивах
The River Bank
ButhebegantofeelmoreandmorejealousofRat,scullingsostronglyandsoeasilyalong,andhispridebegantowhisperthathecoulddoiteverybitaswell.HejumpedupandseizedthescullssosuddenlythattheRat,whowasgazingoutoverthewaterandsayingmorepoetry-thingstohimself,wastakenbysurpriseandfellbackwardsoffhisseatwithhislegsintheairforthesecondtime,whilethetriumphantMoletookhisplaceandgrabbedthescullswithentireconfidence.
"Stopit,yousillyass!"criedtheRat,fromthebottomoftheboat."Youcan’tdoit!You’llhaveusover!"
TheMoleflunghisscullsbackwithaflourish,andmadeagreatdigatthewater.Hemissedthesurfacealtogether,hislegsflewupabovehishead,andhefoundhimselflyingonthetopoftheprostrateRat.Greatlyalarmed,hemadeagrabatthesideoftheboat,andthenextmoment—Sploosh!
Overwenttheboat,andhefoundhimselfstrugglingintheriver.
Omy,howcoldthewaterwas,andO,howverywetitfelt!Howitsanginhisearsashewentdown,down,down!Howbrightandwelcomethesunlookedasherosetothesurfacecoughingandspluttering!Howblackwashisdespairwhenhefelthimselfsinkingagain!Thenafirmpawgrippedhimbythebackofhisneck.ItwastheRat,andhewasevidentlylaughing—theMolecouldfeelhimlaughing,rightdownhisarmandthroughhispaw,andsointohis—theMole’s—neck.
