Ветер в ивах

           Onebig,mottledarmshotoutandcaughtToadbyafore-leg,whiletheothergrippedhimfastbyahind-leg.Thentheworldturnedsuddenlyupsidedown,thebargeseemedtoflitlightlyacrossthesky,thewindwhistledinhisears,andToadfoundhimselfflyingthroughtheair,revolvingrapidlyashewent.

           Thewater,whenheeventuallyreacheditwithaloudsplash,provedquitecoldenoughforhistaste,thoughitschillwasnotsufficienttoquellhisproudspirit,orslaketheheatofhisfurioustemper.Herosetothesurfacespluttering,andwhenhehadwipedtheduck-weedoutofhiseyesthefirstthinghesawwasthefatbarge-womanlookingbackathimoverthesternoftheretreatingbargeandlaughing;andhevowed,ashecoughedandchoked,tobeevenwithher.

           Hestruckoutfortheshore,butthecottongowngreatlyimpededhisefforts,andwhenatlengthhetouchedlandhefoundithardtoclimbupthesteepbankunassisted.Hehadtotakeaminuteortwo’sresttorecoverhisbreath;then,gatheringhiswetskirtswelloverhisarms,hestartedtorunafterthebargeasfastashislegswouldcarryhim,wildwithindignation,thirstingforrevenge.

           Thebarge-womanwasstilllaughingwhenhedrewuplevelwithher."Putyourselfthroughyourmangle,washerwoman,"shecalledout,"andironyourfaceandcrimpit,andyou’llpassforquiteadecent-lookingToad!"

           Toadneverpausedtoreply.