Ветер в ивах
The Further Adventures of Toad
Hepickedhimselfuprapidly,andsetoffrunningacrosscountryashardashecould,scramblingthroughhedges,jumpingditches,poundingacrossfields,tillhewasbreathlessandweary,andhadtosettledownintoaneasywalk.Whenhehadrecoveredhisbreathsomewhat,andwasabletothinkcalmly,hebegantogiggle,andfromgigglinghetooktolaughing,andhelaughedtillhehadtositdownunderahedge."Ho!ho!"hecried,inecstasiesofself-admiration."Toadagain!Toad,asusual,comesoutonthetop!Whowasitgotthemtogivehimalift?Whomanagedtogetonthefrontseatforthesakeoffreshair?Whopersuadedthemintolettinghimseeifhecoulddrive?Wholandedthemallinahorse-pond?Whoescaped,flyinggailyandunscathedthroughtheair,leavingthenarrow-minded,grudging,timidexcursionistsinthemudwheretheyshouldrightlybe?Why,Toad,ofcourse;cleverToad,greatToad,goodToad!"
Thenheburstintosongagain,andchantedwithupliftedvoice—
"Themotor-carwentPoop-poop-poop,
Asitracedalongtheroad.
Whowasitsteereditintoapond?
IngeniousMr.Toad!
O,howcleverIam!Howclever,howclever,howveryclev—"
Aslightnoiseatadistancebehindhimmadehimturnhisheadandlook.
