Ветер в ивах

           Ohorror!Omisery!Odespair!

           Abouttwofieldsoff,achauffeurinhisleathergaitersandtwolargeruralpolicemenwerevisible,runningtowardshimashardastheycouldgo!

           PoorToadsprangtohisfeetandpeltedawayagain,hisheartinhismouth."O,my!"hegasped,ashepantedalong,"whatanassIam!Whataconceitedandheedlessass!Swaggeringagain!Shoutingandsingingsongsagain!Sittingstillandgassingagain!Omy!Omy!Omy!"

           Heglancedback,andsawtohisdismaythattheyweregainingonhim.Onherandesperately,butkeptlookingback,andsawthattheystillgainedsteadily.Hedidhisbest,buthewasafatanimal,andhislegswereshort,andstilltheygained.Hecouldhearthemclosebehindhimnow.Ceasingtoheedwherehewasgoing,hestruggledonblindlyandwildly,lookingbackoverhisshoulderatthenowtriumphantenemy,whensuddenlytheearthfailedunderhisfeet,hegraspedattheair,and,splash!hefoundhimselfheadoverearsindeepwater,rapidwater,waterthatborehimalongwithaforcehecouldnotcontendwith;andheknewthatinhisblindpanichehadrunstraightintotheriver!

           Herosetothesurfaceandtriedtograspthereedsandtherushesthatgrewalongthewater’sedgecloseunderthebank,butthestreamwassostrongthatittorethemoutofhishands."Omy!"gaspedpoorToad,"ifeverIstealamotor-caragain!IfeverIsinganotherconceitedsong"—thendownhewent,andcameupbreathlessandspluttering