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The Open Road
Thesoonerwemakeastartthebetter."
"ButwhataboutToad?"askedtheMoleanxiously,astheysetofftogether."Wecan’tleavehimhere,sittinginthemiddleoftheroadbyhimself,inthedistractedstatehe’sin!It’snotsafe.SupposinganotherThingweretocomealong?"
"O,botherToad,"saidtheRatsavagely;"I’vedonewithhim."
Theyhadnotproceededveryfarontheirway,however,whentherewasapatteringoffeetbehindthem,andToadcaughtthemupandthrustapawinsidetheelbowofeachofthem;stillbreathingshortandstaringintovacancy.
"Now,lookhere,Toad!"saidtheRatsharply:"assoonaswegettothetown,you’llhavetogostraighttothepolice-stationandseeiftheyknowanythingaboutthatmotor-carandwhoitbelongsto,andlodgeacomplaintagainstit.Andthenyou’llhavetogotoablacksmith’sorawheelwright’sandarrangeforthecarttobefetchedandmendedandputtorights.It’lltaketime,butit’snotquiteahopelesssmash.Meanwhile,theMoleandIwillgotoaninnandfindcomfortableroomswherewecanstaytillthecart’sready,andtillyournerveshaverecoveredtheirshock."
"Police-station!Complaint!"murmuredToaddreamily."Mecomplainofthatbeautiful,thatheavenlyvisionthathasbeenvouchsafedme!Mendthecart!I’vedonewithcartsforever.Ineverwanttoseethecart,ortohearofit,again.
