Ветер в ивах

           "

           Stillsnuffling,pleading,andreluctant,Molesufferedhimselftobedraggedbackalongtheroadbyhisimperiouscompanion,whobyaflowofcheerfultalkandanecdoteendeavouredtobeguilehisspiritsbackandmakethewearywayseemshorter.WhenatlastitseemedtotheRatthattheymustbenearingthatpartoftheroadwheretheMolehadbeen"heldup,"hesaid,"Now,nomoretalking.Business!Useyournose,andgiveyourmindtoit."

           Theymovedoninsilenceforsomelittleway,whensuddenlytheRatwasconscious,throughhisarmthatwaslinkedinMole’s,ofafaintsortofelectricthrillthatwaspassingdownthatanimal’sbody.Instantlyhedisengagedhimself,fellbackapace,andwaited,allattention.

           Thesignalswerecomingthrough!

           Molestoodamomentrigid,whilehisupliftednose,quiveringslightly,felttheair.

           Thenashort,quickrunforward—afault—acheck—atryback;andthenaslow,steady,confidentadvance.

           TheRat,muchexcited,keptclosetohisheelsastheMole,withsomethingoftheairofasleep-walker,crossedadryditch,scrambledthroughahedge,andnosedhiswayoverafieldopenandtracklessandbareinthefaintstarlight.

           Suddenly,withoutgivingwarning,hedived;buttheRatwasonthealert,andpromptlyfollowedhimdownthetunneltowhichhisunerringnosehadfaithfullyledhim.