The Return of Ulysses

           WHENitbegantogrowdark,theRat,withanairofexcitementandmystery,summonedthembackintotheparlour,stoodeachofthemupalongsideofhislittleheap,andproceededtodressthemupforthecomingexpedition.Hewasveryearnestandthorough-goingaboutit,andtheaffairtookquitealongtime.First,therewasabelttogoroundeachanimal,andthenaswordtobestuckintoeachbelt,andthenacutlassontheothersidetobalanceit.Thenapairofpistols,apoliceman’struncheon,severalsetsofhandcuffs,somebandagesandsticking-plaster,andaflaskandasandwich-case.TheBadgerlaughedgood-humouredlyandsaid,"Allright,Ratty!Itamusesyouanditdoesn’thurtme.I’mgoingtodoallI’vegottodowiththisherestick."ButtheRatonlysaid,"Please,Badger.YouknowIshouldn’tlikeyoutoblamemeafterwardsandsayIhadforgottenanything!"

           Whenallwasquiteready,theBadgertookadarklanterninonepaw,graspedhisgreatstickwiththeother,andsaid,"Nowthen,followme!Molefirst,‘cosI’mverypleasedwithhim;Ratnext;Toadlast.Andlookhere,Toady!Don’tyouchattersomuchasusual,oryou’llbesentback,assureasfate!"

           TheToadwassoanxiousnottobeleftoutthathetookuptheinferiorpositionassignedtohimwithoutamurmur,andtheanimalssetoff.TheBadgerledthemalongbytheriverforalittleway,andthensuddenlyswunghimselfovertheedgeintoaholeintheriverbank,alittleabovethewater.