Вітер у вербах

           TheMoleandtheRatfollowedsilently,swingingthemselvessuccessfullyintotheholeastheyhadseentheBadgerdo;butwhenitcametoToad’sturn,ofcoursehemanagedtoslipandfallintothewaterwithaloudsplashandasquealofalarm.Hewashauledoutbyhisfriends,rubbeddownandwrungouthastily,comforted,andsetonhislegs;buttheBadgerwasseriouslyangry,andtoldhimthattheverynexttimehemadeafoolofhimselfhewouldmostcertainlybeleftbehind.

           Soatlasttheywereinthesecretpassage,andthecutting-outexpeditionhadreallybegun!

           Itwascold,anddark,anddamp,andlow,andnarrow,andpoorToadbegantoshiver,partlyfromdreadofwhatmightbebeforehim,partlybecausehewaswetthrough.Thelanternwasfarahead,andhecouldnothelplaggingbehindalittleinthedarkness.ThenheheardtheRatcalloutwarningly,"Comeon,Toad!"andaterrorseizedhimofbeingleftbehind,aloneinthedarkness,andhe"cameon"withsucharushthatheupsettheRatintotheMole,andtheMoleintotheBadger,andforamomentallwasconfusion.TheBadgerthoughttheywerebeingattackedfrombehind,and,astherewasnoroomtouseastickoracutlass,drewapistol,andwasonthepointofputtingabulletintoToad.