Вітер у вербах
The Wild Wood
Ifwehavetocome,wecomeincouplesatleast;thenwe’regenerallyallright.Besides,thereareahundredthingsonehastoknow,whichweunderstandallaboutandyoudon’t,asyet.Imeanpasswords,andsigns,andsayingswhichhavepowerandeffect,andplantsyoucarryinyourpocket,andversesyourepeat,anddodgesandtricksyoupractise;allsimpleenoughwhenyouknowthem,butthey’vegottobeknownifyou’resmall,oryou’llfindyourselfintrouble.OfcourseifyouwereBadgerorOtter,itwouldbequiteanothermatter."
"SurelythebraveMr.Toadwouldn’tmindcomingherebyhimself,wouldhe?"inquiredtheMole.
"OldToad?"saidtheRat,laughingheartily."Hewouldn’tshowhisfaceherealone,notforawholehatfulofgoldenguineas,Toadwouldn’t."
TheMolewasgreatlycheeredbythesoundoftheRat’scarelesslaughter,aswellasbythesightofhisstickandhisgleamingpistols,andhestoppedshiveringandbegantofeelbolderandmorehimselfagain.
"Nowthen,"saidtheRatpresently,"wereallymustpullourselvestogetherandmakeastartforhomewhilethere’sstillalittlelightleft.Itwillneverdotospendthenighthere,youunderstand.Toocold,foronething."
"DearRatty,"saidthepoorMole,"I’mdreadfullysorry,butI’msimplydeadbeatandthat’sasolidfact.Youmustletmeresthereawhilelonger,andgetmystrengthback,ifI’mtogethomeatall.