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ourselves； sir； and Billy he got frightened and took and cried； being young
and faint… hearted。 And at last we happened up against Mr。 Badger's back
door； and made so bold as to knock； sir； for Mr。 Badger he's a kind…hearted
gentleman； as everyone knows'
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‘I understand；' said the Rat； cutting himself some rashers from a side
of bacon； while the Mole dropped some eggs into a saucepan。 ‘And what's
the weather like outside？ You needn't 〃sir〃 me quite so much？' he added。
‘O； terrible bad； sir； terrible deep the snow is；' said the hedgehog。 ‘No
getting out for the likes of you gentlemen to… day。'
‘Where's Mr。 Badger？' inquired the Mole； as he warmed the coffee… pot
before the fire。
‘The master's gone into his study； sir；' replied the hedgehog； ‘and he
said as how he was going to be particular busy this morning； and on no
account was he to be disturbed。'
This explanation； of course； was thoroughly understood by every one
present。 The fact is； as already set forth； when you live a life of intense
activity for six months in the year； and of comparative or actual
somnolence for the other six； during the latter period you cannot be
continually pleading sleepiness when there are people about or things to
be done。 The excuse gets monotonous。 The animals well knew that Badger；
having eaten a hearty breakfast； had retired to his study and settled himself
in an arm…chair with his legs up on another and a red cotton handkerchief
over his face； and was being ‘busy' in the usual way at this time of the
year。
The front…door bell clanged loudly； and the Rat； who was very greasy
with buttered toast； sent Billy； the smaller hedgehog； to see who it might
be。 There was a sound of much stamping in the hall； and presently Billy
returned in front of the Otter； who threw himself on the Rat with an
embrace and a shout of affectionate greeting。
‘Get off！' spluttered the Rat； with his mouth full。
‘Thought I should find you here all right；' said the Otter cheerfully。
‘They were all in a great state of alarm along River Bank when I arrived
this morning。 Rat never been home all nightnor Mole eithersomething
dreadful must have happened； they said； and the snow had covered up all
your tracks； of course。 But I knew that when people were in any fix they
mostly went to Badger； or else Badger got to know of it somehow； so I
came straight off here； through the Wild Wood and the snow！ My！ it was
fine； coming through the snow as the red sun was rising and showing
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against the black tree…trunks！ As you went along in the stillness； every
now and then masses of snow slid off the branches suddenly with a flop！
making you jump and run for cover。 Snow…castles and snow…caverns had
sprung up out of nowhere in the nightand snow bridges； terraces；
rampartsI could have stayed and played with them for hours。 Here and
there great branches had been torn away by the sheer weight of the snow；
and robins perched and hopped on them in their perky conceited way； just
as if they had done it themselves。 A ragged string of wild geese passed
overhead； high on the grey sky； and a few rooks whirled over the trees；
inspected； and flapped off homewards with a disgusted expression； but I
met no sensible being to ask the news of。 About halfway across I came on
a rabbit sitting on a stump； cleaning his silly face with his paws。 He was a
pretty scared animal when I crept up behind him and placed a heavy
forepaw on his shoulder。 I had to cuff his head once or twice to get any
sense out of it at all。 At last I managed to extract from him that Mole had
been seen in the Wild Wood last night by one of them。 It was the talk of
the burrows； he said； how Mole； Mr。 Rat's particular friend； was in a bad
fix； how he had lost his way； and 〃They〃 were up and out hunting； and
were chivvying him round and round。 〃Then why didn't any of you DO
something？〃 I asked。 〃You mayn't be blest with brains； but there are
hundreds and hundreds of you； big； stout fellows； as fat as butter； and your
burrows running in all directions； and you could have taken him in and
made him safe and comfortable； or tried to； at all events。〃 〃What； US？〃 he
merely said： 〃DO something？ us rabbits？〃 So I cuffed him again and left
him。 There was nothing else to be done。 At any rate； I had learnt
something； and if I had had the luck to meet any of 〃Them〃 I'd have learnt
something moreor THEY would。'
‘Weren't you at allernervous？' asked the Mole； some of yesterday's
terror coming back to him at the mention of the Wild Wood。
‘Nervous？' The Otter showed a gleaming set of strong white teeth as
he laughed。 ‘I'd give 'em nerves if any of them tried anything on with me。
Here； Mole； fry me some slices of ham； like the good little chap you are。
I'm frightfully hungry； and I've got any amount to say to Ratty here。
Haven't seen him for an age。'
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So the good…natured Mole； having cut some slices of ham； set the
hedgehogs to fry it； and returned to his own breakfast； while the Otter and
the Rat； their heads together； eagerly talked river… shop； which is long shop
and talk that is endless； running on like the babbling river itself。
A plate of fried ham had just been cleared and sent back for more；
when the Badger entered； yawning and rubbing his eyes； and greeted them
all in his quiet； simple way； with kind enquiries for every one。 ‘It must be
getting on for luncheon time；' he remarked to the Otter。 ‘Better stop and
have it with us。 You must be hungry； this cold morning。'
‘Rather！' replied the Otter； winking at the Mole。 ‘The sight of these
greedy young hedgehogs stuffing themselves with fried ham makes me
feel positively famished。'
The hedgehogs； who were just beginning to feel hungry again after
their porridge； and after working so hard at their frying； looked timidly up
at Mr。 Badger； but were too shy to say anything。
‘Here； you two youngsters be off home to your mother；' said the
Badger kindly。 ‘I'll send some one with you to show you the way。 You
won't want any dinner to…day； I'll be bound。'
He gave them sixpence apiece and a pat on the head； and they went off
with much respectful swinging of caps and touching of forelocks。
Presently they all sat down to luncheon together。 The Mole found
himself placed next to Mr。 Badger； and； as the other two were still deep in
river…gossip from which nothing could divert them； he took the
opportunity to tell Badger how comfortable and home… like it all felt to
him。 ‘Once well underground；' he said； ‘you know exactly where you are。
Nothing can happen to you； and nothing can get at you。 You're entirely
your own master； and you don't have to consult anybody or mind what
they say。 Things go on all the same overhead； and you let 'em； and don't
bother about 'em。 When you want to； up you go； and there the things are；
waiting for you。'
The Badger simply beamed on him。 ‘That's exactly what I say；' he
replied。 ‘There's no security； or peace and tranquillity； except underground。
And then； if your ideas get larger and you want to expandwhy； a dig and
a scrape； and there you are！ If you feel your house is a bit too big； you stop
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up a hole or two； and there you are again！ No builders； no tradesmen； no
remarks passed on you by fellows looking over your wall； and； above all；
no WEATHER。 Look at Rat； now。 A couple of feet of flood water； and he's
got to move into hired lodgings； uncomfortable； inconveniently situated；
and horribly expensive。 Take Toad。 I say nothing against Toad Hall； quite
the best house in these parts； AS a house。 But supposing a fire breaks out
where's Toa