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fellows on that engine recapture me； it will be chains and bread…and…water
and straw and misery once more for poor； unhappy； innocent Toad！'
The engine…driver looked down upon him very sternly； and said； ‘Now
tell the truth； what were you put in prison for？'
‘It was nothing very much；' said poor Toad； colouring deeply。 ‘I only
borrowed a motorcar while the owners were at lunch； they had no need of
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it at the time。 I didn't mean to steal it； really； but peopleespecially
magistratestake such harsh views of thoughtless and high…spirited
actions。'
The engine…driver looked very grave and said； ‘I fear that you have
been indeed a wicked toad； and by rights I ought to give you up to
offended justice。 But you are evidently in sore trouble and distress； so I
will not desert you。 I don't hold with motor… cars； for one thing； and I don't
hold with being ordered about by policemen when I'm on my own engine；
for another。 And the sight of an animal in tears always makes me feel
queer and softhearted。 So cheer up； Toad！ I'll do my best； and we may beat
them yet！'
They piled on more coals； shovelling furiously； the furnace roared； the
sparks flew； the engine leapt and swung but still their pursuers slowly
gained。 The engine…driver； with a sigh； wiped his brow with a handful of
cotton…waste； and said； ‘I'm afraid it's no good； Toad。 You see； they are
running light； and they have the better engine。 There's just one thing left
for us to do； and it's your only chance； so attend very carefully to what I
tell you。 A short way ahead of us is a long tunnel； and on the other side of
that the line passes through a thick wood。 Now； I will put on all the speed I
can while we are running through the tunnel； but the other fellows will
slow down a bit； naturally； for fear of an accident。 When we are through； I
will shut off steam and put on brakes as hard as I can； and the moment it's
safe to do so you must jump and hide in the wood； before they get through
the tunnel and see you。 Then I will go full speed ahead again； and they can
chase me if they like； for as long as they like； and as far as they like。 Now
mind and be ready to jump when I tell you！'
They piled on more coals； and the train shot into the tunnel； and the
engine rushed and roared and rattled； till at last they shot out at the other
end into fresh air and the peaceful moonlight； and saw the wood lying dark
and helpful upon either side of the line。 The driver shut off steam and put
on brakes； the Toad got down on the step； and as the train slowed down to
almost a walking pace he heard the driver call out； ‘Now； jump！'
Toad jumped； rolled down a short embankment； picked himself up
unhurt； scrambled into the wood and hid。
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Peeping out； he saw his train get up speed again and disappear at a
great pace。 Then out of the tunnel burst the pursuing engine； roaring and
whistling； her motley crew waving their various weapons and shouting；
‘Stop！ stop！ stop！' When they were past； the Toad had a hearty laughfor
the first time since he was thrown into prison。
But he soon stopped laughing when he came to consider that it was
now very late and dark and cold； and he was in an unknown wood； with no
money and no chance of supper； and still far from friends and home； and
the dead silence of everything； after the roar and rattle of the train； was
something of a shock。 He dared not leave the shelter of the trees； so he
struck into the wood； with the idea of leaving the railway as far as possible
behind him。
After so many weeks within walls； he found the wood strange and
unfriendly and inclined； he thought； to make fun of him。 Night…jars；
sounding their mechanical rattle； made him think that the wood was full of
searching warders； closing in on him。 An owl； swooping noiselessly
towards him； brushed his shoulder with its wing； making him jump with
the horrid certainty that it was a hand； then flitted off； moth…like； laughing
its low ho！ ho！ ho； which Toad thought in very poor taste。 Once he met a
fox； who stopped； looked him up and down in a sarcastic sort of way； and
said； ‘Hullo； washerwoman！ Half a pair of socks and a pillow… case short
this week！ Mind it doesn't occur again！' and swaggered off； sniggering。
Toad looked about for a stone to throw at him； but could not succeed in
finding one； which vexed him more than anything。 At last； cold； hungry；
and tired out； he sought the shelter of a hollow tree； where with branches
and dead leaves he made himself as comfortable a bed as he could； and
slept soundly till the morning。
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CHAPTER IX
WAYFARERS ALL
The Water Rat was restless； and he did not exactly know why。 To all
appearance the summer's pomp was still at fullest height； and although in
the tilled acres green had given way to gold； though rowans were
reddening； and the woods were dashed here and there with a tawny
fierceness； yet light and warmth and colour were still present in
undiminished measure； clean of any chilly premonitions of the passing
year。 But the constant chorus of the orchards and hedges had shrunk to a
casual evensong from a few yet unwearied performers； the robin was
beginning to assert himself once more； and there was a feeling in the air of
change and departure。 The cuckoo； of course； had long been silent； but
many another feathered friend； for months a part of the familiar landscape
and its small society； was missing too and it seemed that the ranks thinned
steadily day by day。 Rat； ever observant of all winged movement； saw that
it was taking daily a southing tendency； and even as he lay in bed at night
he thought he could make out； passing in the darkness overhead； the beat
and quiver of impatient pinions； obedient to the peremptory call。
Nature's Grand Hotel has its Season； like the others。 As the guests one
by one pack； pay； and depart； and the seats at the table…d'hote shrink
pitifully at each succeeding meal； as suites of rooms are closed； carpets
taken up； and waiters sent away； those boarders who are staying on； en
pension； until the next year's full re…opening； cannot help being somewhat
affected by all these flittings and farewells； this eager discussion of plans；
routes； and fresh quarters； this daily shrinkage in the stream of
comradeship。 One gets unsettled； depressed； and inclined to be querulous。
Why this craving for change？ Why not stay on quietly here； like us； and be
jolly？ You don't know this hotel out of the season； and what fun we have
among ourselves； we fellows who remain and see the whole interesting
year out。 All very true； no doubt the others always reply； we quite envy
youand some other year perhapsbut just now we have engagements
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and there's the bus at the doorour time is up！ So they depart； with a smile
and a nod； and we miss them； and feel resentful。 The Rat was a self…
sufficing sort of animal； rooted to the land； and； whoever went； he stayed；
still； he could not help noticing what was in the air； and feeling some of its
influence in his bones。
It was difficult to settle down to anything seriously； with all this
flitting going on。 Leaving the water…side； where rushes stood thick and tall
in a stream that was becoming sluggish and low； he wandered country…
wards； crossed a field or two of pasturage already looking dusty and
parched； and thrust into the great sea of wheat； yellow； wavy； and
murmurous； full of quiet motion and small whisperings。 Here he often
loved to wander； through the forest