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‘And now；' he was softly saying； ‘I take to the road again； holding on
southwestwards for many a long and dusty day； till at last I reach the little
grey sea town I know so well； that clings along one steep side of the
harbour。 There through dark doorways you look down flights of stone
steps； overhung by great pink tufts of valerian and ending in a patch of
sparkling blue water。 The little boats that lie tethered to the rings and
stanchions of the old sea…wall are gaily painted as those I clambered in and
out of in my own childhood； the salmon leap on the flood tide； schools of
mackerel flash and play past quay…sides and foreshores； and by the
windows the great vessels glide； night and day； up to their moorings or
forth to the open sea。 There； sooner or later； the ships of all seafaring
nations arrive； and there； at its destined hour； the ship of my choice will let
go its anchor。 I shall take my time； I shall tarry and bide； till at last the
right one lies waiting for me； warped out into midstream； loaded low； her
bowsprit pointing down harbour。 I shall slip on board； by boat or along
hawser； and then one morning I shall wake to the song and tramp of the
sailors； the clink of the capstan； and the rattle of the anchor…chain coming
merrily in。 We shall break out the jib and the foresail； the white houses on
the harbour side will glide slowly past us as she gathers steering…way； and
the voyage will have begun！ As she forges towards the headland she will
clothe herself with canvas； and then； once outside； the sounding slap of
great green seas as she heels to the wind； pointing South！
‘And you； you will come too； young brother； for the days pass； and
never return； and the South still waits for you。 Take the Adventure； heed
the call； now ere the irrevocable moment passes！' 'Tis but a banging of the
door behind you； a blithesome step forward； and you are out of the old life
and into the new！ Then some day； some day long hence； jog home here if
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you will； when the cup has been drained and the play has been played； and
sit down by your quiet river with a store of goodly memories for company。
You can easily overtake me on the road； for you are young； and I am
ageing and go softly。 I will linger； and look back； and at last I will surely
see you coming； eager and light… hearted； with all the South in your face！'
The voice died away and ceased as an insect's tiny trumpet dwindles
swiftly into silence； and the Water Rat； paralysed and staring； saw at last
but a distant speck on the white surface of the road。
Mechanically he rose and proceeded to repack the luncheon…basket；
carefully and without haste。 Mechanically he returned home； gathered
together a few small necessaries and special treasures he was fond of； and
put them in a satchel； acting with slow deliberation； moving about the
room like a sleep…walker； listening ever with parted lips。 He swung the
satchel over his shoulder； carefully selected a stout stick for his wayfaring；
and with no haste； but with no hesitation at all； he stepped across the
threshold just as the Mole appeared at the door。
‘Why； where are you off to； Ratty？' asked the Mole in great surprise；
grasping him by the arm。
‘Going South； with the rest of them；' murmured the Rat in a dreamy
monotone； never looking at him。 ‘Seawards first and then on shipboard；
and so to the shores that are calling me！'
He pressed resolutely forward； still without haste； but with dogged
fixity of purpose； but the Mole； now thoroughly alarmed； placed himself
in front of him； and looking into his eyes saw that they were glazed and set
and turned a streaked and shifting greynot his friend's eyes； but the eyes
of some other animal！ Grappling with him strongly he dragged him inside；
threw him down； and held him。
The Rat struggled desperately for a few moments； and then his
strength seemed suddenly to leave him； and he lay still and exhausted；
with closed eyes； trembling。 Presently the Mole assisted him to rise and
placed him in a chair； where he sat collapsed and shrunken into himself；
his body shaken by a violent shivering； passing in time into an hysterical
fit of dry sobbing。 Mole made the door fast； threw the satchel into a
drawer and locked it； and sat down quietly on the table by his friend；
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waiting for the strange seizure to pass。 Gradually the Rat sank into a
troubled doze； broken by starts and confused murmurings of things strange
and wild and foreign to the unenlightened Mole； and from that he passed
into a deep slumber。
Very anxious in mind； the Mole left him for a time and busied himself
with household matters； and it was getting dark when he returned to the
parlour and found the Rat where he had left him； wide awake indeed； but
listless； silent； and dejected。 He took one hasty glance at his eyes； found
them； to his great gratification； clear and dark and brown again as before；
and then sat down and tried to cheer him up and help him to relate what
had happened to him。
Poor Ratty did his best； by degrees； to explain things； but how could
he put into cold words what had mostly been suggestion？ How recall； for
another's benefit； the haunting sea voices that had sung to him； how
reproduce at second…hand the magic of the Seafarer's hundred
reminiscences？ Even to himself； now the spell was broken and the
glamour gone； he found it difficult to account for what had seemed； some
hours ago； the inevitable and only thing。 It is not surprising； then； that he
failed to convey to the Mole any clear idea of what he had been through
that day。
To the Mole this much was plain： the fit； or attack； had passed away；
and had left him sane again； though shaken and cast down by the reaction。
But he seemed to have lost all interest for the time in the things that went
to make up his daily life； as well as in all pleasant forecastings of the
altered days and doings that the changing season was surely bringing。
Casually； then； and with seeming indifference； the Mole turned his talk
to the harvest that was being gathered in； the towering wagons and their
straining teams； the growing ricks； and the large moon rising over bare
acres dotted with sheaves。 He talked of the reddening apples around； of the
browning nuts； of jams and preserves and the distilling of cordials； till by
easy stages such as these he reached midwinter； its hearty joys and its snug
home life； and then he became simply lyrical。
By degrees the Rat began to sit up and to join in。 His dull eye
brightened； and he lost some of his listening air。
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Presently the tactful Mole slipped away and returned with a pencil and
a few half…sheets of paper； which he placed on the table at his friend's
elbow。
‘It's quite a long time since you did any poetry；' he remarked。 ‘You
might have a try at it this evening； instead ofwell； brooding over things
so much。 I've an idea that you'll feel a lot better when you've got
something jotted downif it's only just the rhymes。'
The Rat pushed the paper away from him wearily； but the discreet
Mole took occasion to leave the room； and when he peeped in again some
time later； the Rat was absorbed and deaf to the world； alternately
scribbling and sucking the top of his pencil。 It is true that he sucked a good
deal more than he scribbled； but it was joy to the Mole to know that the
cure had at least begun。
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CHAPTER X
THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF TOAD
The front door