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It was cold； and dark； and damp； and low； and narrow； and poor Toad
began to shiver； partly from dread of what might be before him； partly
because he was wet through。 The lantern was far ahead； and he could not
help lagging behind a little in the darkness。 Then he heard the Rat call out
warningly； ‘COME on； Toad！' and a terror seized him of being left behind；
alone in the darkness； and he ‘came on' with such a rush that he upset the
Rat into the Mole and the Mole into the Badger； and for a moment all was
confusion。 The Badger thought they were being attacked from behind； and；
as there was no room to use a stick or a cutlass； drew a pistol； and was on
the point of putting a bullet into Toad。 When he found out what had really
happened he was very angry indeed； and said； ‘Now this time that
tiresome Toad SHALL be left behind！'
But Toad whimpered； and the other two promised that they would be
answerable for his good conduct； and at last the Badger was pacified； and
the procession moved on； only this time the Rat brought up the rear； with a
firm grip on the shoulder of Toad。
So they groped and shuffled along； with their ears pricked up and their
paws on their pistols； till at last the Badger said； ‘We ought by now to be
pretty nearly under the Hall。'
Then suddenly they heard； far away as it might be； and yet apparently
nearly over their heads； a confused murmur of sound； as if people were
shouting and cheering and stamping on the floor and hammering on tables。
The Toad's nervous terrors all returned； but the Badger only remarked
placidly； ‘They ARE going it； the Weasels！'
The passage now began to slope upwards； they groped onward a little
further； and then the noise broke out again； quite distinct this time； and
very close above them。 ‘Ooo…ray…ooray… oo…ray…ooray！' they heard； and the
stamping of little feet on the floor； and the clinking of glasses as little fists
pounded on the table。 ‘WHAT a time they're having！' said the Badger。
‘Come on！' They hurried along the passage till it came to a full stop； and
they found themselves standing under the trap…door that led up into the
butler's pantry。
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Such a tremendous noise was going on in the banqueting…hall that
there was little danger of their being overheard。 The Badger said； ‘Now；
boys； all together！' and the four of them put their shoulders to the trap…
door and heaved it back。 Hoisting each other up； they found themselves
standing in the pantry； with only a door between them and the banqueting…
hall； where their unconscious enemies were carousing。
The noise； as they emerged from the passage； was simply deafening。
At last； as the cheering and hammering slowly subsided； a voice could be
made out saying； ‘Well； I do not propose to detain you much longer'
（great applause）‘but before I resume my seat'（renewed cheering）‘I
should like to say one word about our kind host； Mr。 Toad。 We all know
Toad！'（great laughter）‘GOOD Toad； MODEST Toad； HONEST Toad！'
（shrieks of merriment）。
‘Only just let me get at him！' muttered Toad； grinding his teeth。
‘Hold hard a minute！' said the Badger； restraining him with difficulty。
‘Get ready； all of you！'
‘Let me sing you a little song；' went on the voice； ‘which I have
composed on the subject of Toad'（prolonged applause）。
Then the Chief Weaselfor it was hebegan in a high； squeaky voice
‘Toad he went a…pleasuring Gaily down the street'
The Badger drew himself up； took a firm grip of his stick with both
paws； glanced round at his comrades； and cried
‘The hour is come！ Follow me！'
And flung the door open wide。
My！
What a squealing and a squeaking and a screeching filled the air！
Well might the terrified weasels dive under the tables and spring
madly up at the windows！ Well might the ferrets rush wildly for the
fireplace and get hopelessly jammed in the chimney！ Well might tables
and chairs be upset； and glass and china be sent crashing on the floor； in
the panic of that terrible moment when the four Heroes strode wrathfully
into the room！ The mighty Badger； his whiskers bristling； his great cudgel
whistling through the air； Mole； black and grim； brandishing his stick and
shouting his awful war…cry； ‘A Mole！ A Mole！' Rat； desperate and
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determined； his belt bulging with weapons of every age and every variety；
Toad； frenzied with excitement and injured pride； swollen to twice his
ordinary size； leaping into the air and emitting Toad…whoops that chilled
them to the marrow！ ‘Toad he went a…pleasuring！' he yelled。 ‘I'LL pleasure
'em！' and he went straight for the Chief Weasel。 They were but four in all；
but to the panic…stricken weasels the hall seemed full of monstrous
animals； grey； black； brown and yellow； whooping and flourishing
enormous cudgels； and they broke and fled with squeals of terror and
dismay； this way and that； through the windows； up the chimney；
anywhere to get out of reach of those terrible sticks。
The affair was soon over。 Up and down； the whole length of the hall；
strode the four Friends； whacking with their sticks at every head that
showed itself； and in five minutes the room was cleared。 Through the
broken windows the shrieks of terrified weasels escaping across the lawn
were borne faintly to their ears； on the floor lay prostrate some dozen or so
of the enemy； on whom the Mole was busily engaged in fitting handcuffs。
The Badger； resting from his labours； leant on his stick and wiped his
honest brow。
‘Mole；' he said；' ‘you're the best of fellows！ Just cut along outside and
look after those stoat…sentries of yours； and see what they're doing。 I've an
idea that； thanks to you； we shan't have much trouble from them to…night！'
The Mole vanished promptly through a window； and the Badger bade
the other two set a table on its legs again； pick up knives and forks and
plates and glasses from the debris on the floor； and see if they could find
materials for a supper。 ‘I want some grub； I do；' he said； in that rather
common way he had of speaking。 ‘Stir your stumps； Toad； and look lively！
We've got your house back for you； and you don't offer us so much as a
sandwich。' Toad felt rather hurt that the Badger didn't say pleasant things
to him； as he had to the Mole； and tell him what a fine fellow he was； and
how splendidly he had fought； for he was rather particularly pleased with
himself and the way he had gone for the Chief Weasel and sent him flying
across the table with one blow of his stick。 But he bustled about； and so
did the Rat； and soon they found some guava jelly in a glass dish； and a
cold chicken； a tongue that had hardly been touched； some trifle； and quite
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a lot of lobster salad； and in the pantry they came upon a basketful of
French rolls and any quantity of cheese； butter； and celery。 They were just
about to sit down when the Mole clambered in through the window；
chuckling； with an armful of rifles。
‘It's all over；' he reported。 ‘From what I can make out； as soon as the
stoats； who were very nervous and jumpy already； heard the shrieks and
the yells and the uproar inside the hall； some of them threw down their
rifles and fled。 The others stood fast for a bit； but when the weasels came
rushing out upon them they thought they were betrayed； and the stoats
grappled with the weasels； and the weasels fought to get away； and they
wrestled and wriggled and punched each other； and rolled over and over；
till most of 'em rolled into the river！ They've all disappeared by now； one
way or another； and I've got their rifles。 So that's all right！'
‘Excellent and deserving animal！' said the Badger； his mouth full of
chicken and trifle。 ‘Now； there's just one more thing I want you