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the horse； and lit a fire； and cleaned last night's cups and platters； and got
things ready for breakfast； the Mole trudged off to the nearest village； a
long way off； for milk and eggs and various necessaries the Toad had； of
course； forgotten to provide。 The hard work had all been done； and the two
animals were resting； thoroughly exhausted； by the time Toad appeared on
the scene； fresh and gay； remarking what a pleasant easy life it was they
were all leading now； after the cares and worries and fatigues of
housekeeping at home。
They had a pleasant ramble that day over grassy downs and along
narrow by…lanes； and camped as before； on a common； only this time the
two guests took care that Toad should do his fair share of work。 In
consequence； when the time came for starting next morning； Toad was by
no means so rapturous about the simplicity of the primitive life； and
indeed attempted to resume his place in his bunk； whence he was hauled
by force。 Their way lay； as before； across country by narrow lanes； and it
was not till the afternoon that they came out on the high…road； their first
high… road； and there disaster； fleet and unforeseen； sprang out on them
disaster momentous indeed to their expedition； but simply overwhelming
in its effect on the after…career of Toad。
They were strolling along the high…road easily； the Mole by the horse's
head； talking to him； since the horse had complained that he was being
frightfully left out of it； and nobody considered him in the least； the Toad
and the Water Rat walking behind the cart talking togetherat least Toad
was talking； and Rat was saying at intervals； ‘Yes； precisely； and what did
YOU say to HIM？'and thinking all the time of something very different；
when far behind them they heard a faint warning hum； like the drone of a
distant bee。 Glancing back； they saw a small cloud of dust； with a dark
centre of energy； advancing on them at incredible speed； while from out
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the dust a faint ‘Poop…poop！' wailed like an uneasy animal in pain。 Hardly
regarding it； they turned to resume their conversation； when in an instant
（as it seemed） the peaceful scene was changed； and with a blast of wind
and a whirl of sound that made them jump for the nearest ditch； It was on
them！ The ‘Poop…poop' rang with a brazen shout in their ears； they had a
moment's glimpse of an interior of glittering plate…glass and rich morocco；
and the magnificent motor…car； immense； breath…snatching； passionate；
with its pilot tense and hugging his wheel； possessed all earth and air for
the fraction of a second； flung an enveloping cloud of dust that blinded
and enwrapped them utterly； and then dwindled to a speck in the far
distance； changed back into a droning bee once more。
The old grey horse； dreaming； as he plodded along； of his quiet
paddock； in a new raw situation such as this simply abandoned himself to
his natural emotions。 Rearing； plunging； backing steadily； in spite of all
the Mole's efforts at his head； and all the Mole's lively language directed at
his better feelings； he drove the cart backwards towards the deep ditch at
the side of the road。 It wavered an instantthen there was a heartrending
crashand the canary…coloured cart； their pride and their joy； lay on its
side in the ditch； an irredeemable wreck。
The Rat danced up and down in the road； simply transported with
passion。 ‘You villains！' he shouted； shaking both fists； ‘You scoundrels；
you highwaymen； youyouroadhogs！I'll have the law of you！ I'll report
you！ I'll take you through all the Courts！' His home…sickness had quite
slipped away from him； and for the moment he was the skipper of the
canary…coloured vessel driven on a shoal by the reckless jockeying of rival
mariners； and he was trying to recollect all the fine and biting things he
used to say to masters of steam…launches when their wash； as they drove
too near the bank； used to flood his parlour… carpet at home。
Toad sat straight down in the middle of the dusty road； his legs
stretched out before him； and stared fixedly in the direction of the
disappearing motor…car。 He breathed short； his face wore a placid satisfied
expression； and at intervals he faintly murmured ‘Poop…poop！'
The Mole was busy trying to quiet the horse； which he succeeded in
doing after a time。 Then he went to look at the cart； on its side in the ditch。
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It was indeed a sorry sight。 Panels and windows smashed； axles hopelessly
bent； one wheel off； sardine… tins scattered over the wide world； and the
bird in the bird…cage sobbing pitifully and calling to be let out。
The Rat came to help him； but their united efforts were not sufficient
to right the cart。 ‘Hi！ Toad！' they cried。 ‘Come and bear a hand； can't you！'
The Toad never answered a word； or budged from his seat in the road；
so they went to see what was the matter with him。 They found him in a
sort of a trance； a happy smile on his face； his eyes still fixed on the dusty
wake of their destroyer。 At intervals he was still heard to murmur ‘Poop…
poop！'
The Rat shook him by the shoulder。 ‘Are you coming to help us；
Toad？' he demanded sternly。
‘Glorious； stirring sight！' murmured Toad； never offering to move。
‘The poetry of motion！ The REAL way to travel！ The ONLY way to travel！
Here to…dayin next week to…morrow！ Villages skipped； towns and cities
jumpedalways somebody else's horizon！ O bliss！ O poop…poop！ O my！ O
my！'
‘O STOP being an ass； Toad！' cried the Mole despairingly。
‘And to think I never KNEW！' went on the Toad in a dreamy
monotone。 ‘All those wasted years that lie behind me； I never knew； never
even DREAMT！ But NOWbut now that I know； now that I fully realise！
O what a flowery track lies spread before me； henceforth！ What dust…
clouds shall spring up behind me as I speed on my reckless way！ What
carts I shall fling carelessly into the ditch in the wake of my magnificent
onset！ Horrid little cartscommon cartscanary…coloured carts！'
‘What are we to do with him？' asked the Mole of the Water Rat。
‘Nothing at all；' replied the Rat firmly。 ‘Because there is really nothing
to be done。 You see； I know him from of old。 He is now possessed。 He has
got a new craze； and it always takes him that way； in its first stage。 He'll
continue like that for days now； like an animal walking in a happy dream；
quite useless for all practical purposes。 Never mind him。 Let's go and see
what there is to be done about the cart。'
A careful inspection showed them that； even if they succeeded in
righting it by themselves； the cart would travel no longer。 The axles were
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in a hopeless state； and the missing wheel was shattered into pieces。
The Rat knotted the horse's reins over his back and took him by the
head； carrying the bird cage and its hysterical occupant in the other hand。
‘Come on！' he said grimly to the Mole。 ‘It's five or six miles to the nearest
town； and we shall just have to walk it。 The sooner we make a start the
better。'
‘But what about Toad？' asked the Mole anxiously； as they set off
together。 ‘We can't leave him here； sitting in the middle of the road by
himself； in the distracted state he's in！ It's not safe。 Supposing another
Thing were to come along？'
‘O； BOTHER Toad；' said the Rat savagely； ‘I've done with him！'
They had not proceeded very far on their way； however； when there
was a pattering of feet behind them； and Toad caught them up and thrust a
paw inside the elbow of each of them； still breathing short and staring into
vacancy。
‘Now； look here； Toad！' said the Rat sharply： ‘as soon as we get to the
town； you'll have to go straight to the police…station； and see if they know
anything about that motor…car and who it belongs to； and lodge a
complaint against it。 And