The Open road (8)

The Open Road (8)

Toad talked big about all he was going to do in the days to come, while stars grew fuller and larger all around them.

Yellow moon, appearing suddenly and silently from nowhere in paticular, came to keep them company and listen to their talk.

At last they turned in to their little bunks in the cart.



" Well, good night, you fellows ! This is the real life for a gentleman ! Talk about your old river ! " Toad said.

" I don't talk about my river, " replied the Rat.
" You KNOW I don't. But I think about it all the time. "

The Mole reached out from under his blanket, felt for the Rat's paw in the darlness, and gave it a squeese.
" I'll do whatever you like, Ratty, " he whispered, " Shall we run away tomorrow morning, quite earlyーvery earlyーand go back to our dear old hole on the river ? "

" No, no, we'll see it out, " whispered back the Rat.
" Thanks awfully, but I ought to stick by Toad till this trip is ended.
It wouldn't be safe for him to be alone. It won't take very long. Good night !"

The end was indeed nearer than even the rat suspected.

After so much open air and excitement, the Toad slept very soundly, and no amount of shaking could rouse him out of bed next morning.

So the Mole and Rat turned to quietly.

While the Rat saw to the horse, and lit a fire, and cleaned last night's cups and platters, and got things ready for brealfaast, the Mole trudged off to the nearest village, a long way off, for milk and eggs and various necessaries that the Toad had fogotten to provide.

By the time Toad appeared on the scene, the hard work had all been done, and the two animals were resting thoroughly exhausted.

Refreshed Toad said, " What a pleasant easy life we had now, after a cares and worries of house keeping at home."

(8/20)