Chapter 11 Chapter Eleven "His Tears Like Summer Rains"

The Rat stretched out a nimble little brown paw and seized the Toad by the scruff of the neck, lifting and pulling hard.The toad in the water climbed slowly but surely to the edge of the hole, and at last stood safe and sound in the hall, all mud and algae, and the water running down him, but he was happy, he was back to his old self, and now he He came to a friend's house again, and he no longer had to run around and hide, pretending to be a washerwoman who lost his identity, but was going to do big things. "Oh, Rat!" he cried. "Since the last time I saw you, I've been through so much that you can't even think about it! The trials, the tortures, I've borne it all with pride! And then the escapes, the disguises, the tricks, all Cleverly planned and it worked! I've been in jail - escaped naturally! I've been thrown in a canal - I've swam ashore! I've stolen a horse - and sold it for a fortune! I cajoled All of them—let them do exactly what I want! Oh, it's true, I'm a fine toad! What do you think was my last act of heroism? Let me tell you..."

"Toad," said the Rat, interrupting him gravely and firmly, "you go upstairs at once and take off your rags, which may have belonged to some washerwoman. Then you have a good bath and put on my clothes." your clothes, and try to come down as a gentleman as you can; I never in my life saw anything shabbier, dirtier, or less respectable than you are! Well, stop bragging and arguing, go Come on! I have something to tell you later!" Toad was at first going to stop and reply.He had had enough errands in prison, and here he was obviously going to start all over again; and a rat at that!But he saw his own countenance in the mirror on the hat rack, with the old black bonnet buckled askew over one eye, and he changed his mind, and walked quickly up the stairs obediently, to the Rat's washroom. room to go.He washed there, combed his hair, changed his clothes, and stood in front of the mirror for a long time, staring at himself proudly and happily, thinking that even for a moment he might be mistaken for a washerwoman. Man must be a complete idiot.

When he came down again, the lunch was set on the table, and Toad was glad to see him, for he had been through a lot of embarrassment and trouble since he had eaten the gipsy's good breakfast.While they were eating, Toad related to the Rat all his adventures, chiefly his cleverness, quick wit, and cunning in difficult situations; and he heard that he had had a merry and varied adventure.But the more he talked and the more he blew, the more serious and silent the Rat became. When the Toad at last had said enough and stopped, and there was a moment's silence, the Rat began to speak: "Listen, Toad, I don't want to give you any more pain, for you have had enough of it. But seriously, you don't think you What a dreadful ass was you? By your own admission, you were handcuffed, jailed, starved, chased, terrified, humiliated, mocked, thrown in disgrace In the water—and thrown by a woman! What's the fun in it? What's the fun in it? It's all about you trying to steal a car. You know, from the first time you see a car, except It didn't get you anything but annoyances. But if you're hooked on them - 5 minute heat is your fad - why steal? You can be a cripple if you think it's fun to be a cripple : Or, if you are interested, you can be a bankrupt; but why be a criminal? When will you be a little sensible, think of your friends, and try to honor them? For example, I walk around Go, don't you think I'd be glad to hear someone say my fellow befriends a prisoner?"

Having said this, it must be said that there was one very reassuring aspect of Toad's character, that he was so good-natured that he never cared when his true friends scolded him.No matter how fierce the scolding is, he can always think about it. So though the Rat spoke so harshly, he couldn't help saying to himself, "But it's fun! It's fun!" And he made strange suppressed sounds in his heart: kekeke, bu bu bu, and snoring or uncorking the soda bottle, etc., but when the Rat finished speaking, he still sighed deeply and said obediently in a low voice: " You're so right, Rat! How right you've been! Yes, I was a pompous ass, I see it now, I'm going to be a good toad, and I won't be that kind of ass anymore As for cars, I haven't been that interested since I drowned in that river of yours. In fact, while I was hanging over the edge of your hole gasping for breath, I had an idea— -A really brilliant idea--it has something to do with steamboats... Come on, come on! Don't be so mad, old chap, don't stomp your feet, don't be upset; it's just an idea, let's leave that for now. Let's drink our coffee , smoke a little more, chat quietly, and then I amble back to my Toad Manor, put on my own clothes, and go on as before. I've had enough adventures. I want a quiet , a stable and respected life, a little stewardship of my property and improvements, and a little gardening and landscaping from time to time. When friends come to see me, I can always give my friend something to eat; a carriage for a drive in the country, as I used to do in the old days, before I got restless and wanting something to do."

"Walking slowly back to Toad Manor?" cried the Rat in great excitement. "What are you talking about? You mean you haven't even heard of it?" "What did you hear?" asked Toad, his face turning blue. "Speak, Rat! Speak! Don't keep it from me! I haven't heard of anything?" "You mean to tell me," cried the Rat, beating the table with his little fist, "that you never heard anything about weasels and weasels?" "What, those wild beasts in the forest?" cried Toad, trembling in both hands and feet. "No, not a word! What did they do?"

"... I never heard how they took over Toad Manor?" the Rat went on. The Toad rested his elbows on the table, and his chin on his paws; and from each eye a great teardrop overflowed and fell on the table: Bu!predict! "Go on, Rat," he went on grunting, "tell me all about it. The worst is over. I'm an animal again. I can take it." "When you . . . get into . . . your . . . that . It was due to a misunderstanding about a... a car, you know..." Toad just nodded. "Naturally there was a lot of talk then," went on the Rat, "not only here on the banks, but also in the old forest. The animals were divided as usual. The animals on the banks helped you, and said it was unfair to you, and now in the big There is no justice on the ground. But the animals in the primeval forest say something ugly, saying that you deserve it, and it is time for the end of what you did. They become very arrogant and go around saying that you are finished this time ! You're never coming back, never, ever!"

Toad nodded again, but remained silent. "They were little beasts," went on the Rat, "but the Mole and the Badger insisted faithfully that you would come back soon. They couldn't tell how, but they said they would!" Toad sat down in his chair again, and gave a smirk. "They're arguing with history," went on the Rat, "and they say they never knew there was a criminal law against your thick skin and smooth tongue, and you have money. So they took their things Move into Toad Manor, sleep there, ventilate the house, and pack it up for you to come home. Of course they didn't expect anything to happen, but they still worry about the animals in the old forest. Now I'm going to tell my story One of the saddest and most tragic passages in the book. On a dark night—a very dark night, and a storm—a pack of weasels, armed to the teeth, crept across the carriage drive to the front door. Meanwhile, a pack of Desperado ferrets ran through the vegetable gardens and took over the backyard and lodges, while a scouting team of weasels took over the conservatory and billiard room with no scruples, leaving the French windows wide open on the grass."

"The Mole and the Badger were in the smoking-room, sitting by the fire and telling stories, not suspecting him at all, for no animal would come out on such a night. But at this moment the bloodthirsty The thugs broke down the door, and came rushing at them from all directions. They fought hard, but to what avail? They were unarmed, and they were attacked suddenly. Besides, how could two animals deal with hundreds of animals? The animals beat them so badly with sticks that they drove the poor faithful animals out into the cold and wet, and cursed them with a lot of obscenity and nonsense! Hearing this, the ruthless toad giggled instead, but then he shrank into a ball, trying to put on a particularly serious look.

"Since then the animals of the Primeval Forest have taken up residence at Toad Manor," continued the Rat, "and will continue to do so! They sleep in their beds most of the day, and eat twenty-four hours a day. The place has become such a mess (I heard people say it) that people can't bear to look at it! They eat your food, drink your drink, tell nasty jokes about you, sing nasty songs about... well, about prisons and officials and police; horrible personal attacks that don't A little humor.They told the merchant and everyone that they were going to live forever. "

"Oh, yes!" said the Toad, getting up, and seizing a stick. "I'm going to see it right away!" "It's no use, Toad!" cried the Rat after him. "You'd better come back and sit down. You'll only cause trouble." But the toad had already left, and it couldn't be stopped.He walked briskly down the road, holding his stick aloft, babbling and swearing, until he was near the front door of his house, when suddenly a long yellow ferret with a gun jumped out from behind the fence. "Who?" snapped the ferret. "Don't talk nonsense!" said Toad angrily.

"You dare to talk to me like that? Go away now, or..." The ferret stopped talking, but put the butt of his gun on his shoulder. Toad lay on the road carefully, pong!A bullet whized past the top of his head. Toad was so frightened that he got up and flew away as fast as he could, hearing the ferret behind him laughing as he ran, followed by other horrible shrill laughter, and the laughter continued. Toad came running back, with his head downcast, and told the Rat what had happened to him. "What did I tell you?" said the Rat. "It's no use. They've posted sentries, all armed. You'll just have to wait." Toad didn't plan to give up on this idea right away.So he got his boat out, and set out in a boat, and rowed down the river to where Toad Manor was before, and the gardens came down to the river. When he came within sight of his old home, he stopped his oars and observed the situation carefully.All seemed very quiet and nobody was there.He could see the whole front of Toad Manor gleaming in the setting sun, the pigeons sitting in twos and threes on the straight ridge, the garden, the flowers in bloom, the creek to the boathouse, the little wooden bridge over the creek; they were quiet, No one, apparently, was waiting for his return.He thought he might try to get to the boathouse first.He paddled cautiously to the mouth of the creek, but just as he passed under the bridge... Crack! A large stone thrown from above hurled itself through the bottom of the boat.The boat filled with water and sank, and the toad struggled in the deep water.He looked up to see two weasels leaning against the bridge railing and gloating at him. "I'll hit you on the head next time, Toad!" they yelled at him.Angry Toad swam up to the bank, while the two weasels held me up and I held you up, laughing and laughing, and laughing, until they had almost two cramp--which of course meant, A weasel has a cramp. Toad finished his weary way on two legs, and once more related to the Rat his failure. "Yes, what did I tell you?" said the Rat very angrily. "Well, listen to me! Look what a good thing you've done! Lost my precious ship, that's what you've done! Completely ruined the fine dress I lent you to wear! Tell the truth, Toad, All animals can't stand you, and I doubt you'll ever find a friend!" Toad saw at once how wrong and stupid he had done.He admitted his mistakes and self-willedness, and made a sincere apology to the Rat for losing his boat and ruining his clothes.His frank admission of his mistakes always keeps his friends from criticizing him and wins them over to his side.He said at last: "Rat! I see, I am a self-righteous and self-willed toad! From now on, please believe me, I will be humble and meek, after hearing your kind advice and getting your full consent. Before, I didn't do anything!" "If that is the case," said the good Rat, who had calmed down, "then I would advise you to sit down to your supper, as it is getting late and it will be on the table at once, and you will be very Patience. I'm sure there's nothing we can do about it, but first we'll see the Mole and the Badger, and get their latest news, and we'll discuss what to do, and hear what they think of this tricky business." "Oh, yes, it goes without saying that the Mole and the Badger must be seen first," said Toad lightly. "What has become of them, these dear fellows? I've forgotten them all." "You ought very well to ask!" said the Rat reproachfully. "While you're driving around the country in your expensive car, galloping around on a thoroughbred horse, eating and drinking, those poor faithful friends are camping out in the open no matter the weather, The days pass badly, and the nights sleep badly; they watch your house, patrol your grounds, keep an eye on the weasels and weasels, plot and plan how they can recover your estate. You don't deserve such a loyal and noble friend , Toad, you really don't deserve it. When it's too late, you'll regret that you didn't value them when you had friends like them! " "I know, I am an ungrateful beast," sobbed the Toad, weeping bitterly. "Let me go out and find them, go out into the cold night, and share their suffering, and try to prove by my actions... Wait! I'm sure I heard the jingling of a dish! Supper at last Here it comes, long live! Come, Rat!" The Rat remembered how long poor Toad had been in prison, and he must be lenient with him. So he followed Toad to the table, and generously advised him to eat quickly, so as to make up for his loss. They had just sat down in their armchairs after dinner when there was a loud knock at the door. Toad was nervous, but the Rat nodded mysteriously to him, and went right up to the door to open it, and in came Mr. Badger. His whole appearance showed that he couldn't go home for several nights, and he didn't get a little rest.His shoes were muddy, and he looked unkempt; but he, Mr. Badger, was not a very handsome fellow, even on the best of days.He went up to Toad solemnly, shook his paw, and said, "Welcome home, Toad! My God! What did I say? What home, indeed! Poor homecoming. Poor Toad!" Then he turned away, sat down at the table, drew his chair towards him, and began to cut a large piece of cold pie. The Toad was terrified of this very serious and sinister manner of meeting; but the Rat whispered to him, "Don't worry about it; don't mind it; don't say anything to him first. When he wants to eat, He's always very depressed and morose. In half an hour he's completely different." So they waited in silence, and presently there was another, softer knock. The Rat nodded to Toad, went to open the door, and let the Mole in.He was dressed in rags, hadn't washed, and had hay and straw stuck to his fur. "Long live! Here is Brother Toad!" cried the Mole, with a blush in his face. "Think about it, you're back again!" He danced around him. "We never dreamed you'd come back so soon! Why, you must have escaped, you're a clever and resourceful toad!" The Rat, terrified, pulled his elbow, but it was too late.Toad has already gotten up. "Smart? Oh no!" he said. "I'm not very smart in the eyes of my friends. I just escaped from the strongest prison in England, that's all! I just got on a train and got away with it, that's all! I just dressed up , walking around the country, fooling everybody, that's all! Oh, no! I'm a donkey, I'm a donkey! I'll tell you a little risk or two I took, you You can measure it yourself!" "Yes, yes," said the Mole, and went to the supper table. "Tell me while I'm eating. After breakfast, I haven't eaten anything! Ouch! Ouch!" He sat down and just went about making beef and sauerkraut. Toad stood with his legs apart on the hearthrug, and reached into his trousers pocket and drew a handful of silver coins. "Look at this!" he cried, showing the silver coins to everyone. "Not too bad to get these in a few minutes? How do you think I got them, Mole? Sold a horse! That's what I do!" "Go on, Toad," said the Mole, who was too interested. "Shut up, Toad!" said the Rat. "Don't tease him, Mole, you know what he is, but please tell us as soon as possible, what's going on, and what we'd better do, now that Toad is back at last." "It couldn't have been worse," replied the Mole excitedly, "and what the hell, I don't know! The Badger and I have been round and round the place, day and night, but always the same There are sentries everywhere, guns pointed at us, stones thrown at us, and there's always an animal on guard, and when they see us, oh, they laugh like that! That's what I hate the most!" "It's a very difficult situation," said the Rat in a heavy voice, "but I think I know in my heart what to do with Toad now. I'll tell you that he should—" "But he shouldn't!" cried the Mole, with his mouth full. "That's not the case at all! You don't understand. What he should do is, he should—" "Hmph, I won't do it anyway!" Toad exclaimed excitedly. "I don't want to listen to you guys running around! We're talking about my house, and I know exactly what to do, and I'll tell you. I'm going to..." The three of them were talking at the same time, as loud as they were talking, and the noise was deafening. At this moment, a very thin and calm voice came, and it said: "Everyone, stop talking immediately!" Several animals suddenly fell silent. It was the Badger who had finished his pie, and turned round in his chair, to stare at them hard. When he saw that he had their attention, and that they were obviously waiting to hear what he had to say to them, he turned back towards the table and reached for the cheese.The good character of this venerable animal commanded such admiration that no one said a word until he had finished his meal and brushed the crumbs off his knees.Toad was the only one who kept moving to and fro, but the Rat held him down hard. When the Badger had finished eating, he rose from his seat, stood before the fire, and at last began to speak in a deep voice. "Toad!" he said fiercely. "You little wretch! Aren't you ashamed? What do you think your father, my old friend, would say if he were here this evening and knew all you've done?" Toad now lifted his legs up on the sofa, and turned all over on his stomach, whimpering with regret and shaking all over. "Okay, okay!" Badger said kindly, and continued. "Don't take it to heart, don't cry. What's over let's let it go and start all over again. But the Mole is perfectly right. The Mole keeps watch, they're the best sentinels in the world. Want to attack That place, it's totally useless. They're too powerful for us." "That's the end of it," cried Toad, with his head on the sofa-cushion. "I'm going to sign up for the army, and I'll never see my dear Toad Manor again!" "Well, cheer up, Toad!" said the Badger. "There are other ways than taking that place back by force. I am not finished. Now I will tell you a great secret." Toad sat up slowly and wiped away his tears.Secrets had an infinite fascination for him, for he could never keep them, and though he had faithfully pledged not to tell them, he would tell others as soon as he had promised, and it was this unclean thrill that gave him Unlimited fun. "There...is...a...subterranean... passage," Badger said emphatically, "from the river bank not far from here, all the way to Toad Manor." "Oh, nonsense, old Badger," said Toad, very proudly, "you've heard it from the taverns around here. I've counted every inch of land in and out of Toad's estate. I can assure you that there is no That thing!" "My young friend," said the Badger, with great gravity, "your father was a respectable animal, far more respectable than some others I have known, and he was a very good friend of mine, who told Told me a lot of things he never dreamed of telling you. He found the tunnel—of course he didn't make it, it was done hundreds of years before he came to live there—he just fixed it up And keep it open, because he thought he might need it someday in case of trouble or danger, and he took me to see it. 'Don't let my son know about this tunnel,' he said, 'he's a good My child, but he is so frivolous by nature that he can hardly control his tongue. If he encounters real difficulties one day, this tunnel will be useful to him, and then you can tell him about this secret tunnel, but here Before, don’t tell him.’” The other two animals stared hard at Toad to see what he would do at this.Toad was about to lose his temper at first, but immediately cheered up, and regained his cordiality and kindness. "Yes, yes," he said, "maybe I'm a little more talkative. A man of the world like me--I'm surrounded by friends--we joke, we brag, we tell jokes--my tongue I can't help but talk too much. I have a gift for talking. Some people say I should have a salon, whatever it is. It doesn't matter. Go on, old Badger. How will this tunnel you speak of help Where are we busy?" "I've discovered a thing or two lately," continued the Badger. "I asked Otter to pretend to be a chimney sweep, and go to the back door with a brush on his shoulders, saying he wanted some work. I'll find out that there's going to be a chimney sweep tomorrow night." Big feast. Whose birthday is it--the Chief Weasel, I believe--and all the weasels will gather in the dining-room, and eat and drink and talk and laugh, and go on like this, without suspecting anything. They had no guns, no swords, no clubs, no weapons of any kind! " "But there's a sentry out there as usual," said the Rat. "That's right," said the Badger, "that's exactly what I'm going to say. Those weasels will be completely dependent on their croaking sentries. The tunnel will come in handy. That very useful tunnel goes all the way to the pantry, and it's in the dining-room." beside!" "Aha! that creaking board in the pantry!" said Toad. "now I understand!" "When we got there, we crept up quietly, into the pantry..." cried the Mole. "...with our pistols, swords, and clubs..." cried the Rat. "...run up to them," said the Badger. "... beat 'em, beat 'em, beat 'em!" Toad yelled drunkenly, running round and round the room, jumping from chair to chair. "Very well," said the Badger, resuming his usual coolness, "that's our plan, and there's nothing more to argue about. Well, it's getting late now, you all go to bed. To-morrow morning we will Make all the necessary arrangements." Toad naturally obediently followed the others to bed—he knew it best not to object—though he felt too excited to sleep.But he had had a long day, packed with many things; the sheets and blankets were lovely and comfortable after sleeping on a thin layer of hay on the stony floor of his stuffy cell; Within a few seconds of leaning against the pillow, he was already snoring happily.Naturally, he dreamed many things: he dreamed that the road deserted him just as he was about to take it; that the canal pursued him and caught him; The laundry drove into the banquet hall; he groped his way alone in the secret tunnel, but it twisted and turned, and at last it wobbled and stood upright; yet he came at last to Toad Manor , An Ran, Victory, and all his friends surrounded him, sincerely thinking that he was indeed a clever toad. The next morning he got up very late, and when he went downstairs, he saw that his three friends had already had breakfast.The Mole didn't tell anyone where he was going, and he didn't know where he was going.The Badger was sitting in his armchair reading the newspaper, not giving the slightest thought to what was going to happen that evening.The Rat, on the other hand, ran busily round the room, with arms full of all kinds of weapons, and divided them into four little heaps on the floor, saying breathlessly and excitedly as he went: "This sword ... for ... Rat, this sword ... for ... Mole, this sword ... for ... Toad, this sword ... for ... Badger! This pistol ... for ... Rat... ..., this pistol ... for ... Mole, this pistol ... for ... Toad, this pistol ... for ... Badger!" Just like this, with a constant, rhythmic voice, the four small piles gradually became higher and higher. "Nice job, Rat," said Badger after a while, looking up from the edge of his paper at the busy Rat, "I don't blame you. But we'll just slip past the Hateful weasels of guns, I can assure you we don't need any swords and pistols. Four of us with sticks, we can wipe them out in 5 minutes as soon as we enter the dining room. The whole thing I could do it by myself, I just don't want to take away the fun from all of you!" "Better play it safe," replied the Rat, wiping the barrel of a pistol with his sleeve, and looking down the barrel. When the Toad had finished his breakfast, he took a thick stick, and swung it hard at the imaginary animals. "They robbed my house, I let them learn!" he cried. "I let them learn, I let them learn!" "Don't say 'let them learn', Toad," said the Rat, startled. "That's not the norm." "Why do you keep scolding Toad?" said the Badger very displeased. "What did he say? That's what I said myself, and if I can say it, so can he! " "I'm sorry," said the Rat modestly, "I just thought I should say 'teach them a lesson' instead of 'teach them a lesson.'" "Teach 'em means let 'em learn, and we don't say 'teach 'em," replied the Badger, "we say let 'em learn--let 'em, let 'em! And we're going to do it! " "Oh, well, say what you like," said the Rat.Confused himself, he immediately retreated into a corner, where he could be heard muttering: "Let them learn, teach them, teach them, let them learn!" until Badger said very sternly. Tell him to shut up. The Mole was presently rushing into the room, evidently enjoying himself very much. "I'm having such a good time!" he said at once. "I pissed off the weasel!" "I suppose you're doing it very carefully, Mole?" said the Rat anxiously. "I think so," said the Mole confidently. "I came up with the idea when I went into the kitchen to look at Toad's breakfast to keep it from getting cold. I saw the old washerwoman's clothes he had on when he came back yesterday hanging on the towel rack in front of the fire. So I put it on, and a bonnet, and a scarf, and went up to Toad Manor, very daring. Of course the sentinels were there with guns, and asked 'who are you' and all that stupid stuff. 'You guys , sir!' I said politely, 'Is there anything to wash today?'” "They looked at me, stern, stern, haughty, and said, 'Go away, laundress! We don't wash anything while we're on guard.' 'Or another time?' I said, ho, ho, Oh! Ain't I very funny, Toad?" "A poor frivolous animal!" said the Toad, very proudly.In fact he was quite jealous of what the Mole had just done.As long as he thinks first and doesn't oversleep, that's exactly what he wants to do himself. "Some weasels were very angry," went on the Mole, "and the officer on duty spoke to me, very curtly, and said: 'Go now, my good lady, go away! Don't let my people Gossiping while on duty.''Go away,' I said. 'It won't be long before I'm the one to go!'" "Oh, good Mole, how can you say that?" said the Rat, alarmed. Badger put down his newspaper. "I see them prick up their ears and look at each other," went on the Mole. "The officer said to them: 'Don't pay attention to her, she doesn't know what she's talking about.'" "'Well! I don't know?,' I said. 'Well, let me tell you. My daughter does Mr. Badger's laundry, and you'll see if I know what I'm talking about; you'll know soon too! 100 bloodthirsty badgers, with spears, come this night to attack the toad farm, from the clearing. 6 The boat rats, with pistols and cutlasses, come up the river, and land in the garden; and a troop of toads, The toad called Die Than Subdue, aka Death Without Honor, is about to rush into the orchard and sweep everything away, calling for revenge. When you're done, you have nothing to wash, unless you get away with it! ' Then I ran away, and hid where they could not see me; soon I was crawling back down the ditch, and peeping at them through the bushes.They were unspeakably nervous, running about at once, tripping over each other, pressing each other, giving orders to each other, and not listening to each other; The farthest head went, and then the weasels were sent to call them back again; and I heard them say to each other, 'That's the way weasels are, they sit comfortably in the banquet hall, eat and drink, sing and play, But we have to guard in the cold and darkness, and in the end we are killed by bloodthirsty badgers! ," "Oh, Mole, you stupid ass!" cried Toad. "You ruined everything!" "Mole," said Badger, in his calm and serene tone, "I know you have more wit in your little finger than some animals have in their whole fat body. You've done a great job, and I've begun to have great confidence in you." Good Mole! Clever Mole!" Toad was almost mad with envy, especially because the Mole did such clever things that he could never think of in his life; Before he could lose his temper or be teased by the Badger, he rang the bell to call for lunch. It was a simple but hungry meal--bacon and beans and macaroni pudding; and when they had finished, the Badger sat down in his arm-chair and said: "Well, we've got everything sorted out for tonight, and when we're done, maybe It's late, so I'll take a nap if I can." He covered his face with a handkerchief, and soon fell asleep snoring. Impatient and industrious, the Rat immediately went on with his preparations, and began running up and down among his so small a pile, grunting as he went: "This leash... for... Rat, this leash... …给……鼹鼠，这根皮带……给……癞蛤蟆，这根皮带……给……獾！”等等等等，还想出没完没了的新装备，因此鼹鼠趁这会儿挽住癞蛤蟆的胳臂，带他到外面露天里，把他推到一把柳条椅上，要他把他的全部历险经过从头到尾一五一十地告诉他，这件事癞蛤蟆可太高兴做了。 鼹鼠是一位好听众，而癞蛤蟆呢，只要没有人打断他的话或者不客气地顶他，他可以讲个没完。说实在的，他所说的话当中，有许多更确切地说属于只要我当时想到而不是在十分钟后想到就可能是这样做的。而正是他随口讲讲的这些，却总是最好听和最有趣的历险；为什么它们就不能像那些当真做了但还不够过瘾的事情一样，真正地成为我们的历险呢？