It was the Water Rat The two animals stood and regarded each other cautiously Hello Mole said the Water Rat Hello Rat said the Mole Would you like to come over inquired the Rat He stepped into a little boat which the Mole had not observed It was just the size for two animals The Rat rowed briskly across He held up his forepaw as the Mole stepped gingerly down Now then step lively he said and the Mole soon found himself seated in the stern of a real boat This has been a wonderful day said the Mole as the Rat shoved off Do you know I’ve never been in a boat before in all my life What cried the Rat Believe me my young friend there is absolute nothing better than simply messing about in boats Look here If you’ve really nothing to do this morning why don’t we drop down the river together and have a long day of it The Mole waggled his toes from sheer happiness and leaned back blissfully into the soft cushions What a day I’m having he said Let us start at once The Rat pulled the boat up alongside his hole and after a short interval reappeared staggering under a fat wicker luncheon-basket Shove that under your feet he observed to the Mole as he passed it down into the boat and took the oars again What’s inside it asked the Mole wriggling with curiosity Cold chicken replied the Rat briefly Coldhamcoldbeefpickledgherkinssaladfrenchrollssandwichesgingeralelemonade Oh stop stop cried the Mole in ecstasies This is too much Do you really think so inquired the Rat seriously It’s only what I always take on these little excursions 12
The Mole never heard a word he was saying Absorbed in the new life he was entering upon he trailed a paw in the water and dreamed long waking dreams The Water Rat like the good little fellow he was rowed steadily on and did not disturb him So this is a river said the Mole after a while The River corrected the Rat And you really live by the river What a jolly life By it and with it and on it and in it said the Rat It’s my world and I don’t want any other What it hasn’t got is not worth having What lies over there asked the Mole waving a paw towards a woodland on one Aren’t they very nice people in there said the Mole a trifle nervously W-e-ll replied the Rat let me see The squirrels are all right and the rabbits some of em but rabbits are a mixed lot And then there’s Badger of course He lives right in the heart of it wouldn’t live anywhere else Nobody interferes with him They’d better not he added significantly side of the river much we river bankers That Oh that’s just the Wild Wood said the Rat shortly We don’t go there very 13
Why who should interfere with him asked the Mole Well of course there are others explained the Rat Weasels and foxes and so on They’re all right in a way but well you can’t really trust them and that’s the fact Now then Here’s our backwater at last where we’re going to lunch The Rat brought the boat alongside the bank made her fast helped the still awkward Mole safely ashore and swung out the luncheon basket When all was ready the Rat said Now pitch in old fellow and they both ate When the edge of their hunger was somewhat dulled there was a rustle behind them A stripy head with high shoulders behind it peered forth Come on old Badger shouted the Rat The Badger trotted forward a pace or two then grunted H’m Company and turned his back and disappeared from view That’s just the sort of fellow he is observed the disappointed Rat Simply hates society Now we won’t see any more of him today From where they sat they could get a glimpse of the main stream Just then a boat flashed into view the rower a short stout figure splashing badly and rolling a good deal but working his hardest The Rat stood up and 14 hailed him but Toad for it was he shook his head and settled sternly to his work He’ll be out of the boat in a minute if he rolls like that said the Rat sitting down again Well I suppose we ought to be moving I wonder which of us had better pack the luncheon basket Packing the basket was not quite such pleasant work as unpacking the basket It never is But the Mole was bent on enjoying everything and the task got finished at last The afternoon sun was getting low as the Rat rowed gently homewards in a dreamy mood
