Chapter 9 ‘The Mole and the Badger were sitting by the fire in the smoking-room, telling stories and suspecting nothing, for it wasn’t a night for any animals to be out in, when those bloodthirsty villains broke down the doors and rushed in upon them from every side. They made the best fight they could, […]
Chapter 8 One morning, the Rat spied a swallow sitting. Presently it was joined by another, and then by a third; and the birds, fidgeting restlessly on their bough, talked together earnestly and low.Restlessly the Rat wandered off once more, climbed the slope that rose gently from the north bank of the river, and lay
Chapter 7 When the Toad found himself in a dark and noisome dungeon, he flung himself at full length on the floor, and shed bitter tears, and abandoned himself to dark despair.Now the gaoler had a daughter, a pleasant wench and good-hearted, who assisted her father in the lighter duties of his post. She was
Chapter 6 The mole lay stretched on the bank, still waiting for his friend, the Toad, to return. He was completely unaware of the sad incident that took place with the Toad. He had been on the river-bank with some companions, leaving the Rat free to keep an engagement of long standing with the other.The
Chapter 5 It was a bright morning in the early part of summer; the river had resumed its wonted banks and its accustomed pace, and a hot sun seemed to be pulling everything green and bushy and spiky up out of the earth towards him, as if by strings. The Mole and the Water Rat
Chapter 4 Next morning the Mole and the Rat went to the pasture for an afternoon stroll. There, they saw the sheep running together across the pasture. The sheep were in high spirits. They were returning after a long day’s outing with the otter, hunting and exploring on the wide uplands where they had grass
Chapter 3 In the winter time the Rat slept a great deal, retiring early and rising late. During his short day he sometimes scribbled poetry or did other small domestic jobs about the house; and, of course, there were always animals dropping in for a chat, and consequently there was a good deal of story-telling
Chapter 2 One bright summer morning, the two friends stepped out of their house on another adventure. Rounding a bend in the river, they came in sight of a handsome, dignified old house of mellowed red brick, with well-kept lawns reaching down to the water’s edge.‘There’s Toad Hall,’ said the Rat; ‘and that creek on
Chapter 1 There lived a Mole in the forest. He was very hard-working. Right from morning till evening he would clean his little home for the spring season. He would use brooms and dusters to tidy his little home. After the cleaning was over, he would be dead tired. He had dust all over his
Chapter 10 Many wondrous tales were told or read in turn by the boys and Jenny during the long evenings as we sat drawing, weaving and plaiting in our rosy study. In fact this winter was a truly happy time, and when at length the rain ceased and the bright sun again smiled upon the
Chapter 9 ‘Next morning, having packed her belongings in the cajack, we both went on board; and bidding adieu to her well-known bay she took her seat before me, and I made for home.‘We should have reached Rockburg this evening had not an accident occurred to our skiff and compelled us to put in at
Chapter 8 My wife and Franz, though somewhat startled by the unexpected absence of Fritz, were delighted to see us return safely, and listened with eager interest to our adventures. My wife shuddered, and scarcely suppressed an involuntary scream as she heard of our desperate encounter with the lion and his mate. Jack’s danger and
Chapter 7 On the following morning we were early astir; and as soon as breakfast was over, we went regularly to work with the bird-lime. The tough, adhesive mixture of caoutchouc oil and turpentine turned out well.The boys brought rods, which I smeared over, and made them place among the upper branches, where the fruit
Chapter 6 At this, little Franz slipped behind his mother, Ernest took a glance round to mark a place of retreat, Jack raised the butt-end of his gun, and every eye was fixed on the trunk of the tree, down which a large land-crab commenced a leisurely descent. As it approached within reach, Jack hit
Chapter 5 Having now discovered how to provide bread for my family, my thoughts began to revert to the wreck and all the valuables yet contained within it. Above all, I was bent on acquiring possession of the beautiful pinnace, and aware that our united efforts would be required to do the necessary work, I