disappeared down the carriage…drive。 Then； laughing heartily； he dressed
as quickly as possible in the smartest suit he could lay hands on at the
moment； filled his pockets with cash which he took from a small drawer in
the dressing…table； and next； knotting the sheets from his bed together and
tying one end of the improvised rope round the central mullion of the
handsome Tudor window which formed such a feature of his bedroom； he
scrambled out； slid lightly to the ground； and； taking the opposite direction
to the Rat； marched off lightheartedly； whistling a merry tune。
It was a gloomy luncheon for Rat when the Badger and the Mole at
length returned； and he had to face them at table with his pitiful and
unconvincing story。 The Badger's caustic； not to say brutal； remarks may
be imagined； and therefore passed over； but it was painful to the Rat that
even the Mole； though he took his friend's side as far as possible； could
not help saying； ‘You've been a bit of a duffer this time； Ratty！ Toad； too；
of all animals！'
‘He did it awfully well；' said the crestfallen Rat。
‘He did YOU awfully well！' rejoined the Badger hotly。 ‘However；
talking won't mend matters。 He's got clear away for the time； that's certain；
and the worst of it is； he'll be so conceited with what he'll think is his
cleverness that he may commit any folly。 One comfort is； we're free now；
and needn't waste any more of our precious time doing sentry…go。 But we'd
better continue to sleep at Toad Hall for a while longer。 Toad may be
brought back at any momenton a stretcher； or between two policemen。'
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So spoke the Badger； not knowing what the future held in store； or
how much water； and of how turbid a character； was to run under bridges
before Toad should sit at ease again in his ancestral Hall。
Meanwhile； Toad； gay and irresponsible； was walking briskly along
the high road； some miles from home。 At first he had taken by… paths； and
crossed many fields； and changed his course several times； in case of
pursuit； but now； feeling by this time safe from recapture； and the sun
smiling brightly on him； and all Nature joining in a chorus of approval to
the song of self…praise that his own heart was singing to him； he almost
danced along the road in his satisfaction and conceit。
‘Smart piece of work that！' he remarked to himself chuckling。 ‘Brain
against brute forceand brain came out on the topas it's bound to do。
Poor old Ratty！ My！ won't he catch it when the Badger gets back！ A
worthy fellow； Ratty； with many good qualities； but very little intelligence
and absolutely no education。 I must take him in hand some day； and see if
I can make something of him。'
Filled full of conceited thoughts such as these he strode along； his head
in the air； till he reached a little town； where the sign of ‘The Red Lion；'
swinging across the road halfway down the main street； reminded him that
he had not breakfasted that day； and that he was exceedingly hungry after
his long walk。 He marched into the Inn； ordered the best luncheon that
could be provided at so short a notice； and sat down to eat it in the coffee…
room。
He was about half…way through his meal when an only too familiar
sound； approaching down the street； made him start and fall a… trembling
all over。 The poop…poop！ drew nearer and nearer； the car could be heard to
turn into the inn…yard and come to a stop； and Toad had to hold on to the
leg of the table to conceal his over…mastering emotion。 Presently the party
entered the coffee…room； hungry； talkative； and gay； voluble on their
experiences of the morning and the merits of the chariot that had brought
them along so well。 Toad listened eagerly； all ears； for a time； at last he
could stand it no longer。 He slipped out of the room quietly； paid his bill at
the bar； and as soon as he got outside sauntered round quietly to the inn…
yard。 ‘There cannot be any harm；' he said to himself； ‘in my only just
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LOOKING at it！'
The car stood in the middle of the yard； quite unattended； the stable…
helps and other hangers…on being all at their dinner。 Toad walked slowly
round it； inspecting； criticising； musing deeply。
‘I wonder；' he said to himself presently； ‘I wonder if this sort of car
STARTS easily？'
Next moment； hardly knowing how it came about； he found he had
hold of the handle and was turning it。 As the familiar sound broke forth；
the old passion seized on Toad and completely mastered him； body and
soul。 As if in a dream he found himself； somehow； seated in the driver's
seat； as if in a dream； he pulled the lever and swung the car round the yard
and out through the archway； and； as if in a dream； all sense of right and
wrong； all fear of obvious consequences； seemed temporarily suspended。
He increased his pace； and as the car devoured the street and leapt forth on
the high road through the open country； he was only conscious that he was
Toad once more； Toad at his best and highest； Toad the terror； the traffic…
queller； the Lord of the lone trail； before whom all must give way or be
smitten into nothingness and everlasting night。 He chanted as he flew； and
the car responded with sonorous drone； the miles were eaten up under him
as he sped he knew not whither； fulfilling his instincts； living his hour；
reckless of what might come to him。
* * * * * *
‘To my mind；' observed the Chairman of the Bench of Magistrates
cheerfully； ‘the ONLY difficulty that presents itself in this otherwise very
clear case is； how we can possibly make it sufficiently hot for the
incorrigible rogue and hardened ruffian whom we see cowering in the
dock before us。 Let me see： he has been found guilty； on the clearest
evidence； first； of stealing a valuable motor…car； secondly； of driving to the
public danger； and； thirdly； of gross impertinence to the rural police。 Mr。
Clerk； will you tell us； please； what is the very stiffest penalty we can
impose for each of these offences？ Without； of course； giving the prisoner
the benefit of any doubt； because there isn't any。'
The Clerk scratched his nose with his pen。 ‘Some people would
consider；' he observed； ‘that stealing the motor…car was the worst offence；
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and so it is。 But cheeking the police undoubtedly carries the severest
penalty； and so it ought。 Supposing you were to say twelve months for the
theft； which is mild； and three years for the furious driving； which is
lenient； and fifteen years for the cheek； which was pretty bad sort of cheek；
judging by what we've heard from the witness…box； even if you only
believe one…tenth part of what you heard； and I never believe more myself…
…those figures； if added together correctly； tot up to nineteen years'
‘First…rate！' said the Chairman。
‘So you had better make it a round twenty years and be on the safe
side；' concluded the Clerk。
‘An excellent suggestion！' said the Chairman approvingly。 ‘Prisoner！
Pull yourself together and try and stand up straight。 It's going to be twenty
years for you this time。 And mind； if you appear before us again； upon any
charge whatever； we shall have to deal with you very seriously！'
Then the brutal minions of the law fell upon the hapless Toad； loaded
him with chains； and dragged him from the Court House； shrieking；
praying； protesting； across the marketplace； where the playful populace；
always as severe upon detected crime as they are sympathetic and helpful
when one is merely ‘wanted；' assailed him with jeers； carrots； and popular
catch…words； past hooting school children； their innocent faces lit up with
the pleasure they ever derive from the sight of a gentleman in difficulties；
across the hollow…sounding drawbridge； below the spiky portcullis； unde