the wind in the willows(柳间风)-第26节
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him so far； and which he had basely forgotten； intervened； and frustrated
his efforts。 In a sort of nightmare he struggled with the strange uncanny
thing that seemed to hold his hands； turn all muscular strivings to water；
and laugh at him all the time； while other travellers； forming up in a line
behind； waited with impatience； making suggestions of more or less value
and comments of more or less stringency and point。 At lastsomehowhe
never rightly understood howhe burst the barriers； attained the goal；
arrived at where all waistcoat pockets are eternally situated； and found
not only no money； but no pocket to hold it； and no waistcoat to hold the
pocket！
To his horror he recollected that he had left both coat and waistcoat
behind him in his cell； and with them his pocket…book； money； keys； watch；
matches； pencil…caseall that makes life worth living； all that distinguishes
the many…pocketed animal； the lord of creation； from the inferior one…
pocketed or no…pocketed productions that hop or trip about permissively；
unequipped for the real contest。
In his misery he made one desperate effort to carry the thing off； and；
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with a return to his fine old mannera blend of the Squire and the College
Donhe said； ‘Look here！ I find I've left my purse behind。 Just give me
that ticket； will you； and I'll send the money on to…morrow？ I'm well…
known in these parts。'
The clerk stared at him and the rusty black bonnet a moment； and then
laughed。 ‘I should think you were pretty well known in these parts；' he
said； ‘if you've tried this game on often。 Here； stand away from the
window； please； madam； you're obstructing the other passengers！'
An old gentleman who had been prodding him in the back for some
moments here thrust him away； and； what was worse； addressed him as his
good woman； which angered Toad more than anything that had occurred
that evening。
Baffled and full of despair； he wandered blindly down the platform
where the train was standing； and tears trickled down each side of his nose。
It was hard； he thought； to be within sight of safety and almost of home；
and to be baulked by the want of a few wretched shillings and by the
pettifogging mistrustfulness of paid officials。 Very soon his escape would
be discovered； the hunt would be up； he would be caught； reviled； loaded
with chains； dragged back again to prison and bread…and… water and straw；
his guards and penalities would be doubled； and O； what sarcastic remarks
the girl would make！ What was to be done？ He was not swift of foot； his
figure was unfortunately recognisable。 Could he not squeeze under the
seat of a carriage？ He had seen this method adopted by schoolboys； when
the journey… money provided by thoughtful parents had been diverted to
other and better ends。 As he pondered； he found himself opposite the
engine； which was being oiled； wiped； and generally caressed by its
affectionate driver； a burly man with an oil…can in one hand and a lump of
cotton…waste in the other。
‘Hullo； mother！' said the engine…driver； ‘what's the trouble？ You don't
look particularly cheerful。'
‘O； sir！' said Toad； crying afresh； ‘I am a poor unhappy washerwoman；
and I've lost all my money； and can't pay for a ticket； and I must get home
to…night somehow； and whatever I am to do I don't know。 O dear； O dear！'
‘That's a bad business； indeed；' said the engine…driver reflectively。
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‘Lost your moneyand can't get homeand got some kids； too； waiting for
you； I dare say？'
‘Any amount of 'em；' sobbed Toad。 ‘And they'll be hungryand
playing with matchesand upsetting lamps； the little innocents！and
quarrelling； and going on generally。 O dear； O dear！'
‘Well； I'll tell you what I'll do；' said the good engine…driver。 ‘You're a
washerwoman to your trade； says you。 Very well； that's that。 And I'm an
engine…driver； as you well may see； and there's no denying it's terribly
dirty work。 Uses up a power of shirts； it does； till my missus is fair tired of
washing of 'em。 If you'll wash a few shirts for me when you get home； and
send 'em along； I'll give you a ride on my engine。 It's against the
Company's regulations； but we're not so very particular in these out…of…the…
way parts。'
The Toad's misery turned into rapture as he eagerly scrambled up into
the cab of the engine。 Of course； he had never washed a shirt in his life；
and couldn't if he tried and； anyhow； he wasn't going to begin； but he
thought： ‘When I get safely home to Toad Hall； and have money again；
and pockets to put it in； I will send the engine…driver enough to pay for
quite a quantity of washing； and that will be the same thing； or better。'
The guard waved his welcome flag； the engine…driver whistled in
cheerful response； and the train moved out of the station。 As the speed
increased； and the Toad could see on either side of him real fields； and
trees； and hedges； and cows； and horses； all flying past him； and as he
thought how every minute was bringing him nearer to Toad Hall； and
sympathetic friends； and money to chink in his pocket； and a soft bed to
sleep in； and good things to eat； and praise and admiration at the recital of
his adventures and his surpassing cleverness； he began to skip up and
down and shout and sing snatches of song； to the great astonishment of the
engine…driver； who had come across washerwomen before； at long
intervals； but never one at all like this。
They had covered many and many a mile； and Toad was already
considering what he would have for supper as soon as he got home； when
he noticed that the engine…driver； with a puzzled expression on his face；
was leaning over the side of the engine and listening hard。 Then he saw
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him climb on to the coals and gaze out over the top of the train； then he
returned and said to Toad： ‘It's very strange； we're the last train running in
this direction to…night； yet I could be sworn that I heard another following
us！'
Toad ceased his frivolous antics at once。 He became grave and
depressed； and a dull pain in the lower part of his spine； communicating
itself to his legs； made him want to sit down and try desperately not to
think of all the possibilities。
By this time the moon was shining brightly； and the engine… driver；
steadying himself on the coal； could command a view of the line behind
them for a long distance。
Presently he called out； ‘I can see it clearly now！ It is an engine； on our
rails； coming along at a great pace！ It looks as if we were being pursued！'
The miserable Toad； crouching in the coal…dust； tried hard to think of
something to do； with dismal want of success。
‘They are gaining on us fast！' cried the engine…driver。 And the engine is
crowded with the queerest lot of people！ Men like ancient warders； waving
halberds； policemen in their helmets； waving truncheons； and shabbily
dressed men in pot…hats； obvious and unmistakable plain…clothes
detectives even at this distance； waving revolvers and walking…sticks； all
waving； and all shouting the same thing〃Stop； stop； stop！〃'
Then Toad fell on his knees among the coals and； raising his clasped
paws in supplication； cried； ‘Save me； only save me； dear kind Mr。
Engine…driver； and I will confess everything！ I am not the simple
washerwoman I seem to be！ I have no children waiting for me； innocent or
otherwise！ I am a toadthe well…known and popular Mr。 Toad； a landed
proprietor； I have just escaped； by my great daring and cleverness； from a
loathsome dungeon into which my enemies had flung me； and if those
fellows on that engine recapture me； it will be chains and bread…and…water
and straw and mi
