Chapter 3 The Open Road

So the three friends left Toad Hall that afternoon. The weather was lovely—warm sun, but not too hot. They went a long way in the caravan and saw a lot of new things. Late in the evening they stopped and ate. Toad talked about his plans for the next day.

“This is a good life!” he said happily. “This is better than your river, Rat!”

“No,it isn't,” said Rat sadly.

“Ratty,” said Mole very quietly because he didn't want Toad to hear. “Do you want to go home? We can leave very early in the morning.”

“No, no,” answered Rat. “Thank you, Mole, but we can't leave Toad.We have to stay with him.He'll only be interested in the caravan for a short time. Then he'll find something new.”

The next morning, Rat and Mole got up early, but they couldn't wake Toad up. And so they washed the cups and plates and cooked the breakfast. Then they gave the horse some food. There was a lot of work. They worked, but Toad slept. After they finished, he woke up.

They had another fine day outside. But on the second evening, Mole and Rat told Toad, “You have to help us with the work.” Toad didn't like helping very much.

The next day, they were on a quiet road when something happened. Mole was in front with the horse, and Rat and Toad walked behind the caravan. Toad talked and talked. Suddenly, in front of them,they saw a lot of dust.This dust moved very fast.There was a loud noise too: “Poop, poop!”

Then the dust and the noise were on top of the animals. They couldn't see in the dust and they couldn't think. The noise was too loud. What was this thing? They tried to jump out of its way but they couldn't.

The thing went past them in a minute. Slowly the dust went away and the three animals could see again. The old horse was very afraid and wanted to run away. It pulled the caravan, and the caravan fell over in the road. The windows and many things inside were broken.

Rat was very angry. He jumped up and down in the middle of the road and shouted angrily. But Toad wasn't angry. He sat in the road and looked very happy. He said again and again, “Poop, poop !”

Rat was very surprised. He thought, “What's wrong with Toad? Why isn't he angry?”

“Come here, Toad,” he said. “Help us with the caravan. Let's try and move it.” But Toad didn't move.

“So that's a car!” he said quietly.“Wasn't it wonderful! Wasn't it exciting? That's the only thing for me now.”

“What shall we do, Rat?” asked Mole. “The caravan is broken. Toad, you'll have to go to the police station. Tell the police about that car.”

“Police station?” said Toad. “Why? I don't want to tell the police anything. I never want to see this caravan, or hear about it, again. Caravans are boring. But cars are wonderful—the most wonderful things in the world.”

“Let's take Toad back to Toad Hall,” said Rat. “We'll take the horse and walk to the next town.Then we can catch a train home.”

And so Mole and Rat took Toad to Toad Hall. Then they went back to Rat's house by the river. It was very late when they got there. They were very tired. But Rat was happy because he was at home again.

The next day, Toad caught an early train to London. There he bought a large and very expensive car!