Chapter 5 Mr. Badger

After a long time, Rat and Mole heard noises from inside the house. The door opened and somebody shouted angrily,

“Who's there? I don't want any visitors. It's very late.”

“Oh, please can we come in, Badger,” said Rat. “It's me, Rat, and my friend, Mole. We lost our way in the snow.”

“Ratty, my dear friend,” said Badger. He was friendly now. “Come inside!And you too,Mole,” he said warmly.

Rat and Mole were happy now. They were out of the Wild Wood. The door closed behind them.

Badger's house was under the ground. He took the two cold animals into his kitchen.There was a big open fire with chairs in front of it. In the middle of the room was a big table, and on the table there was some food. Everything was warm and friendly. It was very different from the snow outside!

Rat and Mole took off their wet coats and shoes, and sat down by the fire. Then Badger cooked a hot dinner for them. They ate and ate. For a long time nobody spoke. Then Rat told Badger their story. After Rat finished, Badger only said, “You're here now. I'm very happy about that.”

“Badger is a good friend,” Mole thought.

Then Badger wanted to know about life on the river.

“How's Toad?” he asked.

“Things are very bad,” Rat answered sadly.“His car ran into a tree again last week. We want him to have a driver. But no, Toad wants to drive. He likes driving, but he's really a very dangerous driver.”

“Now he's got a new car. It's number seven! He had accidents in the other six cars and the police are very angry with him. But he doesn't want to stop. We have to do something, Badger. We're his friends. He has to stop driving.”

“We can't do anything now,” said Badger. “It's the middle of winter. But in the summer, when the days are longer—then we'll do something. But now, my friends, it's bedtime. You're very tired.”

Badger showed Mole and Rat their beds, and said, “Don't get up early in the morning. You can have breakfast later.”

The next morning, Rat and Mole slept and slept. When they got up, they went into the kitchen. There they saw Otter.

“Good morning!” he shouted. “What are you doing here in the Wild Wood with Badger?”

So Rat and Mole told their story again.When he remembered that day in the dark wood, Mole was very afraid.

“Did you come through the Wild Wood, Otter?”he asked.“Were you afraid?”

“Me?” cried Otter. “Afraid? I'm not afraid of anybody or anything. Can I have some breakfast, too? I'm very hungry.”

Rat and Otter were good friends. They talked for a long time about the river. Then after breakfast Badger showed Mole his house. Mole was surprised because Badger's house was very big. He liked it very much.

“My house is under the ground, too,” Mole said. “I like houses under the ground. They're nice and warm.”

“Yes,” said Badger. “Do you like Toad's house, Toad Hall? I don't. It's a beautiful house, but it's cold in winter. Down here in my house, summer and winter are the same.”

When they were in the kitchen again, Rat said, “Let's go home now, Mole. We don't want to be in the Wild Wood again tonight.”

“Don't be afraid,” said Otter. “I'm coming with you.”

“I know a very good way,” said Badger. “My house goes a long way under the ground. Come with me and I'll show you. You don't have to go through the Wild Wood.”

Badger took the three animals down many dark tunnels. After a long time, the tunnels ended and they were outside again. But they weren't in the Wild Wood—it was behind them. In front of them they could see the river bank.

“Thank you for everything, Badger,” they said.

A short time later, they arrived at Rat's house. Rat and Mole were very happy. They were at home again.