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The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
ButIfeltabruteallthetime,asitwascleartometheywereveryunhappy,thoughtheytriedtohideit.Mole,I’mafraidthey’reintrouble.LittlePortlyismissingagain;andyouknowwhatalothisfatherthinksofhim,thoughheneversaysmuchaboutit."
"What,thatchild?"saidtheMolelightly."Well,supposeheis;whyworryaboutit?He’salwaysstrayingoffandgettinglost,andturningupagain;he’ssoadventurous.Butnoharmeverhappenstohim.Everybodyhereaboutsknowshimandlikeshim,justastheydooldOtter,andyoumaybesuresomeanimalorotherwillcomeacrosshimandbringhimbackagainallright.Why,we’vefoundhimourselves,milesfromhome,andquiteself-possessedandcheerful!"
"Yes;butthistimeit’smoreserious,"saidtheRatgravely."He’sbeenmissingforsomedaysnow,andtheOttershavehuntedeverywhere,highandlow,withoutfindingtheslightesttrace.Andthey’veaskedeveryanimal,too,formilesaround,andnooneknowsanythingabouthim.Otter’sevidentlymoreanxiousthanhe’lladmit.IgotoutofhimthatyoungPortlyhasn’tlearnttoswimverywellyet,andIcanseehe’sthinkingoftheweir.There’salotofwatercomingdownstill,consideringthetimeoftheyear,andtheplacealwayshadafascinationforthechild.Andthenthereare—well,trapsandthings—youknow.Otter’snotthefellowtobenervousaboutanysonofhisbeforeit’stime.Andnowheisnervous.
