Ветер в ивах

           Solidrevengewaswhathewanted,notcheap,windy,verbaltriumphs,thoughhehadathingortwoinhismindthathewouldhavelikedtosay.Hesawwhathewantedaheadofhim.Runningswiftlyonheovertookthehorse,unfastenedthetow-ropeandcastoff,jumpedlightlyonthehorse’sback,andurgedittoagallopbykickingitvigorouslyinthesides.Hesteeredfortheopencountry,abandoningthetow-path,andswinginghissteeddownaruttylane.Oncehelookedback,andsawthatthebargehadrunagroundontheothersideofthecanal,andthebarge-womanwasgesticulatingwildlyandshouting,"Stop,stop,stop!""I’veheardthatsongbefore,"saidToad,laughing,ashecontinuedtospurhissteedonwardinitswildcareer.

           Thebarge-horsewasnotcapableofanyverysustainedeffort,anditsgallopsoonsubsidedintoatrot,anditstrotintoaneasywalk;butToadwasquitecontentedwiththis,knowingthathe,atanyrate,wasmoving,andthebargewasnot.Hehadquiterecoveredhistemper,nowthathehaddonesomethinghethoughtreallyclever;andhewassatisfiedtojogalongquietlyinthesun,steeringhishorsealongby-waysandbridle-paths,andtryingtoforgethowverylongitwassincehehadhadasquaremeal,tillthecanalhadbeenleftveryfarbehindhim.

           Hehadtravelledsomemiles,hishorseandhe,andhewasfeelingdrowsyinthehotsunshine,whenthehorsestopped,loweredhishead,andbegantonibblethegrass;andToad,wakingup,justsavedhimselffromfallingoffbyaneffort.