He thought his happiness was complete when, as he meandered aimlessly along, suddenly he stood by the edge of a full-fed river. Never in his life had he seen a river before—this sleek, sinuous, full-bodied animal, chasing and chuckling, gripping things with a gurgle and leaving them with a laugh, to fling itself on fresh playmates that shook themselves free, and were caught and held again.
Then the two animals stood and regarded each other cautiously.
Hullo, Mole!
said the Water Rat.
Hullo, Rat!
said the Mole.
Would you like to come over?
enquired the Rat presently.
This has been a wonderful day!
said he, as the Rat shoved off and took to the sculls again.
Do you know, I’ve never been in a boat before in all my life.
What?
cried the Rat, open-mouthed:
Never been in a—you never—well I—what have you been doing, then?
Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing—absolute nothing—half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. Simply messing,
he went on dreamily:
messing—about—in—boats; messing——
Look ahead, Rat!
cried the Mole suddenly.
It was too late. The boat struck the bank full tilt. The dreamer, the joyous oarsman, lay on his back at the bottom of the boat, his heels in the air.