Mole and Water Rat waited for a long time. They moved their feet in the snow to stay warm. Finally, they heard a sound inside the house. Someone was walking in large slippers.
A bolt moved and the door opened a few inches. A long snout (the long nose and mouth of an animal) appeared. Two sleepy eyes looked at them. A grumpy voice asked, "Who is it this time?"
"Oh, Badger," cried Water Rat. "Please let us in. It is me, Water Rat, and my friend Mole. We are lost in the snow."
Badger was very surprised. "My dear Ratty!" he cried. "Come in at once! You must be very cold. Lost in the Wild Wood! At this time of night!"
The two animals ran inside the house. They were very happy to be safe. Badger shut the door and locked it.
Badger wore a long dressing-gown (a soft coat worn inside a house). He carried a candle in his paw. He looked at the two small animals. "Small animals should not be outside tonight," Badger said. "Come into the kitchen. There is a fire and supper."
They followed Badger down a long, dark passage (a long, narrow way that connects rooms). The house had many tunnels and many doors. Badger opened a door to a large kitchen.
The floor was made of red bricks. A big fire of wood burned in the room. There were long tables and wooden benches. Many hams and onions hung from the ceiling.
Badger told them to sit near the fire. He told them to take off their wet coats and boots. Badger gave them dry clothes and slippers. Then he washed the cut on Mole’s leg.
Badger used a sticking-plaster (a small piece of sticky paper to cover a cut). Soon, Mole felt much better. The kitchen was warm and bright. Mole and Water Rat felt very safe and happy.
They sat at the table to eat a big supper. There was a lot of good food. They were very hungry and they ate for a long time. They talked with their mouths full, but Badger did not mind.
Badger sat in a large chair. He listened to their story. He was a very kind animal and he did not get angry. Mole liked Badger very much.
After supper, they sat near the fire. "How is Mr. Toad?" Badger asked. "He is worse," Water Rat said. "He had another crash last week."
Water Rat said Mr. Toad was a very bad driver. Mr. Toad had seven crashes already. His yard was full of broken cars. Mr. Toad did not listen to anyone.
"Mr. Toad has paid many fines (money paid to the police)," Mole said. "It is terrible." Water Rat said they must help Mr. Toad. Badger thought for a long time.
"We cannot do anything now," Badger said. "It is winter. All animals are sleepy in winter. But in the spring, we will help Mr. Toad. We will make him a sensible animal."
Water Rat fell asleep in his chair. Mole was very wakeful. Mole liked being underground because he was a mole. But Water Rat liked the river and the fresh air.
"It is time for bed," Badger said. He gave them candles. He showed them to a large room. Half of the room was full of winter food.
There were piles of apples and potatoes. There were jars of honey and baskets of nuts. Mole and Water Rat had two small, clean beds. They fell asleep very quickly.
The next morning, they woke up late. They went to the kitchen and saw a bright fire. Two young hedgehogs were sitting at the table. They were eating oatmeal.
"Where did you come from?" Water Rat asked. The hedgehogs said they were lost in the snow. They were going to school, but it was too cold. They knocked on Badger's door and he helped them.
Water Rat cooked some bacon. Mole cooked some eggs. "Where is Mr. Badger?" Mole asked. The hedgehogs said Badger was in his study. He was very "busy."
The animals knew what "busy" meant in winter. Badger was sleeping in his chair with a handkerchief on his face.
The door bell rang loudly. A small hedgehog went to see who it was. The Otter ran into the room. He was very happy to see Water Rat and Mole.
"Everyone on the river bank was worried!" Otter said. "The snow covered your tracks. But I knew you were with Badger." Otter said the snow was very beautiful this morning.
Otter met a rabbit in the wood. He had to hit the rabbit to make him talk. The rabbit said Mole was lost in the wood last night. Mean animals were hunting Mole.
"Why didn't the rabbits help Mole?" Otter asked. The rabbit said rabbits do not do things like that. Otter was very angry at the rabbits.
"Weren't you scared in the wood?" Mole asked. Otter laughed and showed his strong teeth. "No one bothers me," Otter said. Then Otter asked Mole to cook some ham.
They all had lunch together. Mole sat next to Mr. Badger. Mole told Badger that he loved the underground house. "It is safe here," Mole said. "Nothing can hurt you."
Badger was very happy. "I agree," Badger said. "Underground is the best place. There is no wind or rain. You are your own master here."
Badger said he did not like houses above the ground. He liked peace and quiet. "Underground is home," Badger said. Badger liked Mole because Mole understood him.
After lunch, Badger took Mole on a tour. They walked through many long tunnels. The house was very large and very old. Mole saw many stone pillars (tall stone posts that hold up a roof).
"How did you build all this, Badger?" Mole asked. "I did not build it," Badger said. "A city of people was here a long time ago. The people built great buildings."
"Where are the people now?" Mole asked. Badger said people come and go, but badgers stay. The city was ruined by wind and rain. Then the wood grew over the city.
"Animals came to live here," Badger said. "They did not care about the past. Now the Wild Wood is full of animals. Some are good and some are bad."
Mole shivered when he thought about the mean animals. "Do not worry," Badger said. "I will tell the animals to leave you alone. My friends can walk anywhere in this country."
They went back to the kitchen. Water Rat was very restless. He wanted to go back to the river. He was wearing his coat and his pistols.
"We must go while it is light," Water Rat said. "I do not want to be in the wood at night." Otter said he would go with them. Otter knew every path in the wood.
Badger said he had secret tunnels to the edge of the wood. He led them through a long, dark tunnel. They walked for a long time. Finally, they saw daylight.
They were at the edge of the Wild Wood. They saw the fields and the river. The winter sun was low and red. Otter led them across the snow.
They saw a stile (a set of steps used to climb over a fence). They looked back at the dark Wild Wood. Then they ran toward home. They wanted to see their own fire.
Mole was very happy to be home. He liked the fields and the gardens. He was a simple animal of the fields. He did not want to live in the Wild Wood. He was safe and happy with his friends.