Rat and Mole waved at ducks from the riverbank.
"Rowing and swimming are great fun," Mole said.
Mole felt like an expert now.
"Here is a poem for the ducks!" said Rat.
Ducks can swim on the river,
Ducks can swim on the sea,
Ducks can swim most anywhere,
But not in an apple tree.
"I don't like your poem much," said Mole, smiling.
The ducks stuck their heads under the water.
"The ducks don't either!" laughed Rat.
"I was wondering," said Mole.
"Could I meet Toad?"
"What a great idea!" Rat said.
"We'll paddle right there!"
Mole untied the boat.
Rat rowed them down the river.
"Toad must be very nice," said Mole.
"He is very friendly," said Rat.
"But not too clever."
"Not everybody is clever," said Mole.
"Yes," agreed Rat.
"But Toad, well . . . he thinks he is more clever than he is."
The river curved as they rowed along.
Suddenly a grand house came into sight.
"There's Toad Hall!" said Rat.
Rat rowed the boat to shore.
They climbed out and walked to the house.
Many boats were piled up on the grass.
"Oh no," Rat said.
"Toad is finished with boating.
I wonder what he is up to now."