Toad was sitting by his boats.
He looked up from a map.
"Hooray!" cried Toad.
He danced around Mole and Rat.
"What are you up to now, Toad?" asked Rat.
"How wonderful!" cried Toad.
"Friends to travel with!"
Rat looked a little worried.
"You have a nice home," said Mole shyly.
"Finest house on the whole river!" said Toad.
"In the whole world!"
Rat winked at Mole.
"Toad is always saying that," said Rat.
Toad giggled. "Oh, Ratty," he said.
"That's just the way I am."
Rat pointed to the pile of boats.
"How is your boating going?"
"Boating?" cried Toad.
"Forget that! It's a waste of time!"
"What?" Rat said.
"Come with me, Rat.
Bring your friend!" said Toad.
They all walked to the stable.
"There you are!"
Toad pointed to a new yellow cart.
"The open road!
Travel and adventure!" cried Toad.
"Harrumph!" Rat put his hands in his pockets.
Mole stepped into the cart to look.
His eyes opened wide with wonder.
"I've got everything inside," said Toad.
"Beds, a stove, pots and pans!
All the food you can eat!"
"There's even a bird in a cage!" said Mole.
"We start our trip this afternoon!" shouted Toad.