Theywerestrollingalongthehigh-roadeasily，theMolebythehorse’shead，talkingtohim，sincethehorsehadcomplainedthathewasbeingfrightfullyleftoutofit，andnobodyconsideredhimintheleast；theToadandtheWaterRatwalkingbehindthecarttalkingtogether——atleastToadwastalking，andRatwassayingatintervals，`Yes，precisely；andwhatdidYOU
saytoHIM？’——andthinkingallthetimeofsomethingverydifferent，whenfarbehindthemtheyheardafaintwarninghum；
likethedroneofadistantbee。Glancingback，theysawasmallcloudofdust，withadarkcentreofenergy，advancingonthematincrediblespeed，whilefromoutthedustafaint`Poop-poop！’
wailedlikeanuneasyanimalinpain。Hardlyregardingit，theyturnedtoresumetheirconversation，wheninaninstant（asitseemed）thepeacefulscenewaschanged，andwithablastofwindandawhirlofsoundthatmadethemjumpforthenearestditch，Itwasonthem！The`Poop-poop’rangwithabrazenshoutintheirears，theyhadamoment’sglimpseofaninteriorofglitteringplate-glassandrichmorocco，andthemagnificentmotor-car，immense，breath-snatching，passionate，withitspilottenseandhugginghiswheel，possessedallearthandairforthefractionofasecond，flunganenvelopingcloudofdustthatblindedandenwrappedthemutterly，andthendwindledtoaspeckinthefardistance，changedbackintoadroningbeeoncemore。
Theoldgreyhorse，dreaming，asheploddedalong，ofhisquietpaddock，inanewrawsituationsuchasthissimplyabandonedhimselftohisnaturalemotions。Rearing，plunging，backingsteadily，inspiteofalltheMole’seffortsathishead，andalltheMole’slivelylanguagedirectedathisbetterfeelings，hedrovethecartbackwardstowardsthedeepditchatthesideoftheroad。Itwaveredaninstant——thentherewasaheartrendingcrash——andthecanary-colouredcart，theirprideandtheirjoy，layonitssideintheditch，anirredeemablewreck。