by Kenneth Grahame 1859-1932

Messing About in Boats

Mole is enjoying the most wonderful Spring morning, skipping his chores and going for a row with Rat.

1908

King Edward VII 1901-1910

A rowing boat, intended for salmon fishing, moored on the southern (right) bank of the River Tweed between Kelso and Coldstream in the Scottish Borders. Not quite ‘painted blue outside and white within’, but close enough.

Introduction

The Mole has emerged from his winter burrow one fine morning at the beginning of Spring. After scampering off carelessly, leaving spring-cleaning far behind, he finds himself for the first time in his life at the River. Mole’s expert eye falls on a small round opening near the water’s edge, and he is just thinking that it would make a nice burrow when he realises that there is a small, round face framed in it.

by Kenneth Grahame 1859-1932

A BROWN little face, with whiskers.

A grave round face, with the same twinkle in its eye that had first attracted his notice. Small neat ears and thick silky hair.

It was the Water Rat!

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.

‘Oh, its all very well to talk,’ said the Mole, rather pettishly, he being new to a river and riverside life and its ways.

The Rat said nothing, but stooped and unfastened a rope and hauled on it; then lightly stepped into a little boat which the Mole had not observed. It was painted blue outside and white within, and was just the size for two animals: and the Mole’s whole heart went out to it at once, even though he did not yet fully understand its uses.

The Rat sculled smartly across and made fast.*

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* ‘Scull’ (contrast ‘skull’) is another word for an oar; the verb means ‘propel a boat by oars’ i.e. row (rhymes with go). It is more commonly used of a lone rower than of a crew. ‘Smartly’ here means ‘quickly and efficiently’. ‘Make fast’ means ‘tie (a boat) up securely’, where ‘fast’ means ‘tight’.

Précis

Early in Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows, the Mole spots a Water Rat peeping out of the far bank of the river. The Rat cordially invites Mole for a row on the water, to the Mole’s mingled yearning and consternation; but without a word the Rat at once draws up a little boat and brings it alongside.

Clay Lane The Copybook

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