Down, down they sank, so deep that the idea came into their heads, that if they were not going to be eaten they were going to be drowned. But just as they were gasping and choking for air they rose to the top of the water again, and then they saw that they were under some thick bushes, and that the rat, with the end of their tails in his mouth, was swimming towards the bank.
"Climb on to my back," said the rat, and though his fur was very wet and slippery, they did as they were told, and clung tightly round his neck.
"Wasn't that fun, eh?" said the rat with a laugh. "I am sure the owl is as mad as he can be. To lose his supper twice in one night is enough to make the old bird very angry. It's fine sport to play hide-and-seek with an owl, although it is rather dangerous. Well, here's the nest that I told you about. And now I must be going home, or my wife will wonder where I am. Good-bye! I hope you will have a safe journey, and that you will get as much corn as you want. Perhaps I may see you on your way back."
Hidden among the thick prickly branches of a hawthorn hedge not far from the ground, Fuzz and Buzz saw the empty wren's nest, and after thanking the rat for having saved their lives, they climbed into it and were soon fast asleep.
Next morning they went down to the stream and looked for their raft. And as, before he went home, the rat had put it where they could easily find it, they had not to look very long, and were soon floating down with the stream again.
CHAPTER III
THE TOMTIT GIVES FUZZ AND BUZZ SOME BAD NEWS
BUT it was not nearly such a nice day as it had been yesterday. The sun never shone at all, and the snow fell in such big, thick flakes that sometimes they could hardly see a yard in front of them. Besides, a cold north wind was blowing, and it made the stream so rough that their raft danced up and down on the tiny waves, and more than once they were nearly upset.
The fields that lay on either side of the stream were quite empty, and it seemed as if everybody but Fuzz and Buzz thought it wiser to stay at home on such a cold day.