WAR AGAINST RATS 327 



that had starved to death, had tried to keep itself ahve 

 by devouring a couple of novels that lay in a locked 

 drawer. How the rat got into that drawer beats me. 



On cleaning out the provision hold nests were found 

 with several rats in them: six were killed, but at least 

 as many escaped, so now no doubt we have a whole 

 colony. A reward was promised of ten cigars for each 

 rat; traps were tried again, but all this did very little 

 good. When we were in Buenos Aires for the second 

 time we got a cat on board; it certainly kept the rats 

 down, but it was shot on the Barrier. At Hobart we 

 provided a few traps, which caught a good many; but 

 we shall hardly get rid of them altogether until we have 

 landed most of the provisions, and smoked them out. 



We have also had a lot of moth; at present they 

 have done nothing beyond eating a couple of holes in 

 my best trousers. 



During the whole of this cruise we had a fishing-line 

 hanging out, but it hung for a whole month without 

 there being a sign of a fish, in spite of the most delicate 

 little white rag that was attached to the hook. One 

 morning the keenest of our fishermen came up as usual 

 and felt the line. Yes, by Jove ! at last there was 

 one, and a big one, too, as he could hardly haul in the 

 line by himself. There was a shout for assistance. 

 " Hi, you beggar! come and lend a hand; there's a big 

 fish !" Help came in a second, and they both hauled 

 for all they were worth. " Ah ! he's a fine, glistening 



