CHAP. vii. A BAD NIGHT'S SLEEP. 113 



the audacious little creature, though my hand was 

 again bitten severely. After getting a few winks of 

 sleep, I was again able to resume my journey." 



Edward was once attacked by two pertinacious 

 Rats in a similar manner. He was making an excur- 

 sion between Banff and Aberdeen, and had got to a 

 place near Slains Castle, beyond Peterhead. It had 

 been raining all day. It was now growing dark ; and 

 he looked about for a place to sleep in. He observed 

 a dilapidated building, which looked like the ruins 

 of a threshing-mill, as it stood near a farm-steading. 

 He entered the place, and found only a small part of 

 the roof still standing. It was, however, sufficient to 

 protect him from the rain, which was still falling. 

 There was a pile of stones and rubbish immediately 

 under the roof, and having gathered together as much 

 dry grass as he could find, and spread it on the stones, 

 he lay down in a reclining position. In this position 

 he soon fell fast asleep. 



How long he had slept he did not know ; but he 

 was awakened by a quivering sort of motion about 

 his head. He at first thought it was caused by 

 the sinking of the stones, and that his head was going 

 down with them. He sat bolt upright, clutched his 

 gun and wallet to save them, and felt the stones with 

 his hands to ascertain whether they had sunk or not. 

 They were quite undisturbed. He again lay down, 

 thinking that he had only been dreaming. But 

 before he could fall asleep, the movement under his 



I 



