76 Studies in Rat Catchijig. [ch. iv. 



only after we had passed we stopped up the 

 open end and opened the shut one, so that in 

 future rats going back might wait quietly in 

 the arch till we were ready for them. By 

 the time we had got as far as the gate it was 

 just noon, so we called the dogs back to a 

 tree we had passed, and then Jack and I sat 

 down and paid attention to the game bag, 

 which was well provided with cold meat 

 and bread and cheese and a bottle of beer. 



I am not a good hand at picnics and never 

 was. I mean those big gatherings with 

 ladies, lobster salad, hot dishes, plates, 

 knives, spoons, champagne, etc. I find the 

 round world was created a little too low 

 down to sit upon with comfort ; my knees 

 don't make a good table ; flies get into my 

 beer and hopping things into my plate. I 

 have to get up and hand eatables about ; 

 things bite me, and more creep about me, 

 and it does not look well to scratch. The 



