i 4 DAN BEARD'S ANIMAL BOOK 



bewhiskered nose peeping from one of the numer- 

 ous rat holes, where the board walls met the paved 

 floor. 



As I had anticipated the ghosts lived in rat 

 holes. But before any of them emerged there 

 were numerous small vibrating noses to be seen at 

 the entrance of many of the dark passages, which 

 led into the earth, below the bricks. For some 

 time the ghosts were content to keep their stations 

 in their doorways and watch the big intruder with 

 their beady black eyes. At length, right from 

 under the steps where I was sitting, a great grizzled 

 old male rat appeared; he was evidently a veteran 

 and the scars about his face and ears told in an un- 

 mistakable manner the tale of many a fight. 



THE GRIZZLED OLD WARRIOR 



not only showed no fear, but was impudent enough 

 to openly threaten me; he did this by making short 

 jumps toward my feet, all the time emitting a 

 noise which I can only imitate by placing my 

 tongue against my front teeth and sucking it away. 

 The nearest I can come to spelling the sound is 

 s-t-u-t. Several times in fear, that the pugna- 

 cious rodent might really attack me I shook my 

 foot, and caused him to retreat. My attention had 

 been so occupied with this impertinent old rascal 

 that I had entirely forgotten the ghosts, until the 

 noise made by the upsetting of a tin basin re- 

 minded me of their presence and caused me to look 

 around the room. I was amazed at what I beheld. 



