RATTING (not IN PARLIAMENT). 189 



and seized another ; under three minutes the rats 

 were dead enough. 



"I wish you luck with him, sir/' said Jack; 

 " he's a pretty good un among worser/' 



Whether this spice of fun was new to my 

 friend, I know not, but he offered a challenge to 

 every and all the dogs in England to kill rats 

 against his new purchase. 



" Why, Lord \o\e ye/' says Jack, " I showed 

 you that ere dog as a beauty ; I don't call him a 

 ratter." 



" Show me the dog that can beat him," said 

 my friend ; " here's ten pound on it." 



" Take him," said Jack, in his warmth of, I 

 suppose, friendship to me, giving me a somewhat 

 unceremonious dig with his elbow. 



" Put up your ten pounds," said I, " and bet 

 ten shillings with Jack ; for I must not have my 

 tykes disparaged. Put ten rats in the pit. Jack," 

 said I, " and we'll give Tory a chance." 

 Under three minutes not a rat sliook a lesr. 

 '^ Come," said I, " there's a lesson for you in 

 this sport, as well as in hunting. My dogs, as 

 you see, kill rats, but they are only half rat- 

 killers ; you will learn something more by a visit 

 to Denmark Street or Bunhill Row." 



It was now near dinner time; my visitors 

 could not stay, but we insured meeting at Rus- 

 sington Gorse on the morrow. 



