AND OTHER SKETCHES 301 



minutes from the time he started would catch half a 

 dozen rats with his hands, unaided by a dog or trap. 



The proposition struck the New Yorker as so insanely 

 liberal that he laid the odds of two bottles to one that it 

 couldn't be done. The bet was made. I called up the 

 porter and asked if he would tackle the job. "Dave" 

 asked no better fun than catching rats, knowing from 

 experience that he was always well rewarded for his 

 proficiency in that line. At his request the five of us fol- 

 lowed him into the carving room and kitchen to see for 

 ourselves just what preparations he desired to make. 

 What he did when there was to open the slide doors 

 under the meat table, also the door between the two 

 rooms, then provide himself with a big broom. 



Eeturning to the office the New Yorker took the time 

 and all hands waited eagerly for Dave to give the word 

 when the first raid should be made. He kept us nearly 

 ten minutes before giving the signal, when, as quietly as 

 possible he stepped to the door and as he rushed into the 

 carving room all hands followed. The rat catcher's first 

 trick was to shut the sliding doors under the carving 

 tables and the door between the two rooms, and when the 

 gas was turned up there was such a scampering of rats 

 across the floor that our Yankee friend jumped on the 

 table yelling at his highest pitch. 



Dave proceeded to work in the most methodical man- 

 ner. He would single out a rat, and with broom in his left 

 hand, chase him into a corner. He would then clap the 

 broom over him and hold him down, then with his right 

 hand catch hold of the rat's tail, swiftly draw him from 

 under the broom, then keep swinging him round and 

 round until he walked to a big wire cage over on one of 

 the tables, when he would pop him in. 



In ten minutes' time he caught seven rats, and there- 

 fore easily won my bet, but to give the Gothamite a little 

 fun for his money, Dave made two other raids, securing 

 five the second trip and four the third time. Then to 

 show his utter fearlessness in handling rats, he allowed 

 the New Yorker to point out the ugliest and wickedest- 



