LIFE OF THE KAT-CATCHEK. 45 



outside waiting for me to attempt an escape. 

 Ever after that, when I had a night's engage- 

 ment in any town, I always went to the 

 police station to tell the man on that beat 

 where I was. 



It behoves the Rat-catcher to be always 

 attentive to his customers, those, I mean, who 

 want live Rats wherewith to try their dogs. 

 Amongst mine I have the honour to include 

 clients of highest rank and position, barristers, 

 magistrates, solicitors and a host of sporting 

 gentry. If the Rat-catcher's efforts commend 

 themselves to such gentlemen, and he 

 always maintains a respectable appearance, 

 he will obtain some very nice outings in the 

 country. Oft-times a party of gentlemen have 

 sent for me in the summer, having arranged 

 with me to bring four or five ferrets and Ratting 

 appliances, and we have gone 50 miles up the 

 country. They would bring their terrier dogs, 

 and we would hunt all along the brooks and 

 rivers, and round the corn and wheat fields, 

 putting the Rats we caught into the cage, and 

 after lunch, taking the Rats to a meadow and 

 coursing them with their dogs, which I think 

 it real good sport. We would put up at the 

 best hotels and repeat the procedure next day, 

 very often taking a drag or coach, and driving 

 ten or a dozen miles farther up the^ country. 



