THIEVES OF THE NIGHT 



But this cat was not the only individual 

 upset by the rat, for many people objected to 

 him. I have seen men, who would have faced 

 and stopped a runaway horse without a tremor, 

 go hot and cold if Whiskers ran across the 

 table towards them. I always told strangers 

 that he was not only perfectly harmless but a 

 very gentle amiable creature, but such is the 

 general fear of and dislike to rats that hardly 

 anybody could be persuaded to touch him. 

 * How could I handle and play with such a hor- 

 rid animal ? ' was the usual question. It was 

 in vain to explain that to me he was neither 

 repulsive nor horrible. One farmer who came 

 into the house, and saw for the first time the 

 rat peep out of my sleeve, looked as if he would 

 have liked to have jumped on to a chair out 

 of Whiskers' way : ' For heaven's sake, don't 

 let the brute come near me. Miss,' he said, 

 ' or I '11 brain him ! ' And I am sure he 

 meant it ! 



Yet it only shows what a difference a little 

 knowledge makes, for all the family who knew 

 him well were exceedingly fond of the rat, 

 despite the mischief he sometimes got into. 

 For instance, my father made a great pet of 

 him. He would let him sit inside his jacket 



M 177 



