28 



THE RAT 



and heard them on the hearthrug in front of the 

 fire through a crack in the boards. Nasty beasts ! 

 kicking their legs about, and squeaking, and 

 thinking that they are catching us, I expect. And 

 if dogs have dreams, why in the name of common- 

 sense should not we have dreams too ? Dogs and 

 rats always go together, too much together some- 

 times, far too close for my taste, though I once 

 made my home under the kennel of one for a time, 

 because I knew that nobody would think of looking 

 for me there. Wasn't that clever ? 



Why did not he catch me ? How well I know 

 the silly sort of questions which you ask ! How 

 could he, when he was chained, and the kennel 

 so heavy? Besides, he was what is called a 

 sporting dog, whose trade was to smell out grouse 

 and partridges, and he did not bother his old 

 head about the smell of rats. I doubt whether 

 he even knew that I was there. He left very nice 

 bones lying about sometimes, which his great 

 clumsy teeth had not half picked, and I was very 

 sorry when circumstances compelled me to change 

 my quarters. I had the place all to myself, but a 

 lot of other rats came prospecting, and took up 

 their lodgings in the stables and sheds, and I knew 

 what that would mean, so I took my departure 



