'THIS COMES HOPPING^ 



them as part of the tortures which the prisoners 

 had to undergo, and so never tried to set traps for 

 them ; and many of the prisoners called them their 

 best friends, because they were the only friends 

 whom they could possibly have. And so these rats 

 often lived to extreme old age. 



Now, it so happened that into one of the very 

 worst of these dungeons a kindly-hearted and gentle 

 prisoner was suddenly thrust. He had been a great 

 knight in his own country, and everyone loved him, 

 because he dealt out equal-handed justice to rich 

 and poor alike. No rich man could buy from him 

 the right to cheat his poorer brother. 



But on one day of black misfortune he was 

 conquered and taken captive by his wicked and tyran- 

 nous rival, who cast him into prison and put heavy 

 chains upon his limbs, knowing full well in his evil 

 heart that death would soon rid him of a man whom 

 he both feared and hated, because all men loved him. 

 Twice a day only did the gaoler thrust into the 

 gloom of his squalid cell a plate of bread and a jug 

 of water. And twice a day out came the rats, and 

 danced upon the floor, and asked for food. And 

 the kindly knight called them all by names of his own 

 invention — * Mutton-chop,' and 'Beef-steak,' and 

 * Plum-pudding ' and 'Mince-pie' — just to remind 



