120 



THE RAT 



voice added, * You're a brick, John ; we'll see that 

 nobody comes near your orchard next autumn.' 



I was fairly sickened by what I had heard ; I 

 thought John ' a cowardly old fool,' and the boys 

 ' cheeky little ruffians.' Just as we were all feeling 

 ourselves so happy and comfortable too ! I longed 

 to be able to talk, so that I might seek out Betty 

 and implore her to protect us. Billy would be in 

 the very thick of it, I was sure. However, nothing 

 worries a rat for long, except perhaps a puppy, and 

 when Tuesday came we had all of us entirely for- 

 gotten the whole conversation, which I had duly 

 reported to the others, and had taken no pre- 

 cautions. Luckily for me, I heard them come in, 

 and I lost no time in taking up my position in the 

 roof of the barn. The starlings had made a hole 

 under the thatch, so that I could peep out and see 

 how things were going on. 



The little ruffians came swaggering into the 

 yard, all armed with sticks, and carrying a little 

 brown sack, which wriggled about when they laid 

 it on the ground as if something was trying to get 

 out. Imagine your feelings if somebody came 

 into your yard with a couple of savage tigers shut 

 up in a bag, and then you will understand how 

 terrified I was, in spite of my advantageous posi- 



