16% THE RAT 



shine on his sUmy trail, and then I knew that I was 

 in for a good thing. 



' Good -evening, my friend,' I said poUtely. I 

 could afford to be polite under the circumstances. 

 He heaved a sigh (his very voice was oily), and 

 replied that he supposed that it was so, but that the 

 way was very long and weary. 



*I shan't be there for an hour or more,' he groaned, 

 ' and they told me that it was only a step, and that 

 there was blue mud, soft and squishy and wholly 

 delicious.' 



' You will not,' I hissed back at him ; * you will 

 never see that mud.' 



He seemed to read my meaning in my voice, for 

 he turned and faced me like a man. I was hungry, 

 and I went for him straight, and — would you believe 

 it ? — the beggar had the cheek to bite me — to bite 

 me, if you please, with his silly little teeth. 



* Drop it, you fool !' I snarled, for he hurt me, and 

 just for half a second it was a case of — 



' WeM both be blowed 

 If we'd be stowed 

 In the other chapes hold, you see.** 



But he never really had a chance. I had him in 

 half before he could wTiggle round me and spoil my 

 nice coat with his nasty slime. And half of him I 



