184 



THE RAT 



learn, you must grant, when you are stowed away 

 below the whole time, and only hear scraps of 

 nautical conversation. Of course, I know what a 

 mast is, and a rudder, but if you were to ask me in 

 which direction " starboard " would take me, or 

 which is, the " mizzen mast," or whereabouts in the 

 ship the fo'csle (if that is the right way to spell 

 it) is situated, I should at once reply, "Ask me 

 another." 



' Luckily for me, 1 found that there were several 

 other rats on board. I know that you consider 

 that there is danger in numbers, but it does not 

 matter on board a ship. Sailors are fond of com- 

 pany, and seldom have time to think of setting 

 traps. Therefore it was with unfeigned joy that I 

 rubbed whiskers with others of my kind when I 

 ventured to explore my new quarters. This happy 

 meeting, however, did not take place for several 

 days, because, when the good ship to which I had 

 entrusted my precious person began to feel the 

 swell of the open sea, and to dance about after the 

 manner of ships, I honestly thought that I must 

 give up the ghost. Lucky beggars men are in 

 being able to relieve their feelings by honest sick- 

 ness ! Being a land rat and unacquainted with 

 such matters, you may not know that Nature has 



