'A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS^ 2^5 



moment, and in a moment it is over. Here was I, 

 a strong healthy rat ten minutes ago, and now a 

 cripple ; ready at one moment to face anything, 

 and then helpless and resigned, and not caring very 

 greatly whether I lived or died. Billy supplied the 

 necessary tonic, for, on his return some hours later, 

 I heard him ask leave to tidy out the lumber-shed. 

 That boy had an evil mind, and he guessed by 

 instinct that I was there, if anywhere. How I 

 trembled as I waited for the answer ! I trembled, 

 and I learnt thereby that life was still worth having. 

 His mistresses seemed rather surprised at such 

 unwonted industry, for Billy was not the boy to go 

 out of his way to look for work, as a rule ; but, to 

 my intense relief, they told him that they had some 

 errands for him to run, and that he must wait until 

 the following day. 



I made the best use of my time, and licked my 

 wounded leg, first back to life and pain, and then 

 into comparative comfort, and when evening fell, I 

 hobbled away on three legs out into the wilds, ready 

 once more to face the dangers of existence with 

 something of my former spirit, and feeling that I 

 had well earned my rank of Hopper. 



15 



