COURAGE OF THE RAT. 
103 
be on the ground. " Ob," said the countryman, " if you're 
not afraid of your dog, I'm not afraid o' my rat." The result 
was, that after some warm words, the animals were matched 
to fight for a wager of ten shillings ; and they retired to the 
grass in Hyde Park to decide it. The countryman no sooner 
took off the collar, and put down the rat, than the creature 
seemed quite ready for the contest. It appeared that Master 
Rat had one peculiar way of serving his opponents, which 
was to wait steadily till they made the attack, then seize 
them fast by the nose, and there hold them till they had had 
enough of it. The last battle, however, proved not only a 
failure, but the death of the little hero also. For when all 
w^as ready, the dog was let loose ; but instead of the rat 
seizing him by the nose, it missed its mark, and caught him 
by the side of the face. At the same instant the dog seized 
the rat by the lower-part of the belly, and tried to shake it, 
but he was too heavy. The countryman seeing the dangerous 
position of his pet, begged and prayed of the groom to take 
off the dog ; but before he could succeed the rat let go its 
hold, and fell back dead. The poor man burst into tears at 
the loss of his companion, and so pitiable was his lamentation, 
that it excited the commiseration of all around. The groom 
let him have the stakes for the dead rat, for the purpose oi 
having it stuffed, and preserved as a trophy. Gentlemen and 
others gave him money, and even boys contributed their 
halfpence to sooth his sorrows. He talked to the dead 
animal in a most feeling manner. Ah," said he, " we have 
travelled many a weary mile together ; and wdiether I laid 
in straw, or 'neath a hedge, thou hast always slept warm and 
comfortable in my bosom. But its all over with me now ; 
so I must e'en go back to the plough again, and settle quietly 
down to farm-work, or anything else they will give me to do, 
to earn an honest living." 
In answer to various questions, he said he took the rat 
when very young, and carried it about with him wherever 
he went, and shared his victuals with it ; and from its be- 
coming so tame and attached, he taught it many tricks, such 
as putting on and taking off a little cocked-hat ; also, at the 
word of command, to shoulder a little wooden gun, and go 
through various military manoeuvres, such as ground-arms, 
shoulder-arms, right-about-face, quick march, &c. Then it 
