234 
THE RAT. 
touched them, they were taken by the tail and slang out of 
the pit, whether they were dead or not. But as it has been 
shrewdly remarked, had Billy stopped at home till the fol- 
lowing day, the rats would have saved him the trouble, 
because they would all have been dead before morning. 
In our day there are different rules and regulations for 
rat-matches j for if there be one suspicious rat put into the 
pit, it is instantly replaced by another, so that they are all 
approved rats. Then, when the dog has done his work, and 
his master, or second, has picked him up, should there be 
any rats lingering, they are placed in the centre of the pit ; 
and if they can induce them to rise and crawl the length of 
their bodies, the dog has to come in a second time, and finish 
them ; and the time thus employed is added to the rest, 
thus does many a furious animal lose the match. And had 
Billy been bound by such rules as these, I am persuaded he 
would have been nearer twelve minutes than five in accom- 
plishing the task. The truth appears to be that Billy did 
not destroy a hundred rats at all, for numbers were dead 
from poison before he commenced ; and when he did com- 
mence, several were thrown out as dead that were able to 
crawl away. So that, taking these matters into considera- 
tion, the question is, did Billy in reality kill three-score rats 
in five minutes and a half, instead of five score 1 Not so 
with Tiny and Jem. They did their work to the satisfac- 
tion of every one present, both winners and losers, and never 
left a doubt upon the question. 
The dog Tiny never suffered a defeat, but, on the contrary, 
Jem was twice defeated, if defeats they might be termed. 
In the first place, he was chained up for about three 
years, and not let loose except for a few minutes, for 
weeks together ; and then only to kill a few rats, after 
which he was instantly chained up again. All at once 
he was matched against the greatest champion of the day, — 
Crib, of Richmond, in Surrey, — a highly-trained dog ; and so 
prized by his master, that he spared neither pains nor 
expense to keep him in good condition. The match was to 
€ome off in a fortnight from the time of signing articles. A 
person was appointed to take Jem in hand, and see what 
could be done, by way of training, in so short a period. 
He chained him behind a vehicle for two or three days ; 
