26 THE HISTORY OF DAME MITCHELL

CHAPTER IV.

DAME MITCHELL'S CAT DISPLAYS A QUICKNESS OF PARTS ABOVE HIS
CONDITION, AND SHOWS COURAGE IN ADVERSITY.

WE tost sight of Mowmouth the moment after he was
flung from Westminster-bridge, when he remained strug-

 

gling in the water until he was fortunate enough to reach
the principal arch, to the ledge of which he was enabled to
cling. Thence he looked around him: the Thames ap-
peared to him a vast and boundless ocean, which he would
not have strength enough to cross. So, rather than attempt
to make for a bank which it seemed hopeless for him to
reach, he preferred remaining where he was, even at the
risk of starvation, or of being drifted away by the tide.
At first he mewed a signal of distress; but soon after, giv-
ing himself up for lost, he thought it was of no use to