WHITTINGTON AND HIS CAT. 49

and a number of dishes were brought
in for dinner. They had not sat
long, when a vast number of rats and
mice rushed in, helping themselves from
almost every dish. The captain won-
dered at this, and asked if these vermin
were not very unpleasant.

‘*Oh yes,” said they, “‘very destructive ;
and the king would give half his treasure
to be freed of them, for they not only
destroy his dinner, as you see, but they
assault him in his chamber, and even in
bed, so that he is obliged to be watched
while he is sleeping for fear of them.”

The captain jumped for joy; he re-
membered poor Whittington and his cat,
and told the king he had a creature on
board the ship that would despatch all
these vermin immediately. The king’s
heart heaved so high at the joy which
this news gave him that his turban
dropped off his head. “Bring this
creature to me,” says he; ‘vermin are
dreadful in a court, and if she will per-
form what you say, I will load your ship
with gold and jewels, in exchange for her.”

D