110 THE RATS AND THE WINE-CASK.

hung. The man, startled by this sudden attack, threw fox
and pickaxe to the ground, when, turning round, he saw the
live animal making off at full speed.

 

THE RATS AND THE WINE-CASK.

AN old lady, wealthy and kind-hearted, lived in a large house,
with several servants to attend on her. Although no murder
or other dark deed was ever known to have been done in the
house, report said it was haunted.

  
 
  
  
  
 
 
  
 
  
   

Without doubt, noises were often
| heard in the lower part of the house.
| Night after night strange sounds
arose after the servants had retired
to their beds. At last the old lady
resolved to resist this disturbance of
her peace. She told her servants to
arm themselves with such weapons
as they could obtain, and she herself
sat up with a brace of loaded pistols
= before her. This had

the desired effect.
The ghostly visi-
tants; if such
they were,
ceased from
their ~gam-
bols. All remained
silent till cock-crow.