ly. But
although Mr Blurt could fix his eyes he could not chain his thoughts.
These unruly familiars ere long began to play havoc with their owner.
They hurried him far away from rats and ornithological specimens,
carried him over the Irish Channel, made him look sadly down on the
funnels of the Royal Mail steamer, plunged him under the waves, and
caused him to gaze in fond regret on his lost treasures. His thoughts
carried him even further. They bore him over the sea to Africa, and set
him down, once more, in his forsaken hut among the diamond-diggers.
From this familiar retreat he was somewhat violently recalled by a
scratching sound. He glared at the pelican of the wilderness. The
little stars reappeared. They increased in size. They became
unbearable suns. They suddenly approached. As suddenly Mr Blurt rose
to fight or fly--he could scarce tell which. It did not matter much,
because, next instant, he fell headlong to the floor, dragging the
curtains down, and forming a miscellaneous avalanche with the chair and
packing-boxes.

The unfortunate man had fallen asleep, and the rats, which had in truth
ventured out, fled to their homes as a matter of course.

But Mr Blurt had resolved to go through with it. Finding that he was
unhurt, and that the household had not been disturbed, he rebuilt his
erection and began his watch over again. The shock had thoroughly
roused him. He did not sleep again. Fortunately London rats are not
nervous. Being born and bred in the midst of war's alarms they soon get
over a panic. The watcher had not sat more than a quarter of an hour
when the stars appeared once again. The Pyramid of Cheops is not more
immovably solid than was Mr Blurt. A sharp nose advanced; a head came
out; a body followed; a tail brought up the rear, and the pelican of the
wilderness looked with calm indifference on the scene.

The rat was an old grey one, and very large. It was followed by a brown
one, nearly as large. There was an almost theatrical caution in their
movements at first, but courage came with immunity from alarm. Six
letters, that had been thrust through the slit by the evening postman,
lay on the floor. To these the grey rat advanced, seized one in its
teeth, and began to back out, dragging the letter after it. The brown
rat followed the grey rat's example. While thus engaged, another brown
rat appeared, and followed suit. Nothing could have been more
fortunate. Mr Blurt was