e to bear this treatment
any longer, determined to run away from his place. He accordingly packed
up the few things that belonged to him, and set out very early in the
morning on Allhallow Day, which is the first of November. He travelled
as far as Holloway, and there sat down on a stone, which to this day is
called Whittington's Stone, and began to consider what course he should
take.

While he was thus thinking what he could do, Bow-Bells, of which there
were then only six, began to ring: and it seemed to him that their
sounds addressed him in this manner:

"Turn again Whittington,
Lord Mayor of London."

"Lord Mayor of London!" says he to himself. "Why, to be sure, I would
bear anything to be Lord Mayor of London, and ride in a fine coach!
Well, I will go back, and think nothing of all the cuffing and scolding
of old Cicely, if I am at last to be Lord Mayor of London."

So back went Dick, and got into the house, and set about his business
before Cicely came down stairs.

The ship, with the cat on board, was long beaten about at sea, and was
at last driven by contrary winds on a part of the coast of Barbary,
inhabited by Moors that were unknown to the English. The natives in
this country came in great numbers, out of curiosity, to see the people
on board, who were all of so different a colour from themselves, and
treated them with great civility; and, as they became better acquainted,
showed marks of eagerness to purchase the fine things with which the
ship was laden.

The captain, seeing this, sent patterns of the choicest articles he had
to the king of the country, who was so much pleased with them, that he
sent for the captain and his chief mate to the palace. Here they were
placed, as is the custom of the country, on rich carpets flowered with
gold and silver: and the king and queen being seated at the upper end of
the room, dinner was brought in, which consisted of the greatest
rarities. No sooner, however, were the dishes set before the company,
than an amazing number of rats and mice rushed in, and helped themselves
plentifully from every dish, scattering pieces of flesh and gravy all
about the room.

The captain, extremely astonished, asked if these vermin were not very
offensive.

"Oh, yes," said they, "very offensive; and the king would give half his
treasure to be free of them: for they not only destroy his dinner, but
they disturb him even in his chamber, so that he is obliged to be
watched