that a whole lot of
rats were coming up from downstairs and leaving the ship as well. Jip
started to run after them, because chasing rats had always been his
favorite game. But the Doctor told him to stop.

And one big black rat, who seemed to want to say something to the
Doctor, now crept forward timidly along the rail, watching the dog out
of the corner of his eye. And after he had coughed nervously two or
three times, and cleaned his whiskers and wiped his mouth, he said,

"Ahem--er--you know of course that all ships have rats in them, Doctor,
do you not?"

And the Doctor said, "Yes."

"And you have heard that rats always leave a sinking ship?"

"Yes," said the Doctor--"so I've been told."

"People," said the rat, "always speak of it with a sneer--as though it
were something disgraceful. But you can't blame us, can you? After
all, who WOULD stay on a sinking ship, if he could get off it?"

"It's very natural," said the Doctor--"very natural. I quite
understand.... Was there-- Was there anything else you wished to say?"

"Yes," said the rat. "I've come to tell you that we are leaving this
one. But we wanted to warn you before we go. This is a bad ship you
have here. It isn't safe. The sides aren't strong enough. Its boards
are rotten. Before to-morrow night it will sink to the bottom of the
sea."

"But how do you know?" asked the Doctor.

"We always know," answered the rat. "The tips of our tails get that
tingly feeling--like when your foot's asleep. This morning, at six
o'clock, while I was getting breakfast, my tail suddenly began to
tingle. At first I thought it was my rheumatism coming back. So I
went and asked my aunt how she felt--you remember her?--the long,
piebald rat, rather skinny, who came to see you in Puddleby last Spring
with jaundice? Well--and she said HER tail was tingling like
everything! Then we knew, for sure, that this boat was going to sink
in less than two days; and we all made up our minds to leave it as soon
as we got near enough to any land. It's a bad ship, Doctor. Don't
sail in it any more, or you'll be surely drowned.... Good-by! We are
now going to look for a good place to live on this island."

"Good-by!" said the Doctor. "And thank you very much for coming to
tell me. Very considerate of you--very! Give my regards to your aunt.
I remember her perfectly.... Leave that rat alone, Jip! Come here!
Lie down!"

So then the Doctor and all his animals we