e pump, a young man, with his hands in his pockets and his cap cocked
on one side, followed by several dogs, leisurely sauntered into the
yard.

I saw in an instant that for Whiskerandos escape was impossible. He had
the whole length of the yard to cross; his foes were far nearer to him
than me. His only chance was that of not being perceived; but this in
broad daylight, with the noses of three or four dogs not two yards from
him, was a miserable chance indeed. The dogs instantly found him out,
and were at him in a moment. My unhappy companion darted behind the
trough, quick as a flash of lightning. I felt assured that he would
there bravely defend himself to the last; but what could one poor rat
do, albeit the boldest of his race, against such terrible odds!

"Ha! a rat!" exclaimed the young man, looking quite amused and pleased--
barbarian that he was!-- at the prospect of seeing a poor defenceless
creature torn to pieces before him. "Ha! Carlo, give it him!-- shake him
by the ear!" The young man actually laughed aloud with delight!

I could not see Whiskerandos, for the trough was between us: I fancied
his look of fierce despair as he faced the foes from whom he could not
flee, and from whom he could expect no pity. He had evidently got into
some corner, from which the dogs could not easily dislodge him; for they
stood yelping and barking, showing their white teeth, with their greedy
eyes all turned to one point.

So the human savage came to their aid. Having taken up a stick which
happened to be lying on the ground near, while the dogs retired a step
to allow their master to give his ungenerous assistance, he pushed the
stick behind the trough, and by its means dragged poor Whiskerandos from
his last place of refuge!

"Ha! the fellow's dead! I must have killed him with the stick!" cried
the young man; and stooping down he lifted up the poor rat by the tail,
and held him aloft to examine him more closely, while the dogs leapt and
barked around, eager to tear their victim limb from limb!

"He's been in the wars-- lost his ears!" laughed the young man, still
holding the stiffened body on high by the tail. "I'm sorry I poked him
with the stick; he'd have given us some sport with the dogs!" Did ever
such a heartless monster walk on two feet before!

"Oh! Whiskerandos! Whiskerandos!" thought I, as, almost rooted to the
spot with horror, I stood gazing on the pitiful sight. "I am glad that
you are dead! oh, I am gla