curred. We were by no means the only rats who found a
living in the place at the expense of our enemy, man. There were a good
many of the species of the large brown Norwegian rat; but as I have
mentioned before, we usually kept out of their way, from a tender regard
for our own ears.

There was one brown rat, however, whose fame had spread, not only in his
own tribe, but in ours. For quickness of wit, readiness in danger,
strength of teeth, and courage in using them, I have never yet met with
his equal. Whiskerandos was a hero of a rat. Was it not he who in single
combat had met and conquered a young ferret! an exploit in itself quite
sufficient to establish his fame as a warrior. They had been opposed to
each other in a room lighted by a single window. Whiskerandos, whose
intelligence at once showed him the importance of position, took his
station beneath this window, so that the light was in his enemy's eyes,
and compelled him to fight at disadvantage. For two long hours the
battle lasted, but at length the ferret lay dead upon the floor!

Several scars upon the neck of Whiskerandos bore witness to this
terrible encounter, and many others in which he had been engaged. He had
lost one ear, and the other had been grievously curtailed of its
proportions, so that altogether he had paid for fame at the price of
beauty; but he was strong and bold as ever, and his appearance one night
in our warehouse created quite a sensation in the community of rats.

There was one brown rat, in particular, that seemed to wait upon him,
and pay him court, as though, having no merit of his own, Shabby fancied
that he could borrow a little from a distinguished companion. I have
often seen this in life, (I am now an old and experienced rat,) I have
seen a mean race following and flattering their superiors, ready to lick
the dust from their feet, not from real admiration or attachment, but,
like a mistletoe upon a forest tree, because they had no proper footing
of their own, and liked to be raised on the credit of another. It is
easier to them to fawn than to work, to flatter the great than to follow
their example.

I own that I was afraid of Whiskerandos, and yet he passed without
touching me, quite above the meanness of hurting a creature merely
because it was weaker than himself. But Shabby gave such a savage snap
at my ear that I retreated squeaking into a corner. I almost think that
I should have returned the bite, had not his formidab