. The story of Doctor Dolittle, being the history of his peculiar life at home and astonishing adventures in foreign parts . off, the Doctor no-ticed that a whole lot of rats were coming upfrom downstairs and leaving the ship as started to run after them, because chasingrats had always been his favorite game. Butthe Doctor told him to stop. And one big black rat, who seemed to wantto say something to the Doctor, now crept for-ward timidly along the rail, watching the dogout of the corner of his eye. And after he hadcoughed nervously two or three times, andcleaned his whiskers and wipe
. The story of Doctor Dolittle, being the history of his peculiar life at home and astonishing adventures in foreign parts . off, the Doctor no-ticed that a whole lot of rats were coming upfrom downstairs and leaving the ship as started to run after them, because chasingrats had always been his favorite game. Butthe Doctor told him to stop. And one big black rat, who seemed to wantto say something to the Doctor, now crept for-ward timidly along the rail, watching the dogout of the corner of his eye. And after he hadcoughed nervously two or three times, andcleaned his whiskers and wiped his mouth, hesaid, Ahem—er—you know of course that all shipshave rats in them, Doctor, do you not? And the Doctor said, Yes. And you have heard that rats always leavea sinking ship? Yes, said the Doctor—so Ive been told. People, said the rat, always speak of itwith a sneer—as though it were something dis- The Rats Warning 119 graceful. But you cant blame us, can you?After all, who would stay on a sinking ship, ifhe could get off it? atsss^BSSIeSs-sjuJ #-. --is ^tS^^^^^^1* v -^T^Sfjt -X^Sr^*- i-~v ; -_• 7 /. And you have heard that rats always leave a sinking ship? Its very natural, said the Doctor—verynatural. I quite understand. . Was there-Was there anything else you wished to say? I2O The Story of Doctor Dollttle Yes, said the rat. Ive come to tell youthat we are leaving this one. But we wanted towarn you before we go. This is a bad ship youhave here. It isnt safe. The sides arentstrong enough. Its boards are rotten. Beforeto-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. Thetips of our tails get that tingly feeling—likewhen your foots asleep. This morning, at sixoclock, while I was getting breakfast, my tailsuddenly began to tingle. At first I thoughtit was my rheumatism coming back. So I wentand asked my aunt how she felt—you rememberher?—the long, piebald rat, rather skinny,
Size: 1609px × 1553px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, bookidstoryofdocto, bookyear1920
