The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-09-16
From Jessie's Natural History.l
Combat between a Rat s. Ferret.

Combat between KAT S& F'GTrGC.
A striking proof Of the sagacity, courage,
and may say reasoning powers Of these ami
mails, has been recently given me by medl-
cal friend living at Kingston. Being greatly
surprised that the ferret, an animal OF such
slow locomotive powers, should be SO destruc-
tive to the rat tribe, he determined to BRING
both these animals fairly INTO the arena, IN Or
der to Judge of their respective powers and
having selected fine, large and full grown
male rat, and also an equally strong buck
ferret, which had been accustomed to the
haunts of rats, my friend, accompanied by
his son, turned these two animals loose INTO
a room without furniture, in which there was
but one window, and the two philosophers
determined to watch patiently the whole pro
cess OF he encounter Immediately upon be-
ing liberated, the rat ran round the room, as
ifsearchug for an exit. Not finding any
means ofescape, he uttered piercing shrek,
and with the most prompt decision took up
his station directly under the light, thus gain
ing over his adversary (to use the language
of other duclists) the advantage Of the sun
The ferret now erected his head, shifted
about and seemed fearlessly to push his way
toward the spot where the scent of his game
was strongest, facing the light in full front,
and preparing himself with avidity to seize
upon his prey. No sooner, however, had he
approached within few feet of his watchful
foe, than the rat, again uttering a loud cry,
rushed at him with violence and inflicted
severe wound on the head or neck which
was soon shown by the blood which flowed
from it; the ferret seemed astoniShed at the
attack, and retrcated with evident discom-
future; while the rat, instead of following up
the advantage he had gained, instantly with
drew to his former station under the window.
The ferret soon recovered the shock he had
sustained, and erecting his head, once more
took the field This second rencontre was in
all its progress and results an enact repetition
of the former, with this exception, that on
the rush of the rat to the conflict, the ferret
appeared more collected, and evidently
showed an inclination to get a firm hold of
his enemy; the strength OF the rat, however,
was very great, and he again succeeded not
only in avoiding the deadly embrace Of the
ferret, but also in innictng another severe
wound on his neck and head. The rat sec
Ond time returned to his retreat under the
window, and the ferret seemed less anxious to
renew the conflict Those attacks were re-
sumcd at intervals for nearly two hours, all
ending m the failure of the ferret, who was
evidently fighting to disadvantage from the
light falling full on his eyes, whenever he APP
preached the rat, who wisely kept his ground,
and never for moment lost sight Of the adj
vantage he had obtained. In order to prove
whether the choice of this position depended |
upon accident, my friend managed to dislodge |
the rat, and took his own station under the !
window but the moment the ferret attemp- !
ted to make his approach, the rat, evidently |
aware Of the advantage he had lost, endeaY- |
ored to creep between my friends legs, thus
losing his natural fear of man under the dan |
ger which awaited him from more deadly |
foe. The ferret by this time had learned
profitable lesson, and prepared to approach
the rat in more willy manner, by creeping
insidi ously along the skirting and thus avoid
ing the glare of light that had hitherto batfletl
his attempt. The rat still pursued with un-
abated energy his original mode of attack,
namely, inacting wound, aud avoiding at
the same time a close combat; while it was
equally certain that his foe. was intent upon
laying hold of, and gripping his intended vic
tim in his murderous embrace. The charac-
ter of the fight, which had lasted more than
three hours, was now evidently changed, and
the rat appeared conscious that he had lost
the advantage he originally possessed, and,
like the Swedish hero, had taught his frc-
quently beaten hero to conquer in his turn.
AT last, in lengthened struggle, the ferret
succeeded in accomplishing his originally in
tended grapplc; the rat, as if conscious of
his certain ruin, made little farther effort at
resistance, but, sending forth a low and plain
tive shrek, surrendered his life to his perse-
verlng foe.