The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-04

toward US, and soon We could discover its
color and size. It's fur was yellow and
drab, with a white brea1t and belly, long
stiff bristles and sharp-pointed nose.
Eyes that glittered like electric sparks were
fixed upon us, and as its mouth opened
now and then cleaning, long. shsrp-pointed
teeth were disclosed. There was q great
deal Of elaboration In the movements OF
his approach. His eyes snapped and flashed
as he hoped and half ran in circles toward
as, but never for an instant was his gaze
directed from U.s. His eyes spoke volumes.
He surveyed the situation with an intel
Ngence worthy of q military hero. He knew
the watohman we'll. but he was evidently
suspicious OF my appearance. He sat on
his launches, about twenty feet away from
us, and stared and glared curiously. Far
away In his rear, in the shadowy back
ground, could be dinly seen the forms of
others of his tribe, who, with the exception
OF inadvertent squeals, seemed to be await
ing developments.
The watohman took from his pocket an
ordinary comb, which he wrapped with
thin paper, and placing 1t next TO his teeth
began vibratory sounds, with rising and
falling and falling infections. Instantly
the old rat picked up bis ears as though
listening, and then slowly but steadily adj
vanced until he entered the circle Of light.
Thsreupon and Immediately, out of the
IL,
all sizes, shapes ,colors and conditions. The
first large old rat was evidently the king Of
all, for all the others surrounded him at a
respectful distance, aud seemed TO await
his orders. There were thousands of them,
young and old. Most of them remained
quiet, but others, presumably young ones,
cavorted and squealed far away in the
background. The old king rat suddenly
arose on bis hind legs and whirled his
head 10 and fro like marshal reviewing
his forces, and uhereupon for O moment all
the others remained moti0nless and quiet.
Suddenly the watohman gave a quick,
sharp, loud blast on the comb. whereat the
king rodent uttered a shrill, piercing scream,
which was taken up and reiterated from the
Threats of his thousands of subjects. Tho
din that followed was indesoribably horrid
like a chorus of walls from the bottomless
pit-or, in other words, like hell let loose {"
1t was a babel Of shrill, ear-sDlitting soueals
and screams-enough to drive Que mad.
Even the old watchman clapped his hands
to his ears. Then he stamped his foot upon
the floor, whereupon the noise ceased almost
as suddenly az it began.
After a short pause he commenced
wbstling a soft low minor key tune. To
my immense amazement some OF the war
mints" joined with modulated squeals and
means, as II in mimicry.
Then he began to tap the floor with his
club. at which signal the tbrong Of rodents
commenced to encircle the old king rat In q
professional dance and galop. After a few
minutes of this diversion the Waterman
took from his lunch basket pieces OF bread
and meat, and scattered them In the midst
of the throng. At once there began q scene
OF scrimmage and scrAmblinR that once
witnessed could never be forgotten. Itwas
a riot, a Donnybrook fair row, scene Of
reckless fighting, scratching, biting, with
squeals and screams and almost human
hhrieks.
They leaped. tumbled, jumped, struggled,
rolled over and over, clawed and scratched,
bit and chewed, snapped and scrambled
among each other to secure the food. At
this juncture, whom the whole floor seemed
living platform of wrigRllDg, twisting
rats, the old Waterman seized his lantern,
arose. crashed his club upon the floor and
1 shouted. Then the old king rat lea ped high
into the air, and with successive jumps over
the rolling. fighting bodies Of the contest
ants, plunged toward the rear, through the
black shadows OF the great main passage
! aud was followed by the multitudinous sub.
jects scampering madly and wildly after
| him.