MARK TWAIN

trunks were down below. He went with me—laid over
one vessel to do it—because he warn't no sailor and he
liked to be with a man that was—and the brig was sliding
out between the buoys and her head-line was paying out
ashore. There was a wood-pile right where the line was
made fast to the pier, and up come the damndest biggest
rat—as big as an ordinary cat he was—and darted out
on that line and cantered for the shore—and up came
another—and another—and another—and away they
galloped over that hawser—each one treading on Mother's
tail till they were so thick that you couldn't see a thread
of the cable, and there was a procession of 'em 200 yards
long over the levee like a streak of ants—and the Kanakas,
some throwing sticks from that wood-pile and chunks of
lava and coral at 'em and knocking 'cm endways and
every which way. But do you s'posc it made any difference
to them rats? Not a particle—not a particle, bless your
soul—they never let up till the last rat was ashore out of
that brand-new beautiful brig. I called a Kanaka with
his boat, and he hove alongside and shinned up a rope
and says I: 'Do you see that trunk down there?' 'Ai.'
'Clatter it ashore as quick as God'll let you.'

"Josephus, the Jew, says: 'What are you doing, Cap-
tain?' and I says: 'Doing? Why I'm a-taking my trunk
ashore, that's what Pm a-doing!'

"'Taking your trunk ashore? Why bless us what is
that for?'

"'What is it for?' says I—'Do you sec them rats? Do
you notice them, rats a-leaving this ship? She's doomed,
Sir—she's doomed! Burnt brandy wouldn't save her, Sir!
She'll never finish this voyage. She'll never be heard of
again, Sir.'

"Josephus says: 'Boy, take that other trunk ashore too.'

"And don't you know, Sir, that brig sailed out of

Honolulu without a rat aboard and was never seen

again by mortal man, Sir. We went in an old tub, so

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