y of my master," replied my brother.

"Master!" exclaimed both Whiskerandos and I in amazement, "who ever
heard of the master of a rat! Since when have you taken upon yourself
the office of a watch-dog, to guard what belongs to our enemy, man?"

"Since man first showed mercy to one of the race of Mus, since he spared
a defenceless rat when in his power. I know you, Whiskerandos, I know
you," continued Oddity, the hairs bristling up on his back, as my
companion, either in jest or earnest, took the corner of the
handkerchief between his sharp teeth: "you are reckoned a hero amongst
rats, but I too can fight in defence of what is confided to my charge;
you have killed a ferret, and you may kill me, but while I have a tooth
in my jaw, or a drop of blood in my body, you shall not touch a crumb
belonging to my master!"

Whiskerandos would have been more than a match for three Odditys, for
the piebald one had neither his strength, nor agility, nor experience in
fighting; but the strong rat seemed at this juncture to have no
inclination to give battle to the weak one. I hope that it will be
considered no sign of cowardice on his part, that he quietly dropped the
corner of the handkerchief, and never even attempted to examine the
contents of the can.

Of course I was all curiosity to know every particular of my brother's
deliverance. In his own quiet, homely way, he told me his simple tale,
keeping, however, all the time, a watchful eye upon the bundle beside
him, while Whiskerandos acted the part of a sentinel to give me timely
warning if any human being should approach so near as to endanger our
safety. I will tell the story of Oddity as nearly as I can in his own
words, I only wish that I could describe the expression of his bluff,
honest face, at various parts of his narration.

CHAPTER XXII.

THE FARMER AND HIS BRIDE.

"I was caught one evening in a hay-rick. A swift-footed creature like
you, Whiskerandos, might perhaps have escaped, but I was never
remarkable for agility or speed. I felt a strong hand grasping me by the
back of my neck, and I gave myself up for lost.

"'Well, here's an odd creature,-- a piebald rat! I take it that's quite
a curiosity!' cried the farmer who held me in his grasp. I expected that
he would dash me against the wall the next moment, and then set his heel
upon my poor body!

"'I wonder whether Mary ever saw the like of it before,' he continued,
examining me with attention; 'I'l