Page:Sparrow, the tramp (IA sparrowtramp00wess).pdf/21

 pair of very sharp black eyes appeared in the now rat-hole.

Looking cautiously around, and stopping every minute to listen, the rat ventured out. He was quite gray about the mouth from age, and had a particularly vicious look in his shrewd old eyes. Finding all still, he ventured out a little farther, and still farther, and at last slid down from the shelf and entered the dining-room.

Mrs. Polly's quick ears had heard him, and she watched him as he noiselessly moved about, picking up the crumbs that had fallen from the table.

"Hallo!" called out Mrs. Polly.

"Speak a little louder while you're about it," snarled the old rat, who had started at the sound of her voice and listened anxiously to hear if there were danger of detection; and as he spoke he gave a very vicious grin that displayed his long yellow teeth, with one of the front ones broken.