Page:Sparrow, the tramp (IA sparrowtramp00wess).pdf/69

 sleepy, and shutting his eyes he fell into a doze. As he slept the old rat stole quietly out of his hole and looked cautiously about.

"Come," he said to the others, "come out on the barn floor, for I have something of importance to say to you, and this is a good time, as Major is asleep, and the barn-cat off. Here, you Silvertail, you keep a sharp lookout in every direction, and tell me if you see the barn-cat coming."

The young rat addressed, quickly climbed on the window-sill, whence he could command a fine view of the entrances to the barn.

"Do you see anything of the barn-cat?" asked the old rat.

"Yes, I see her right in front of the dining-room window; and by the way she swishes her tail I know she's talking pretty fast."

"Well, let her swish," answered the old rat; "she'll find there are some people in the world as smart as she is."