Part 19 (1/2)

He had gone but a short way when he heard the sound of the six great bells of Bow.

As they rang, ”Ding-dong, ding-dong!” they seemed to say:

Turn back, Whittington, Lord Mayor of London.

”It is strange that the bells should speak to me,” said d.i.c.k, ”but if I am to be Lord Mayor of London, I will gladly turn back.”

So he ran back to the house of Mr. Fitzwarren.

”I hope they have not missed me,” said d.i.c.k, as he gently opened the door and stole softly in.

d.i.c.k WHITTINGTON--III

d.i.c.k's cat was taken across the ocean. The s.h.i.+p sailed and sailed, until at last it came to a distant country.

Now the king and queen of this country were very rich. When the captain was asked to show his goods before them he was very glad indeed to do so.

The king and queen first gave the captain a great feast.

Gold and silver dishes filled with food were brought in.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

When these dishes were placed upon the table an army of rats came out.

There were white rats, and black rats, and brown rats, and big rats, and little rats.

At once they fell upon the food and ate it nearly all up.

”Why do you let the rats do this?” asked the captain.

”Alas, we cannot help ourselves,” said the king. ”I would give half my kingdom to be rid of them.”

Then the captain thought of d.i.c.k Whittington's cat.

”I have an animal which will rid you of them,” said the captain.

”Pray bring it in at once,” said the queen.

What fun d.i.c.k's cat had killing the rats and mice in the king's palace!

”We must buy that little animal,” said the queen. ”I do not care how much she may cost.”

The captain could hardly carry all the jewels and gold that the king gave him for the cat.

Then the s.h.i.+p with d.i.c.k's money came back to London, and the captain told the story to Mr. Fitzwarren.

”We must take these jewels and all this gold at once to Mr.