there was a sight to see! Rats and mice ran about in all directions, and the servants stood armed with sticks to prevent their jumping on to the table. Then said the merchant to the master of the house,—
"For heaven's sake, brother, what does this mean?"
And the other answered him,—
"It is always this way with us, brother; we can neither eat our meals, at mid-day nor in the evening, for these creatures; even when we go to sleep each of us has a box that he shuts himself up in, lest the mice should nibble his ears off."
The master of the ship then remembered the cat he had bought for a penny, and said to his host,—
"I have an animal on board my ship which, in the course of two or three days, would settle all these creatures."
"Brother," replied the master of the house, "if you really have such an animal, give it to me; I will fill your ship with gold and silver if what you tell me is true."
After supper the merchant went on board his ship, brought the cat, and said to his host that they might now all go to sleep without getting into their boxes. But the people would not trust themselves to do this, and he alone slept without a box. Then he let the cat loose, and as she saw the rats and mice she began to
