|He packed his bundle one night, and the next day, early, set forth to
seek his fortune. He left the house behind him, but his heart began to
sink. However, he would not turn back, but kept on. At last he sat down
in the field to think.
Just then the Bow Bells, that is, the bells of a church in Bow Street,
began to ring merrily. Dick heard them, and as they rang, he fancied he
heard them sing,--
“Turn again, Whittington,
Lord Mayor of London.”
That was a fine song to hear, and Dick began to pluck up heart again.
[Illustration: 0121]
Still the bells rang. It was very early; no one was yet astir at the
merchant’s house, and Dick, with new courage, took up his bundle, obeyed
the bells, and walked quickly back to the house. He had left the door
open, so he crept in and took up his daily task. About this time, the
ship which carried Dick’s cat was driven by the winds, and came to a
place on the Barbary coast, where the English seldom went. The people
received the master of the ship well, and he traded with them. As
his wares were new, they were very welcome. At last the king of that
country, being greatly pleased, sent for the captain to come and dine at
the palace.
The dinner was not set on a table, but the cloth was laid on the floor,
as this was the custom of the country. The guests sat cross-legged
before the feast. But when the dishes were set down, the smell of the
dinner brought a great company of rats, and these rats helped themselves
without fear.
The master of the ship was amazed, and asked the nobles if it was not
very unpleasant to have this swarm of rats.
“Oh,” said they, “very much so. The king would give half his wealth to
be rid of them. They not only come to the table, but they make free with
his chamber and even his bed.”
“Well,” said the captain, thinking at once of Dick’s cat, “I have an
English beast on board my ship which will quickly clear the palace of
all the rats.”
“Say you so?” said the king, when he heard of this. “For such a thing I
will load your ship with gold, diamonds, and pearls.” At that the shrewd
captain made much of the cat.
“She is the most famous thing in the world,” said he. “I cannot spare
her, for she keeps my ship clear of rats, or else they would spoil all
my goods.” But the king would not take no for an answer.
“No price shall part us,” he said. So the cat was sent for, and the
table was again spread. The rats came as before, but the captain let the
cat loose, and she made short work of them. Then she came purring and
curling up her tail before the king, as if she would have her reward.
The king was so pleased with the cat, that he gave ten times more for
her than for all the goods in the ship. Then the ship sailed away with
a fair wind, and arrived safe at London. She was the richest ship that
ever entered port.