But she watched for a chance, and directly banged away at a rat; but she missed him wide, and said "Ouch!" it hurt her arm so.

Then she told me to try for the next one.

I wanted to be getting away before the old man got back, but of course I didn't let on.

I got the thing, and the first rat that showed his nose I let drive, and if he'd a stayed where he was he'd a been a tolerable sick rat.

She said that was first-rate, and she reckoned I would hive the next one.