| Show i fm thornton thorn ton W B burone lae byess ss WHY THE PLANS OF THE RATS FAILED remember that the rats in in YOU the big barn had agreed that if billy mink should return they would all attack him at once and kill him or frighten him so that he would leave and never return it was a perfectly good plan billy aas was more than a match for any single rat he might be more than a match for any two rats but i C he had to fight all the rats at once he al ai they were crazy with fear and gave him no heed have the smallest chance in the world all those rats had been very bold and brave when they had met to plan how they should get rid of this new enemy especially bold and brave had been the younger rats they had agreed that the instant they heard the signal they would rush to do their part in the attack on billy mink only the wise gray old leader had been doubtful he had not let the others know that he was doubtful for this would not have done at all but he knew what the younger rats did not know which was that born in every rat is great fear of all in members embers of billy minks family a fear so great that it i is aroused all else is forgotten he knew that such fear becomes terror and terror destroys courage it makes cowards of even those who are thought to be brave so the gray old leader was doubtful and that doubt increased the fear which the very thought of billy mink filled him with now the gray old leader was not a coward himself he would never have become a leader if he had been a coward when he heard that danger signal he scrambled out of the nest where he had been taking a nap and hurried forth to lead his tribe in the great fight they had planned almost at once he met one of the loudest boasters among the younger rats and this fellow was running in the opposite direction from the way he should have been going more than this he was squealing with fright then another and another and still another raced frantically past each squealing with fright he could not stop them they were crazy with fear and gave him no heed in all directions he could hear frightened squeaks and squeals and the scampering of many feet fe et he knew then that that which he had most feared had happened the mere presence of billy mink had awakened awal ened that inborn fear and each rat was thinking only of himself and how he could escape sadly the old leader turned and fled to save his own life he knew that their plans for getting rid of billy mink had failed and that he never would be able to make these followers stand and fight Q T W burgess service |
