THE RATS ON THE MARY ANN.

NZ Truth, Issue 578, 15 July 1916, Page 8

THE RATS ON THE MARY ANN.

This is tho truthful story that wm truthfully told to me, In tho words of the truthfullost sailorman whoe'or nailed o'or the briny soa: "Did I ever toll you tli© tale, sir, of the rnta on the Mary Ann? How wo Halted tholr tails to catch 'em, and slaughtered 'em to a man. all except one hoary varmint, a wily old bundle of craft, who, when 'c had dodged us neatly, put 'Is paw to 'is nose and laughed? But one day we cornered 'lm nicely, and all of ub crowded round. Did he give up tho game, d'ye say, sir? Not a bit of It, you be bound. No: 'o Jumped on th« deckrall, blow mo. and. takln' a mighty leap, 'o landed on top of a seagull wot was swimming Ihe vasty deep. They fought for a momont gamely, but iho rnt 'o \va« at her throat, and when 'c 'nd killed 'or, guvnor. 'o turned 'er Into a boat. Vuh, *o lifted 'er right wing quickly, ns a Hall for to catch iho brooxe, and rowed with the left to tho shoro, nlr. Wot's mine? The same agin, please."