and put the long flute-like thing to his lips, and began to play a little
tune. A strange, high, little tune. And before

three shrill notes the pipe uttered,
You heard as if an army muttered;
And the muttering grew to a grumbling;
And the grumbling grew to a mighty rumbling;
And out of the houses the rats came tumbling!
Great rats, small rats, lean rats, brawny rats,
Brown rats, black rats, gray rats, tawny rats,
Grave old plodders, gay young friskers,
Fathers, mothers, uncles, cousins,
Cocking tails and pricking whiskers,
Families by tens and dozens,
Brothers, sisters, husbands, wives--
Followed the Piper for their lives!


From street to street he piped, advancing, from street to street they
followed, dancing. Up one street and down another, till they came to the
edge of the big river, and there the piper turned sharply about and
stepped aside, and all those rats tumbled hurry skurry, head over heels,
down the bank into the river _and--were--drowned_. Every single one. No,
there was one big old fat rat; he was so fat he didn't sink, and he swam
across, and ran away to tell the tale.

Then the Piper came back to the town hall. And all the people were waving
their hats and shouting for joy. The Mayor said they would have a big
celebration, and build a tremendous bonfire in the middle of the town. He
asked the Piper to stay and see the bonfire,--very politely.