<div><h1 id='ch18'>CHAPTER XVIII<br/> <span class='sub-head'>THE RATS PLAN TO KILL BILLY MINK</span></h1></div>
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<p class='line0'>An idle boaster, it is clear,</p>
<p class='line0'>Is he who says he knows no fear.</p>
<p class='line0'>                  <span class='it'>Billy Mink.</span></p>
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<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>It</span> having been agreed by all the
Rats in the big barn that they
would stand by each other and all
attack Billy Mink at once, the
next time he appeared, they immediately
began to feel better.
Only the oldest ones shook their
heads doubtfully and continued to
look worried. The younger ones
boasted. Had they not driven
away the Cat which the farmer had
put in the barn to catch them?
And was not the Cat very much
bigger than this new enemy?
They began to talk among themselves
of the fun they would have
when Billy Mink should next appear.</p>
<p class='pindent'>“I’m not afraid,” said one.</p>
<p class='pindent'>“Nor I,” cried another. And
all the rest of the young Rats
boasted in the same way.</p>
<p class='pindent'>But the gray old leader still
shook his head and looked worried.
“It is all very well for you to brag
of what you will do,” said he.
“But bragging never yet won a
battle. If we would keep our
homes here in this big barn, where
many of you have spent your lives,
we must make our plans to kill
this terrible enemy. It will not do
to simply drive him away, for he
might return when least expected.
Always there must be two or three
on watch. The instant that Mink
appears, warning must be given,
and then all of us fall on him at
once. As I told you before, the
best fighter among us would be
helpless if he had to face that fellow
alone. But if we all attack
him together, there will be nothing
to fear.”</p>
<p class='pindent'>So certain of the sharpest-eyed
Rats were appointed to watch all
the holes through which Billy Mink
might enter the big barn. When
it should become necessary for them
to go hunt for food, other Rats
were to take their places. All the
others scattered to their homes.
Some lived under the barn, some
lived on the main floor of the barn,
and some lived in the hay loft.
The old Rats were still worried,
but the younger ones were filled
with pleasant excitement. They
rather hoped that Billy Mink would
come soon. They wanted to show
how brave they could be. Not a
doubt crept into the mind of one of
them that all would end as they
had planned.</p>
<p class='pindent'>Meanwhile Billy Mink was comfortably
dreaming in the little
chamber he had chosen under the
big woodpile between the big barn
and the henhouse. Billy’s dreams
were pleasant dreams. That is,
they were pleasant dreams for him.
He dreamed he was hunting Rats.
Yes, they were very pleasant
dreams for Billy. But had any of
the Rats in the big barn had those
dreams, they would have been anything
but pleasant. It is funny
how in this world the things which
are very pleasant for one are very
unpleasant for another.</p>
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