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eyes off the half a ton of copper or the bushel of tenpenny nails；
for nails and copper are a shipwright's sweethearts； and
shipwrights will run away with them whenever they can。 So； the
Devil said； 'I see what you are looking at； Chips。 You had better
strike the bargain。 You know the terms。 Your father before you
was well acquainted with them； and so were your grandfather and
great…grandfather before him。' Says Chips； 'I like the copper； and
I like the nails； and I don't mind the pot； but I don't like the
rat。' Says the Devil； fiercely； 'You can't have the metal without
him … and HE'S a curiosity。 I'm going。' Chips； afraid of losing
the half a ton of copper and the bushel of nails； then said； 'Give
us hold！' So； he got the copper and the nails and the pot and the
rat that could speak； and the Devil vanished。 Chips sold the
copper； and he sold the nails； and he would have sold the pot； but
whenever he offered it for sale； the rat was in it； and the dealers
dropped it； and would have nothing to say to the bargain。 So；
Chips resolved to kill the rat； and； being at work in the Yard one
day with a great kettle of hot pitch on one side of him and the
iron pot with the rat in it on the other； he turned the scalding
pitch into the pot； and filled it full。 Then； he kept his eye upon
it till it cooled and hardened； and then he let it stand for twenty
days； and then he heated the pitch again and turned it back into
the kettle； and then he sank the pot in water for twenty days more；
and then he got the smelters to put it in the furnace for twenty
days more； and then they gave it him out； red hot； and looking like
red…hot glass instead of iron…yet there was the rat in it； just the
same as ever！ And the moment it caught his eye； it said with a
jeer：
'A Lemon has pips；
And a Yard has ships；
And I'll have Chips！'
（For this Refrain I had waited since its last appearance； with
inexpressible horror； which now culminated。） Chips now felt
certain in his own mind that the rat would stick to him； the rat；
answering his thought； said； 'I will … like pitch！'
Now； as the rat leaped out of the pot when it had spoken； and made
off； Chips began to hope that it wouldn't keep its word。 But； a
terrible thing happened next day。 For； when dinner…time came； and
the Dock…bell rang to strike work； he put his rule into the long
pocket at the side of his trousers； and there he found a rat … not
that rat； but another rat。 And in his hat； he found another； and
in his pocket…handkerchief； another； and in the sleeves of his
coat； when he pulled it on to go to dinner； two more。 And from
that time he found himself so frightfully intimate with all the
rats in the Yard； that they climbed up his legs when he was at
work； and sat on his tools while he used them。 And they could all
speak to one another； and he understood what they said。 And they
got into his lodging； and into his bed； and into his teapot； and
into his beer； and into his boots。 And he was going to be married
to a corn…chandler's daughter； and when he gave her a workbox he
had himself made for her； a rat jumped out of it； and when he put
his arm round her waist； a rat clung about her； so the marriage was
broken off； though the banns were already twice put up … which the
parish clerk well remembers； for； as he handed the book to the
clergyman for the second time of asking； a large fat rat ran over
the leaf。 （By this time a special cascade of rats was rolling down
my back； and the whole of my small listening person was overrun
with them。 At intervals ever since； I have been morbidly afraid of
my own pocket； lest my exploring hand should find a specimen or two
of those vermin in it。）
You may believe that all this was very terrible to Chips； but even
all this was not the worst。 He knew besides； what the rats were
doing； wherever they were。 So； sometimes he would cry aloud； when
he was at his club at night； 'Oh！ Keep the rats out of the
convicts' burying…ground！ Don't let them do that！' Or； 'There's
one of them at the cheese down…stairs！' Or； 'There's two of them
smelling at the baby in the garret！' Or； other things of that
sort。 At last； he was voted mad； and lost his work in the Yard；
and could get no other work。 But； King George wanted men； so
before very long he got pressed for a sailor。 And so he was taken
off in a boat one evening to his ship； lying at Spithead； ready to
sail。 And so the first thing he made out in her as he got near
her； was the figure…head of the old Seventy…four； where he had seen
the Devil。 She was called the Argonaut； and they rowed right under
the bowsprit where the figure…head of the Argonaut； with a
sheepskin in his hand and a blue gown on； was looking out to sea；
and sitting staring on his forehead was the rat who could speak；
and his exact words were these： 'Chips ahoy！ Old boy！ We've
pretty well eat them too； and we'll drown the crew； and will eat
them too！' （Here I always became exceedingly faint； and would have
asked for water； but that I was speechless。）
The ship was bound for the Indies； and if you don't know where that
is； you ought to it； and angels will never love you。 （Here I felt
myself an outcast from a future state。） The ship set sail that
very night； and she sailed； and sailed； and sailed。 Chips's
feelings were dreadful。 Nothing ever equalled his terrors。 No
wonder。 At last； one day he asked leave to speak to the Admiral。
The Admiral giv' leave。 Chips went down on his knees in the Great
State Cabin。 'Your Honour； unless your Honour； without a moment's
loss of time； makes sail for the nearest shore； this is a doomed
ship； and her name is the Coffin！' 'Young man； your words are a
madman's words。' 'Your Honour no； they are nibbling us away。'
'They？' 'Your Honour； them dreadful rats。 Dust and hollowness
where solid oak ought to be！ Rats nibbling a grave for every man
on board！ Oh！ Does your Honour love your Lady and your pretty
children？' 'Yes； my man； to be sure。' 'Then； for God's sake； make
for the nearest shore； for at this present moment the rats are all
stopping in their work； and are all looking straight towards you
with bare teeth； and are all saying to one another that you shall
never； never； never； never； see your Lady and your children more。'
'My poor fellow； you are a case for the doctor。 Sentry； take care
of this man！'
So； he was bled and he was blistered； and he was this and that； for
six whole days and nights。 So； then he again asked leave to speak
to the Admiral。 The Admiral giv' leave。 He went down on his knees
in the Great State Cabin。 'Now； Admiral； you must die！ You took
no warning； you must die！ The rats are never wrong in their
calculations； and they make out that they'll be through； at twelve
to…night。 So； you must die！ … With me and all the rest！' And so
at twelve o'clock there was a great leak reported in the ship； and
a torrent of wa