the eldest son of the king of the rats was about to be married. the cat got to know of this, and at once conceived the idea of seizing the bridegroom and making him render the necessary help. consequently, when the procession poured forth from the hole squealing and jumping in honour of the occasion, it immediately spotted the bridegroom and pounced down on him. "oh! let me go, let me go," cried the terrified rat. "oh! let him go," squealed all the company. "it is his wedding day."