Soyer's Culinary Campaign: Being Historical Reminiscences of the Late War.: With The Plain Art of Cookery for Military and Civil Institutions

can never keep a bit of cheese or a candle; they eat them up as fast as I buy them.” “It is certainly very provoking, Captain; but why not try and catch them?” “Oh, bless you, we have tried everything--poison, traps, broken glass. We caught a few, but I would give the world to have them all caught.” “I can give you a receipt which will enable you to have them almost all caught in a few days.” “The deuce you could!” said he, coming and sitting opposite to me. “Tell me how it is done--I shall be so much obliged to you; but I must go and put something on first, I am so cold.” As he said this, I perceived that the skylight over his head was open. “Oh, never mind that; it won’t take two minutes to tell you--listen to me.” “So I will,” he said. “The place where you keep your cheese would be the very spot to make the trial. The thing is quite easy. Have your cheese and candles removed.” “So I will; but I wish you would let me put a coat on--I am getting so very cold.” “Never mind about that; I shall not keep you a minute--listen to me.” “So I will.” “When the cabin is perfectly empty, have it cleaned and well scrubbed.” “That will be done.” “When it is dry, take half a pound of good Cheshire cheese, scrape it fine, and mix it with about two pounds of rough bread-crumbs.” “Yes, I will.” “Perhaps you think it is a pity to give them half a pound of good cheese.” “Not at all, because the vermin eat pounds of it daily.” “Mix both well together.” “Yes, I understand--and make them into balls.” “No, not at all--only spread the lot upon the floor, leave the door and window open, and go to bed. Of course they will come and eat.” “I should say they would,” he observed. “The next evening do the same, cutting the cheese a trifle larger. They will come again and eat it.” “What next?” said he.