# The Rats’ Warning explained — The Story of Doctor Dolittle

> Chapter companion for The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting.

## What happens

The swallows, tired from pulling the ship, guide the Doctor to an island for rest. While seeking water, rats warn the Doctor that his ship is rotten and will sink. The canaries lead the Doctor to fresh water and food. Swallows then alert him that pirates have boarded his ship, and he escapes by boarding the empty pirate ship.

## Themes in this chapter

### Communication and Understanding

The Doctor communicates with rats and canaries, receiving warnings and guidance.

### Adventure and Exploration

The Doctor explores the Canary Islands, finding water and food with the help of local birds.

### Friendship and Loyalty

The rats warn the Doctor out of gratitude, and the swallows alert him to the pirates.

## Character check-ins

### Doctor Dolittle

Heeds the rats' warning and later escapes pirates by boarding their ship.

### Jip

Starts to chase the rats but is stopped by the Doctor.

### Dab-Dab

Identifies the Canary Islands by the birds' song.

### Gub-Gub

Finds a valley full of wild sugarcane and squeaks with joy.

### Polynesia

Not directly mentioned in this chapter.

### Chee-Chee

Not directly mentioned in this chapter.

## Key lines

> And one big black rat, who seemed to want to say something to the Doctor, now crept forward timidly along the rail, watching the dog out of the corner of his eye.

A large black rat approached the Doctor cautiously, keeping an eye on Jip.

_The rat is nervous but determined to speak with the Doctor._

> Before tomorrow night it will sink to the bottom of the sea.

The ship will sink by tomorrow night.

_The rat warns the Doctor of the ship's imminent sinking._

> Why, these are the Canary Islands,” said Dab-Dab. “Don’t you hear the canaries singing?”

Dab-Dab identifies the island by the canaries' song.

_Dab-Dab recognizes the Canary Islands from the birds' singing._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters/xiv-the-rats-warning
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_doctor_dolittle_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_doctor_dolittle_se/chapters