Suddenly Malcolm heard a noise.
It was the alarm bell on the roof of the house.
It was beginning to ring.
But it was not ringing loudly.
Malcolm looked up.
The end of the rope which was hanging from the high ceiling was covered with rats.
More and more rats were coming out of a hole in the ceiling.
They were climbing down the rope.
The rats were trying to help malcolm.
They were trying to make the alarm bell ring.
But it was not yet ringing loudly.