Dracula - Chapter 19 (Bite 2)

The chapter opens with the group inside the chapel, where a mass of phosphorescent light begins to twinkle like stars. The whole place becomes alive with rats, swarming in thousands until the lamp light shines on their moving dark bodies and glittering baleful eyes. Lord Godalming is seemingly prepared for this emergency. He rushes to the great iron-bound oaken door, turns the key, draws the huge bolts, and swings it open. Then he takes his little silver whistle and blows a low shrill call. From behind Dr. Seward’s house, three terriers come dashing round the corner.

The dogs dash on but then simultaneously lift their noses and begin to howl in most lugubrious fashion. Lord Godalming lifts one of the dogs and carries him inside. The instant his feet touch the ground, he seems to recover his courage and rushes at his natural enemies. The rats flee before him so fast that before he has shaken the life out of a score, the other dogs have but small prey ere the whole mass has vanished. With their going, it seems as if some evil presence has departed. The dogs frisked about and barked merrily as they made sudden darts at their prostrate foes.

The lesson of the dogs and rats