Chapters 31, 32 and 33 Summary

The island of St. Hubert in the West Indies is infested with rats which arrive on board an visiting ship. The plague breaks out on the small island because the island's governor, Sir Robert Fairlamb, has fired the rat killer on bad advice from local assemblyman Kellet the Red Leg. An opposing assemblyman, George William Vertigan claims that the rats breed disease but he is overruled by the island's Surgeon General, Inchcape Jones.

The plague breaks out and runs rampant, killing many people including George William Vertigan. A local parish medical officer, Dr. Stokes, warns Inchcape of the dangers of the rat infestation but his warnings go unheeded. Dr. Stokes ultimately contacts Dr. Gottlieb at the McGurk Institute asking for help before the island is consumed by death.

Gottlieb does not respond to Dr. Stokes' request, preferring to stay in his...