The rats has deserted the sinking ship, and taken everything with them that wasn't nailed down.

"Just another rat deserting the sinking ship," said the Bloodhawk sadly.

In other words, the rat deserted her for his sword.

"They say rats desert a sinking ship," murmured Arthur.

My money had all run out on me - plastic rats deserting a paper ship.

The rats are deserting the ship at high speed.

So the rats are already deserting the sinking ship, are they?

Then jumped aside as the rats deserted the burning ship.

Looks like the rats are deserting or something.

The rats had long ago deserted it for lack of food, but there were bats in the hayloft.