"Of course I can't do very much in the daytime, because they don't come
out of their holes; but I work all night, and it would surprise you to
know how many there are in the house, I don't kill off a tenth part of
them, and they seem to think they have more rights here than I have.
"Why, it is only last week that I happened to look up on the broad shelf
in the dining-room closet, and there were six mice, sitting around as
bold as you please. Five ran for their lives the minute they saw me; but
what do you think the other one did? Why, he sat on his tail with his
paws behind him, and actually scolded because I had come around there.
[Illustration: Mr. Mouse is angry.]
"I really believe the foolish creature thought he could frighten me, for
he kept right on scolding and sputtering until I got my paw on his neck,
and of course that settled him. I left him a good deal worse off than
Mrs. Lioness did Mr. Rat, when she wanted to play with him."