THE WHITE -FOOTED MOUSE 



them nearly a mile from the cabin, and turned 

 them out near some big boulders. I left a 

 supply of food, and promised myself to feed 

 them from time to time. Two nights later 

 they were all back in the cabin. Upon in- 

 vestigation I found that they had followed my 

 footsteps. I could see their tracks in the snow 

 where they had trooped along in short jour- 

 neys. At the end of each journey the tracks 

 would disappear under a boulder or a tree, 

 only to appear again, but always heading for 

 the cabin. 



I baited and fixed the trap, while the mice 

 scampered about, evidently celebrating their 

 return. I told them plainly that this was 

 their last night on earth ; that I had out- 

 witted them once and would now outwit them 

 again. But all my boasting came to naught. 

 Not a mouse would enter that trap while the 

 wire was on the trencher. The third night 

 I removed the wire, and the mice entered the 

 trap without fear. 



Vainglorious man had pitted his wit against 

 the wit of these little rodents, and the rodents 

 121 



