VII. 

 THREE YEARS LATER 



THE next spring, after my attempt to thin 

 out the white-footed mice, the stoats returned. 

 I did not molest them, and they reduced the 

 number of mice in short order. Mouse num- 

 ber two had a little family in a nest on a 

 shelf. They were mice-babies, helpless and 

 sprawling. They were dragged out of the 

 nest by one of the stoats, and were killed one 

 at a time. The stoat was obliged to make 

 three trips to remove the pile of dead mice. 

 The mother had escaped by way of the stone 

 wall at the rear of the cabin. After the 

 slaughter was over, she returned and did a 

 lot of drumming. I think she was reproach- 

 ing me because I did not drive the stoat away. 

 It made me feel guilty, but I had hardened 

 136 



