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A HERMIT'S WILD FRIENDS 



found the little imps, but it was a sorry find 

 for her. As they increased in strength, it 

 was evident that they conspired to take pos- 

 session of the cabin. They worked in concert 

 and fought in concert. While they were yet 

 small the two would attack a full-grown 

 mouse. If it chanced to be an old male, the 

 little imps were sure to get mauled, until 

 they would flee to their mother for protection. 

 When full grown, they proved to be a match, 

 single-handed, for any mouse in the cabin. 

 Together, they were invincible. 



The cabin became a battle-field every night. 

 After a few weeks the white-foots were com- 

 pletely vanquished, and left. The two war- 

 riors drove their foster-mother outdoors, then 

 for three months held undisputed possession 

 of the food supply. 



The white-foots are destructive gnawers, 

 but the new mice could do more damage in 

 one night than all the others could in a week. 

 I had made a poor exchange. The two 

 scamps were on friendly terms with me, and 

 did not allow me to eat a meal without their 

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