ALONG FOUR-FOOTED TRAILS 



The mice had mined and remined the earth 

 of their home time and time again. They 

 seemed at last to be satisfied with their under- 

 ground dwelling. The grain and corn which 

 had been placed in their cage was carried in 

 their cheeks to their storehouses. They now 

 turned their energetic little minds to tearing 

 apart the first-made nest and proceeded to 

 reconstruct it. This they did in a large under- 

 ground chamber which they had excavated for 

 that purpose. A few feathers and a tuft of wool 

 which I had placed in the cage were the only 

 novel additions to the materials employed. The 

 real character of this nest became apparent later. 

 I had not seen Quaker for several days. I 

 feared she was dead or ill and opened the tun- 

 nel to learn her fate. I found the new made 

 nest and in it were four tiny pink forms, not 

 much larger than a lima bean. I never knew 

 Quaker to be other than timid and retiring and 

 her demeanor to be gentle. But how changed ! 

 Now she was a veritable little savage. The 

 mother-spirit had been kindled within her breast 

 and she was a perfect little demon in the defense 

 of her helpless family. The tunnel which child- 

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