“It looks to me,” answered Gray Mouse, “like an animal which the man has in the parlor of his house, at least his legs look like those of that poor beast. The man’s daughter boxes the creature’s ears for two hours every morning, and although he cries and cries she will not stop.”
“You do not know very much,” whispered White Rabbit. “I heard the man say one morning that his little girl was pounding the piano in the parlor, and this thing is not a piano at all.”
Just then the creature winked his little eyes and made its big ears go flop, flop.
“It seems to be alive,” said White Rabbit.
“Yes,” answered Gray Mouse, “and it looks a little bit like me only he is bigger than Black Horse. What a funny long nose he has! You speak to him, White Rabbit.”
“I’m too bashful,” replied White Rabbit, as he backed away.
He caught hold of Gray Mouse and pushed him right through the hole under the manger. Gray Mouse fell on the ground in front of the strange animal. One of the big beast’s feet kicked up the earth and covered up the hole out of which Gray Mouse had come. Gray Mouse was so scared that he did not know what to do. Besides he heard Small Dog snuffing at the barn door and scratching with his paws.
“What in the world shall I do?” squealed Gray Mouse. “Suppose Small Dog should get in? The door is not latched and he could open it, with his sharp nose and his big paws.”