The young mice increased in size rapidly, and soon took on the adult form and color. Then I recognized them. They were the gray Hesperomys, while my mice were the fulvous Hesperomys. The first is found in deep woods, the latter near farm-buildings and in the neighboring woodlands.
I don't know where their foster-parent 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 possession 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 completely vanquished, and left. The two warriors drove their foster-mother out-doors, 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 company. They would come at my call, and would have proved desirable pets, if it had not been for the gnawing habit.
I had made up my mind to kill them, for I knew it would be only a matter of time when they would destroy every book and paper in the cabin. I got rid of them, however, without resorting to violence. A young married couple from the city saw and admired the mice, and when I offered to give them away, gladly accepted the offer. I do not know what became of them, and do not care to meet any of their race.
In a short time the white-foots returned to the cabin, and are with me now. The foster-mother that was turned out-doors did not return. She was one of the missing, and so sacrificed her life, after all her care of two ungrateful imps.
VIII.
THE CROW
The intelligence of the crow is admitted by those who deny reason to the lower animals. This bird is so large and is so meddlesome in human affairs that he has forced mankind to acknowledge his intelligence.