“I reckon, sonny, it was a cat chased you in here, for you are our mouse, and you are trapped.”
Ike laughed as though the conceit was very funny, but there came a change over his face when the man asked:
“Do you remember what they do with mice when they catch them?”
The lad did not answer.
“They kill ’em—strangle ’em,” said the man.
The boy laughed. His assumption of carelessness and innocence was immense.
“I reckon we will strangle you.”
“Oh, you won’t hurt me.”
“You are a smart lad. We’ve humored you, and now answer my question, What were you doing there?”
“I was listening.”