‘Let me go,’ said a mouse. ‘I’m small. No one would pay much attention to a mouse.’
‘Of what use would a mouse be?’ hissed a snake scornfully.
The rest of the animals said nothing.
‘I think,’ said Raphael, after a pause, ‘that a mouse might be able to find out more than any of the rest of us. He is small and his eyes are sharp. Go quickly, Mouse, and return to us.’
The little mouse, quite excited over the honor done him, scurried off. Meanwhile the animals lay in a circle about the clearing, the larger ones crowding among the firs at the edge, the smaller ones finding shelter in the grass and bushes. Raphael sat on the council rock and looked out over the city.
In an hour or two the mouse returned, hurried and out of breath. The animals, who were the first to hear him, rose and pressed about Raphael to hear what was said.
‘Master,’ squeaked the mouse, ‘the way was long and I have hurried. I went down through the fields to a desert of stone with high cliffs on all sides. Great boxes on wheels and many silent walking things passed me. And so I came away. Truly what could live in such a place?’
‘A MOUSE MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIND OUT MORE THAN ANY OF THE REST OF US’
‘What sort of silent walking things?’ asked Raphael.