Page:Dave Porter on Cave Island.djvu/160

146 man, who came forth from his berth wearing a blanket, Indian fashion.

By this time Phil had caught one of the creatures. Both he and Dave started for the rear of the car, to throw the mice off the train.

"Stop! stop! I beg of you, don't kill those mice!" came suddenly from a tall, thin young man who had been sleeping in a berth at the end of the car. Dave had noticed him during the day and had put him down as a preacher or actor.

"Why not?" asked our hero.

"They are mine, that's why," said the man. "I would not have them killed for a thousand dollars!"

"Say, wot yo'-all talkin' about?" demanded the porter. "Dem mice yours?"

"Yes! yes! Oh, please do not kill them!" pleaded the tall, thin man. "They won't hurt anybody, really they won't."

"Say, are them white mice educated?" demanded the fat man.

"Indeed they are—I educated them myself," answered the other man. "I spent months in doing it, too. They are the best-educated white mice in the United States," he added, proudly.