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 took up the thimble and went on very cautiously.

She reached the head of the stairs and found herself in the loft, and over there in the corner was the hole just as her friend had described it to her. "If I wasn't sure the house-cat was locked up in the kitchen, I should think she was somewhere about," said little Mrs. Silverskin to herself, "for I feel cold shivers down my spine just as I always do when she or the barn-cat is about; but I'm only nervous, I guess."

So the little mouse went on her way, and had nearly reached the hole, when suddenly from behind a barrel darted the house-cat, her large yellow eyes glaring fiercely in the moonlight.

The poor little mouse gave a squeak of terror, and dropping the silver thimble ran swiftly for her life, closely followed by the house-cat. One pause or misstep and all would have been over with Mrs. Silverskin;