of the oats for his horses, I returned by the same place I had entered,
and hid myself in one corner of the hayloft, where I passed the whole
of the day more free from alarm than often falls to the lot of any of my
species, and in the evening again returned to regale myself with corn,
as I had done the night before. The great abundance with which I was
surrounded, strongly tempted me to continue where I was; but then the
thoughts of my absent brother embittered all my peace, and the advice of
my mother came so much across my mind, that I determined before the next
morning I would again venture forth and seek my fortune and my brother.
Accordingly, after having eaten a very hearty meal, I left the bin, and
was attempting to get out of the stable, when one of the horses being
taken suddenly ill, made so much noise with his kicking and struggling,
as to alarm the family, and the coachman entering with a lantern in his
hand, put me into such consternation, that I ran for shelter into the
pocket of a great coat, which hung up upon a peg next the harness of the
horses. Here I lay snug for some hours, not daring to stir, as I smelt
the footsteps of a cat frequently pass by, and heard the coachman extol
her good qualities to a man who accompanied him into the stable; saying
she was the best mouser in the kingdom. 'I do not believe,' added he, 'I
have a mouse in the stable or loft, she keeps so good a lookout. For the
last two days I lent her to the cook, to put into her pantry, but I have
got her back again, and I would not part with her for a crown; no, not
for the best silver crown that ever was coined in the Tower.' Then,
through a little moth hole in the lining of the coat, I saw him lift her
up, stroke her, and put her upon the back of one of the horses, where
she stretched herself out, and went to sleep.

In this situation I did not dare to stir, I had too often seen how eager
cats are to watch mice, to venture out of the pocket, whilst she was so
near me, especially as I did not at all know the holes or cracks round
the stable, and should, therefore, had she jumped down, been quite at a
loss where to run. So I determined to continue where I was till either
hunger forced me, or the absence of the cat gave a better opportunity
of escaping. But scarce had I taken up this resolution when the coachman
again entered, and suddenly taking the coat from the peg, put it on, and
marched out with me in his pocket.

It is utterly im