The Littles

TW

1158 600

by

JOHN PETERSON

Pictures by

ROBERTA CARTER CLARK

^i^

^YAJM-

i^JJcu^^

by

JOHN PETERSON

Pictures by

ROBERTA CARTER CLARK

SCHOLASTIC BOOK SERVICES NEW YORK TORONTO LONDON AUCKLAND • SYDNEY •

•

•

Other hooks hy John Peterson in paperback from Scholastic Book Services

available

The Cowboy

How to Write Codes and Send Secret Messages

The

Secret Hide-out*

Enemies of the Secret Hide-out*

''Also available in

hard-cover from Four Winds Press

otherIt shall not be resold, lent, or which it is publrshedthat in than other cover or wise circulated in any binding from the publisher-and withunless prior written permission has been obtained imposed on the subsequent being out a similar condition, including this condition,

This

book

is

sold subject to the condition that

purchaser.

copyright® 1967 by Scholastic Magazines, Text copyright© 1967 by John Peterson. Illustrations MagScholastic Book Services, a division of Scholastic inc. All rights reserved. Published by azines, Inc.

J°""°^

2nd printing Printed in the U.S.A.

^'^l

To Holly

^yiLLIAM

T.

tiny people.

They

LITTLE and

his family

didn't

The tiny

know

rooms

The see

Littles

sight.

day.

looked almost

They

lived in

And he was

like

people you

But they were very much

Mr. Little was only

were even

family

in the walls of the house.

every

smaller.

his

the Littles were living with them.

kept out of

Littles

owned by

lived in a house

George W. Bigg. Mr. Bigg and

were

big for a Little.

smaller.

six

The

inches

tall.

other Littles

•J

In one all

the Littles did not look at

They had

people.

other

like

Littles

way

were proud

of their

The

tails.

They kept

tails.

them combed and brushed, and sometimes the

women

wanted

curled

their

tails

when

they

to look especially nice.

The

took everything they needed

Littles

from the Biggs. Usually the Biggs didn t even

know anything was

missing.

ago. It seems to

had

it

in

"Now where

while Mrs. Bigg would say, that thing go? I

But once

right here a

have disappeared."

a

did

minute

Only

last

week her son Henry had shouted, "Hey, Ma!

Where

are

anywhere."

8

my

red socks?

I

can't find

them

And

of course the

Littles

When

food from the Biggs.

got

their

all

the Biggs

had

beef for dinner, the Littles had roast

roast

beef for dinner too.

The Biggs

didn't

know

it,

but the electric

socket on the kitchen counter door.

As soon

as the

was a

secret

Bigg family were busy

eating their cake or pie or Jello, the Littles

would dash through the

what they needed

door.

They would take

of the left-over dinner scraps

and be back through the door

The

Littles

in seconds.

helped the Biggs in return

for the things they took.

Only the Biggs

didn't

9

know

it.

Littles

were good

They ran back and

forth inside

For one thing, the

at fixing things.

the walls repairing the electric wires whenever

they needed

The

it.

Littles

were good plumbers,

too.

On

cold winter days they kept the outside water

had

pipes from freezing. Often they

up

all

fire.

night keeping the pipes

warm by

Bigg could never understand

plumbing and

"I can't believe

it,"

electricity

worked

he would

say. "I

trouble with this old house than

do with

their

my

brand-new houses."

shake his head. "I guess they don't the

10

candle

'

Mr. his

to stay

way

they used

to."

why

so well.

have

less

neighbors

He would

make houses

QNE

day

in their

in

May, the

were together

Littles

Hving room. The two children, Tom,

ten years old, and Lucy,

eight',

were on the

sofa next to their mother.

Granny

in

her rocking chair

knitting a red sweater for

Tom. "Don't know

Little

sat

why Henry Bigg made

such a fuss

when we

took his old red socks," she said. "One of them

had a

real

bad hole

in the toe."

11

Uncle

Pete,

holding

"You have enough red

against the fireplace.

yam

there,

leaned

cane,

his

he

Granny,"

said,

"to

start

a

knitting factory."

Mr. Little was walking back and "Please

sit

down, Will," said Mrs.

Little.

forth.

"You're

making me nervous."

"Now worried,"

no reason

there's

said

Mr.

Little.

for

us

to

be

"The Biggs have

gone on vacation before." never

"But Mrs.

three

for

months,"

said

Little.

"And what about

this

new

Uncle Pete. "The Newcombs!" cane in the

"We

air.

"We

don't have

don't even to.

He

shook his

know them."

Uncle Pete.

^-'nS^" ./

family?" said

I

keep

telling

you

that," said

good enough

Mr.

Little.

for the Biggs, they're

for the Littles. Besides for three months.

We

— they'll

"If they're

good enough only be here

can stand anything for

three months."

"Why do

they want to rent the house for

only three months?" said Tom. "Isn't that kind of silly?"

"The Newcombs are from the Mr.

Little.

"Sometimes

city

in the country while the

city," said

people rent houses

owners are away on

vacation." "It's

live in the

like

a vacation for city people to

country for a while,

"I don't like it," said

'

said Mrs. Little.

Uncle Pete. "Suppose

they bring a cat with them?"

-S' '^--^"

13

m)

Lucy

Little

moved

closer to her mother.

"Oh, Mother! Suppose they bring a cat with

them?" Mrs.

put

Little

arm

her

around

her

daughter.

Granny

stopped rocking. "Did he

Little

say they have a cat?"

She nodded toward

Uncle Pete. "No,

no,"

said

suppose they had a "Oh,"

said

Mr.

Little.

"He

said

cat."

Granny

Little.

She

started

rocking again. "I hope they don't bring a cat."

"Aw — who's

afraid of an old cat?" said

Tom. "I

about

wish everybody would stop talking cats,"

said Lucy. "I'm afraid of cats."

She looked from person to person. "Please, let's

14

stop talking about cats."

'T'HERE was

a secret look-out place behind

the light switch in the hall of the Biggs' house.

One

was

of the screws

missing.

The empty

hole was large enough for a Little to look and listen through.

Mr.

Little spent all the next

look-out place.

Tom

They were waiting

Little

for the

day

at the

stayed with him.

Newcombs.

15

"When switch,

the

they come, be careful of that Hght said Mr. Little. "Likely as not,

Tom,"

thing they'll do

first

is

turn on the hall

light."

Sometime

in the late afternoon,

thought he heard a noise.

He

Mr. Little

looked through

the hole.

"Are they coming?" said Tom.

"Not yet key

.

.

.

in the front

come now

hold

it!"

Mr. Little heard a

door lock. "Yes

— here

— sh!"

"Where's the hall Hght, Charhe?"

It

a woman's voice. "I

they

have

it,"

said Charles

Newcomb.

was

There were sparks inside the look-out place as the light was turned on.

Tom

Little

jumped. His father turned from the peep-hol^

and put light

his finger to his lips. "Sh!"

from the

hall

The

bright

came through the peep-hole

into their dark hiding place. his father's face clearly.

Tom

could see

Mr. Little returned to

the hole.

17

"what sat

down

a drive!" said Mrs.

Newcomb. She

heavily on the suitcase. "Give

minute to

rest

and

me

a

help you with the rest

I'll

of the bags."

"No need

Newcomb. please.

Biggs'

"I'll

It's

to

Mrs.

N.,"

get the bags myself.

part of the

Summer

Mrs.

help,

service

Mr.

said

No

tipping,

here at the

Hotel."

Newcomb

laughed.

"Where do you

get the energy?" she said.

"From the country!" "I didn't realize

energy from space.

how much

I'd

Newcomb.

missed

it.

I

get

and

just looking at all the trees

We're going to be here three months.

Think of "I

said Mr.

it!"

am," said Mrs. Newcomb.

to get three meals a

day

"I'll still

— only now

have

it'll

be

in a strange kitchen."

"Listen, Liz," said Mr.

18

Newcomb. "You've

come here

Nothing

paint.

"Sure,

me

"Tell

And iVe come

to write. else

important."

is

Newcomb

Mrs.

sure!"

here to

that after eating

laughed.

hamburger

for

a

week."

mean

"I

Newcomb.

Mr.

said

Liz,"

it,

"Forget about housework. Write those stories

you want

around and did a house.

As

to write.

I'm

for

dance. "This

little

fixing

me — " He

nothing

and

twirled isn't

I'm

my

doing

nothing. If the faucets drip, let 'em drip!

may

not even take out the garbage."

"You Mrs.

really

mean

paint

I

do!" said Mr.

masterpieces,

going to do.

And when

going to do nothing!

and

it,

don't

you?"

said

Newcomb. "Sure

to

I

eat!"

Newcomb.

and

that's

"I'm here

what I'm

I'm not doing that, I'm

I'll

loaf!

Sit in

He laughed. "Hamburgers,

the sun

of course."

19

^>m

i^"4

A

WEEK had

passed.

was a bad beginning.

f

Uncle Pete thought "It

looks

as

it

though

Newcomb means what he says. The place is a mess since they came." He pushed his plate I

am

"It'll

be

over one day, and the Biggs will return.

No

away and threw down

his napkin.

"And

getting tired of hamburger."

"No

matter,"

harm done."

20

said

Mr.

Little.

"Something bad see," said

will

come

of

it,

you'll

Uncle Pete.

"Well, at least they don't have a cat," said

Lucy

Little.

"That's right," said Mrs. Little. She smiled at her family. side.

"Lucy

is

looking on the bright

Things could be worse." "Bah!" said Uncle Pete. "Right

now

I'd

rather have trouble with a cat than eat this

cooking."

"I

suppose

I

said Mrs. Little.

should have learned to cook,"

She looked around the

"Mrs. Bigg was such a good cook necessary for

me to cook too. I

it

table.

didn't

seem

guess she spoiled

us.

All the Littles nodded.

Suddenly Granny

Little

spoke,

"Watch

out for mice."

"Why do you Mr.

Little.

Granny?" said

say that.

"There are no mice in

George Bigg wouldn't stand

Granny

Little

for

this house.

it."

looked sharply at Mr.

"There will be mice,"

she

said.

Little.

Then she

straightened the shawl on her shoulders.

"Don't worry, Granny," said Mr. "You're thinking of the old days. This like the old days."

22

is

Little.

nothing

A LL day

Mrs,

Newcomb worked hard

at her

writing. In the evening, after dinner, she read

what she had written sat

in

the

hving

Newcomb drew

to

Mr. Newcomb. They

room.

Sometimes

Mr.

pictures of his wife while she

was reading.

The

Littles

became

interested in the story.

They would rush through

their

dinner,

so

they wouldn't miss anything.

23

The

Littles' living

room was

in the wall

next to the Biggs' living room, near the ceiling.

There was a Littles' living

The

hole, in

room and the

Biggs' living room.

hole was about the size of a quarter.

the Biggs' side

Mr.

the wall between the

Little

was covered with wallpaper.

it

had punched many

the wallpaper.

On

He

tiny holes in

used one of Mrs. Bigg's

needles.

Voices could be heard through the tiny

Most

holes.

up with the cork

was plugged

a cork on the Littles' side. As long as

was

the Littles. Littles

of the time the hole

in the hole,

When

the cork

no one could hear

was taken

would be very quiet and

out, the

listen.

The cork was always out when story time. Mrs. float

Newcomb's

up through the

hole.

soft voice

The

it

was

would

Littles

sat

comfortably in their favorite chairs and listened.

24

Sometimes Mrs.

Newcomb

read until

it

was past Lucy's and Tom's bedtime. They would beg

up

their

mother

until the story

Even

Uncle

"Wonderful Still,

was

he

to stay

finished.

Pete

story,"

be allowed

to

liked said.

the

readings.

"Very exciting!"

he wasn't happy with the Newcombs.

"The bad housekeeping

— it

worries me."

The Newcombs were indeed bad houseFood was

keepers.

left

around uncovered.

Floors were not swept after meals. Garbage spilled out of the can. it

When

the lid

fell

off,

wasn't put back on. "All

Granny

those

crumbs!

said, "there

One day

in

the living room.

WILL

Mark my words," be mice."

June Mr. Little rushed into

He slammed

the door behind

him. "Granny was right," he said. "I've been

26

hoping

it

wouldn't happen

— but it has!

They've

come! The mice are here!"

"What can we do?"

said Mrs. Little. She

locked the door behind her husband.

— you, Tom — see

"First

are locked!

he was

"

said Mr. Little.

that

all

Tom

ran to do as

told.

Mr. Little went quickly to the pulled a chest out from under

it.

out alone," he said. "Go armed at

Mr. Little opened the chest. his wife.

the doors

"Who would

of Littles

He

sofa.

He

"Don't go all

times."

looked up at

think that this generation

would have

to

open

this

')

weapons chest?"

i

:?:

i:

Mrs. Little shook her head sadly. "But, Father," said Lucy. "I don't

how

bow and

to use a

arrow."

"Uncle Pete will teach you and Mr.

to shoot," said

shot during the

my

Pete,

and

Tom how

"He was

Little.

Mice Invasion

father,

know

a crack

of '35.

Uncle

their brothers held off

room

the mice from this very

until help arrived

from the Smalls down the road." "That's

when

I

got this limp," said Uncle

"A huge three-inch mouse broke through

Pete.

the door and grabbed

dragged

God

me

out of the room.

bless him, "Is that

said

came

after

the foot.

My

brother Tim,

me and

when Uncle Tim

He

shot him."

lost his

life?"

Tom. "That's

Pete.

28

me by

"One

when

it

happened," said Uncle

of those big

mice jumped him from

behind.

but

it

I finally

was too

"Poor Tim.

chased

late."

it

with

off

my

Uncle Pete wiped

He was

the only Little

knife,

his eyes.

we

lost in

that terrible year."

"We

won't go looking for trouble with the

mice," said Mr. Little. "These weapons are for protection only."

He

brought out a

On

quiver of arrows from the chest.

bow was

carved,

"Made

in

bow the

with a

wooden

1825 by Chas. B.

Little."

"Suppose they come after

He

picked up the

string

on

bow and

us," said

Tom.

tried to put the

it.

"Maybe they

won't," said Mr. Little, "as

long as there's plenty to eat."

'

"I'm for going out and attacking them," said

Uncle Pete. "Teach 'em a lesson before

they start to bother us."

29

"The way

I

figure

"after a while the

find out they set traps,

30

and

Mr.

said

Newcombs

have mice. that'll

it,"

When

be the end

are

Little,

bound

to

they do, they'll of

it."

g^VERY

night for a

week Mr.

watched the Newcombs Little

wanted

to find out

seen the mice

were doing

— and

Little

and

Tom Mr.

at dinner time. if

the

what,

if

Newcombs had anything, they

to get rid of them.

Tom

and

his

father hid high above the dinner table in a secret look-out

They could

place near the

see everything that

ceiling

light.

went on

in

the room.

31

Below them, the Newcombs were their dinner.

saw a hummingbird outside

window

the study "It

"I

finishing

today," said Mrs.

was feeding on the

Newcomb.

iris."

"Marvelous!" said Mr.

Newcomb. "Would

you mind passing the butter? That's a thing to see, you

know — they're

rare

so tiny

and

timid."

"And

fast!" said

closer to the

was gone Mr.

Mrs.

window

Newcomb,

"I

for a better look,

moved and

it

in a flash."

Newcomb

sipped his coffee.

Dear, don't you think this coffee

is

"Mmm.

a bit

weak

agami^

Mrs.

Newcomb

nodded. "What's the bird

that soxmds like a rusty iron gate?"

Above them, the

Newcombs

32

talked about

Littles

many

listened.

things.

The

But as

^4^" A \ /Hi

e ^: .

I.

y>*-

/

?1 /

usual

neither

\

i

one said anything about the

mice. "Let's go," said Mr. Little to

Tom. "They

haven't seen the mice."

33

'>^99i8^»^,ikji)>cxB.>' .,«<.

Father and son climbed out of the lookout

They walked

place.

between the

across

the

ceiling

Tom

Both were armed.

rafters.

was carrying a bow and a quiver Mr. Little had a sword.

full of arrows.

He was

carrying a

lighted candle.

"What can we do?"

Newcombs

said

Tom. "The

see birds everywhere outside the

house. But inside, where the mice are, they

never

Are

anything!

see

they

blind

or

something?"

Mr. Little sighed.

"I don't

know," he

said.

"Mice are quick animals. They're not easy to see.

And

they usually do most of their work

when people "Hey! "I

I

have an

know how we can "How?"

34

are not around." idea,

get

"

them

said

Tom

Little.

to see the mice."

"It's

easy.

Just

then

We

can ..."

Tom's father stopped.

following close behind,

candle

fell

from Mr.

bumped

Little's

Mr. Little reached for

out.

"Is

it

a mouse?

'

Tom,

into him.

The

hand and went

his sword.

whispered Tom.

"Sh!" Quietly, to the

bow

Tom

took an arrow and fitted

string.

There was a scratching noise Mr. Little and

ahead.

Tom

know "I'll

it

was a mouse, he whispered

As soon

the wall,

They

still

arid

listened.

Mr. Little had heard enough to

stand here.

pipe.

in the wall

stood

tried to see into the blackness.

When

it

I'll

You hide behind

as the light a

to

Tom,

that heating

mouse reaches the top match."

He

of

took a deep

breath. "If he runs to attack me, shoot

him

35

bow and

with your

he

The Ught may

attacks.

"What

if I

frighten

miss?" said

"The mouse

you

Tom.

will

why

Little felt his

bow and

might.

"Now

go!"

way through

ceiling space to the pipe.

across the

Tom.

you'd better not miss with

the arrow," said Mr. Little.

Tom

Little.

have to get awfully close

to use the sword," said

"That's

all his

him away."

have the sword," said Mr.

"I

for

arrow. Don't shoot unless

He drew

the dark

the arrow

pulled the string back with

Then he aimed

into the darkness

toward the sound of the scratching.

The

noise

the sound of

grew louder and

it,

Tom

climbing near the

louder.

From

thought the mouse was

Littles' tin-can elevator.

He

hoped the mouse hadn't gnawed through the string.

The boy had never seen

36

a mouse.

He

had,

of course, heard

He was

many

scary stories about them.

ready for something

terrible.

Suddenly there was a burst of blinding white

His

light.

Tom

danced.

the mouse.

was climbing up over the edge

It

wall. Its eyes

back the

were

like

light of the

had

his father

match.

told him.

He

to attack. Instead,

the air and struck the

The mouse

I*

'

.

v\»?£.

—

squealed.

--V / «

i

i

I

nii ii

uJAji

^1

jiV

>r

,-#•

r^ I' ^^S^'

'jii<^-

of the

black mirrors, shining

Tom

forgot

what

didn't wait for the as soon as

the beast, he shot the arrow.

tS

Shadows

Little blinked.

Then he saw

mouse

match!

father's

mouse

It

he saw

flew through

in the foreleg.

"Nuts!" yelled

another arrow.

By

Tom.

"I forgot!"

that time the

He

shot

mouse had

climbed over the wall. As

it

struggled to

the second arrow hit

it

in the

feet,

rump.

its

It

squealed louder.

The arrows

stop

didn't

crawled toward the

A

light.

growl came from deep in

its

mouse.

the

low,

It

snarling

throat.

Mr. Little stood his ground in the middle of the ceiling space four feet

away from the

oncoming mouse. In one hand he held the sword

at arm's length, pointed at the

mouse. In

the other he held the burning match high over his

head

like

a torch.

Then he lowered the

match-torch and pointed

it

at the

mouse.

Suddenly the mouse turned and limped away.

38

LITTLE and Tom were not the only Littles who fought with mice that day. Uncle

jyjR.

Pete and Lucy had a narrow escape in the

They had been burning

cellar.

trash at the hot-

water heater when two mice trapped them.

Uncle Pete and Lucy were under the water tank next to the burner, and there was no safe

way

out.

39

'*-—

-Ha.

_

^%^

At

Uncle Pete tried to

first

with his

bow and

them

arrows. But the old

broke with the

string

fight

first

Luckily, Uncle Pete

shot,

off

bow

and he missed.

had made two torches

from burnt matches he found near the heater.

He had wrapped match

sticks.

rags around the ends of the

Then he dipped them

in a

puddle

of oil near the furnace.

When lit

the

the torches.

bow

Uncle Pete

string broke,

He and Lucy waved them

at

the mice and frightened them away.

Back Pete

in the safety of their rooms,

made

carefully

a

new bow

and strung

it

string.

He waxed

"When

if

are the

this

keeps

Newcombs

going to help us?"

"Probably never!" said Uncle Pete.

40

it

on the bow.

"Someone's going to get hurt up," said Mrs. Little.

Uncle

"Tom

has a plan," said Mr.

and

good

plan,

idea,

Tom." "Well,"

I

think

said

it

Little. "It's

will work. Tell

Tom.

"Those

a

your

Newcombs

never see the mice, so they don't bother to set

— right?"

traps

Tom's mother nodded.

we show them

"Suppose they'll

know

that?" said Uncle Pete.

don't have any mice.

away and my bow

"We

Then

— right?"

"How do we do "We

a mouse.

don't

string broke."

want them

anyway," said Mr.

Your mouse got

to see a

dead mouse

Little.

"Then what on earth

is

the boy talking

about?" said Uncle Pete. "Get to the point!"

"Suppose

Tom.

"I

I

dressed up like a mouse," said

could run across the kitchen floor right

in front of Mrs.

Newcomb."

41

"Good heavens!"

Uncle Pete.

said

woman

an idiot? Couldn't she

from a

real

mouse went

fast

Mrs. Little, "she might think "There's only one thing said

Mr.

Little.

Dad — you're

"I'm just the right

you do

enough," said

was

it

real."

wrong with Tom's do

"/'//

running. As head of the family, "But,

mouse

a fake

tell

one?"

"If the fake

plan,"

"Is the

it's

mouse

the

my

job."

too big!" said

size. It

Tom.

won't look right

if

it."

"Oh

dear," said Mrs. Little.

"Do you

think

so?"

"The boy's

right,"

said Uncle

we're going to use his plan,

let's

Pete.

do

it

"If

right.

He's the perfect size for the job."

/

It

was decided.

Tom would

of the mouse. Mr. Little tell

him when and where

set to

play the part

would go with him to run.

Granny

to

Little

work making the costume.

By

the next afternoon they were ready.

Tom was

dressed in the costume.

He

looked

quite a bit like a real mouse, even from close up.

Granny

Little

had done her work

had sewed on

ears

own

course.

tail,

of

and whiskers. His

brushed down the hair so a mouse's

well.

Tom

She

used his

mother oiled and it

had the shape

of

tail.

43

"Tom, you look a

Mr.

fright," said

Little.

Uncle Pete came into the room. "Mrs.

Newcomb's

in the kitchen

now," he

said. "It's

time you two got moving." "Just a minute, just a minute," said Little.

Granny

She was on her knees making some

minute changes. ankles.

You

don't

"It's

loose

too

want him

last-

around the

to trip,

do you?"

Lucy stood behind her mother sneaking looks at

Tom. "Mother,

doesn't he look awful?"

she said. "I

want

to see myself in the mirror." said

Tom. "Hold

still,

hold

still,"

said

Granny

Little.

She worked for a moment longer. "There!" She stood up and looked at her work.

"Granny, "It's

44

it's

wonderful!" said Mrs.

awful!" said Lucy.

Little.

The family followed Tom and galloped on

want you

to

Little.

remember

Uncle Pete.

"I

is

"This

is

not a joke.

that."

"I'm practicing," said

"The boy

he squeaked

fours over to the mirror.

all

"Tom," said Mr. I

as

Tom.

high-spirited, that's

was

that

all,

way myself when

"

said

I

was

his age."

Mr. the

Little

mirror.

had

to pull his son

"Come, Tom," he

wasting time. Mrs.

away from

said.

Newcomb may

"We're

not be in

the kitchen for long," All the Littles

Tom down

went with Mr.

mouse costume covered

just as

and

the passageway as far as the tin-can

elevator. Mrs. Little tried to kiss

pulled his

Little

tail

gently.

your father

tells

Tom, but the

his head. Instead she

"Be

careful,

Tom. Do

you," she said.

45

'

'[#v^r<-y (

^-.i^^

"He'll

be

knows what over I'

.,,

said Mr. Little.

all right,"

to do.

We've gone over

"He

it

and

it."

"What's

the fuss?" said Uncle Pete.

all

y, j

"They'll

be back

shortly."

Mr. Little and

Tom

climbed into the

They had rigged up

can.

the tin-can elevator

from an old soup can and together.

The

elevator

tin

bits of string tied

dropped slowly out of

sight. "It's

the

first

time any of the big people

have ever seen any of

-v/

"And the only

Mrs.

us," said

real part of

Tom

Little.

they'll see is

his tail."

Down

in

the

kitchen,

behind a waste basket.

Tom

the signal to go.

He

Mr.

Little

hid

got ready to give

The

tiny

for the right

man

held up his hand, waiting

moment.

If

Newcomb was

Mrs.

Tom. But

too close, she might step on

if

she

weren't facing the right way, she might not see

Tom

run across the

floor.

Mr. Little waited.

Tom watched

his father

carefully.

Mrs. basket,

Newcomb

where Mr.

Mr.

Little's

turned toward the waste

Little

was

hiding.

hand dropped.

Just then Mrs.

Newcomb

started walking.

"No, Tom! Wait!" whispered Mr.

Too

late!

Tom

Little

came

Little.

skittering across

the kitchen floor just in time to run between

Mrs. Newcomb's

feet.

Mr. Little closed his eyes.

"EEEEEEEeeeeeee!" shouted Mrs. Newcomb. "A mouse!"

47

%

K''

^-x^^^^

^-7" ^:^^^^^

^

--^

/

1^!^^

^_^

J

Jy f /"x-^

Mr.

Little

opened

his eyes.

Tom was

safe

under the radiator on the other side of the room.

"CHARLIE!"

shouted

MOUSE

"THERE'S A

IN

Newcomb came

Mr.

Mrs.

Newcomb.

THE KITCHEN!"

running.

"This house has mice!" said Mrs.

New-

comb. "One of them ahnost jumped on me!"

"Take

He

got

it

easy, Liz," said Mr.

down on

"Charlie,

said Mrs.

his

knees and looked around.

you must get

Newcomb.

Newcomb.

"I

rid of the mice,"

won't live in a house

with mice." "We'll get rid of them," said Mr.

comb. "The

Biggs

New-

must have mouse traps

around someplace. Just don't get so excited, Liz.

It's

only a

little

mouse."

"Don't get excited, you say," said Mrs.

Newcomb. "You should have

seen

it.

It

ran

49

straight at

me!

It

might have bitten me,

it

came

so close."

"You think a mouse would

bite

you?" said

Mr. Newcomb.

"You can t never can will do."

tell

tell,"

said Mrs.

Newcomb. "You

what a wild animal

like

that

"v

..V%

'Y'HE LITTLES were very pleased with the success of Tom's plan. Mr. Little couldn't get

over

he

it.

wish you

said. "Zip,

It's a It

"I

all

he went

could have seen Tom,"

— right

mouse!' yelled Mrs.

was something

across the floor.

Newcomb. Oh my!

to see."

51

"He has

said Uncle Pete.

all right,"

"He's a Little

that Little bravery."

"I only

Pete," said

had a

Tom.

little

"I

bravery

was kind

right,

is

Uncle

of scared."

All the Littles laughed except Uncle Pete.

"Tom

Little,

you

costume," said Granny at

it

under a

ripped

Little.

this

mouse

She was looking

light,

"I'm sorry.

going so fast

I

Granny," said Tom. "I was

couldn't stop

other side of the room.

when

tore

I

it

I

on a

got to the nail

under

the radiator." "I'll fix it,"

wear

it

said

Granny

Little.

"You can

next Halloween."

"I hate mice," said

Lucy. "Don't wear that

thing ever again, please."

"Granny, you did a wonderful job on the costume," said Mr.

52

Little.

"But

.

.

.

well,

no one

"

really likes

"No

it.

sense in wasting

Granny

said

Do you know what

may need

it

Little.

all

that

I

mean?"

good work,"

She started sewing.

"We

again."

"I'm not leaving

my room

until the

mice

are gone," said Lucy. "They'll

be gone

Little. "You'll see.

in a

few days,"

Everything

is

said Mr.

going to be

all

now.

right

"I say

we

Newcomb a helping He picked up a sword

should give

hand," said Uncle Pete.

made from one

of Mrs.

Bigg's needles.

"On

guard!" Uncle Pete limped forward, waving the

sword and stabbing the

air.

"Take

that!

And

that!"

J

-t-

u

"Oh

goodness, Uncle Pete

— do

put that

thing down," said Mrs. Little. "I hate to see those weapons

husband.

around."

She turned to her

"When can we put them back

in the

chest?"

"As soon as the mice are gone," said Mr. Little. "I figure

meantime

mouse

the

now

I

a few days at the most. In the

want

traps.

all

of

you

We don't

don't

we

safe

know

"Then

we'll

from the traps and the mice."

what's going on at

"Bad business an

rooms for the

Little.

Uncle Pete didn't think

54

for

want any accidents

stay in our

next few days?" said Mrs.

like

watch out

that our troubles are almost over."

"Why be

to

— sticking

ostrich."

all

so.

"We

times,"

should

he

said.

your head in the sand

"Let's look

Mr.

around once a day, then," said

"That should be enough."

Little.

"I'm going

down

tomorrow morning," to see those

"May

I

mouse

to the kitchen first thing

said

Uncle Pete.

my own

traps with

go with Uncle Pete

Tom. "Lucy doesn't want to

Lucy

,

O-

.

~"r

time?" said

until the

Little for the

k

eyes."

do you, Lucy?"

go,

my room

"I'm not leaving are gone," said

this

want

"I

mice

second time.

/

Sse

1.

i/

'

'T'HE next morning Mr.

,

was walking

in the Littles' kitchen.

back and forth Little

Little

and Lucy

sat at a table

was

Mrs.

watching him. the table too,

Granny

Little

knitting.

Mr. Little kept looking up at the clock

on the

wall.

"Ten

sitting

o'clock,"

at

he

said,

"and they're

not here. They should have come back a half

an hour ago."

56

"Who's not here?" said Granny

Little.

"Uncle Pete and Tom," said Mr.

"They went traps

to the kitchen to see

had been

"What

if

the

Little.

mouse

set."

shall

we

do?" said Mrs.

Little.

Mr. Little strapped on his sword. "I'm going to find them," he all right,

but

I can't

"I'd better

"No, "I

I

said.

"They're probably

stand the waiting."

go with you," said Mrs.

can handle

it

alone," said Mr. Little.

want you here with Granny,

"Do you

think mice

just in case."

would come here?"

"No, but you can't be sure," said Mr.

"They did them,

in '35.

Little.

When

Little.

there are enough of

they'll try anything."

When

Mr. Little got to the kitchen, he

couldn't find Uncle Pete

see any

mouse

and Tom.

He

didn't

traps either.

57

He went boy and

And

his uncle.

the

in

traps

thought Mr.

no sign

of the

there were no

mouse

to the cellar. Still

cellar.

"Something's

wrong,"

Little.

Mr. Little went to the garbage can. There

had

be mouse traps

to

there. It

was the best

place to catch mice. But there were none. still

no sign "It's

mice, no

That's first

of the missing Littles.

very strange," thought Mr.

mouse

He

Pete."

traps,

and no

headed

"No

or Uncle

decided to return to the kitchen. to

go in the

So Mr. Little turned back and

for the kitchen.

Meanwhile, back

in

the Littles' rooms,

Lucy was thinking about her he needs someone thing. I should

58

Little.

Tom

where Uncle Pete wanted

place.

And

to send a

father.

"Suppose

message or some-

have gone with him."

She looked into the

was

Little

sitting in

Granny

living room.

her chair by the fireplace.

Lucy's mother was watching the door, a kitchen knife in her lap. "I

should be with

my

Lucy. Then suddenly she

She ran arrows.

father,"

made up her mind.

her room and got the

to

Then she

thought

bow and

slipped out the back door

into the passageway.

Mr. Little was in the kitchen under the radiator.

He

Newcombs felt it

was

waited until he could hear the

talking in the living room. safe to look around.

Near the door

upon Uncle never it

I

let

to the dining

go of

if

." .

room he came

Pete's sword. "Uncle Pete his sword,"

was knocked from

wonder

Then he

.

He

would

he thought, "unless

his hands.

This

is

bad.

put the thought out of his

59

mind. "Don't think," he told himself. "Just keep looking."

Mr.

Little

drew

the dining room.

his sword.

He

He went

into

kept close to the wall

and walked slowly toward the

fireplace.

I' s^ ^^jjg(*5rt-«;(M(etts«i?*«Sa^

^'X

---=i.-s^^^4>t_^

--^

\

^

_Jp_-.-.

Just as Mr. Little

Lucy got

there.

was leaving the kitchen,

She saw her father go into the

dining room, sword in hand. up.

Her

father

Lucy ran

was only a few

feet

to catch

ahead of

her when, suddenly — a giant cat leaped at him out of the shadows!

Lucy was never ran toward the

The

cat.

gigantic animal

so scared in her

She

She ran without thinking.

had attacked her

She would save her father somehow.

60

life.

father.

The long

tail

tiny girl

came up behind the

cat. Its

swished back and forth over her head.

She took an arrow and jabbed she could into the cat's

it

as

hard as

tail.

61

yelled the cat.

And

ran out of the dining room, through the

hall,

"EEEEeeeoooowww!" it

into the living room.

and

Mr. Little was not hurt.

He jumped

to his

At the same time, Uncle Pete and

feet.

came running out

of the fireplace.

Tom

They had

been cornered by the cat and were hiding under the

logs.

"Let's get out of here!" yelled

He

Little.

ran for the kitchen.

"Not without bent

this,"

said

down and scooped up The

Uncle Pete.

He

his sword.

four Littles dashed under the radiator

and through the trap door.

S^i

41V

Mr.

^

j:'

\f^,

r

LITTLE and Granny

\/[RS. in

n\

the

living

hurried

Why

still

Littles

in.

in is

were

room when the other

"Lucy!" said Mrs.

were

Little

your room.

Little.

"I

thought you

What happened,

Will?

Lucy with you?"

63

Mr.

his

told

Little

wife

had

what

happened. "Lucky for us Lucy decided to follow

beheve

me when

she did," he said. "I

She attacked that huge

it.

still

can t

cat."

He

shook his head. amazing!" said Uncle Pete. "Abso-

"It's

lutely amazing!"

"We were pinned said

Tom.

bow and

"I

logs,

Mother,"

never got a chance to shoot

my

arrows."

"What said

under the

are

we

going to do about that cat?"

Uncle Pete. "Never thought they'd get a

cat to chase the mice."

"We're safe inside the walls at Mr.

Little.

least," said

"That monster won't be able to get

us here." "There's the problem of getting supplies," said

Uncle Pete. "We'll have to leave the walls

for that."

64

"I think I

know how we can

get rid of

the cat," said Mr. Little.

"How?"

said

"By getting

"We

can pull

it

can keep

We

awake.

think

will

Newcombs kind of

Little.

the curtains for one thing

will

blame milk.

spilling its

make loud

Mr.

in trouble," said

down

— the Newcombs

the Littles.

all

cat noises to

it

on the

cat.

We

we

can

At night

keep the Newcombs

can even knock over lamps so they the will

cat

did

it.

Pretty

soon

think they have the

cat. They'll

want

to get rid of

Everybody agreed that Mr.

the

wrong it."

Little's

plan

was a good one. During the next few weeks the

Newcombs came and

to believe their cat

was clumsy

noisy.

One day

the cat seemed to knock over a

Newcombs were

lamp.

Another

awake

half the night listening to

time

the

meowing.

It

65

was

really the Littles

The day

making a

terrible racket.

after that the curtains in the dining

room were pulled down.

"What do we do tomorrow, Dad?" Tom. "May "That's

I spill

said

the cat's milk?"

good -yes,"

said

Mr.

Little.

"It

should be done two or three times in a row, though.

Then Mrs. Newcomb

tired of cleaning

it

will get awfully

up."

"There's only one thing

wrong with

this

plan. Will," said Mrs. Little. "I

Mr.

don't

Little.

so far.

know why you

say that," said

"Everything has worked perfectly

What's wrong with the plan?"

"The cat

is still

in the house," said

Mrs.

Little.

"Don't worry," said Mr.

be here long."

66

Little. "It

won't

Newcomb must be mad

"Mrs.

as a

wet

call.

Just

hen by now," said Uncle Pete.

The next day Tom had as

he was

lifting

a close

the cat's milk dish to

for the third time, the cat

spill it

showed up. The

huge animal came bounding toward Tom. At the last the

cat's

enough .I m>

%

moment Tom nose.

for

Tom

upset the milk dish under

That stopped the cat long to get

away.

"This plan of yours

too slow, Will," said

going

"We're

Uncle Pete.

is

else before that cat gets

something

"What can we do?"

"We need

to

do

one of

us."

have

to

said Mr. Little.

larger weapons,"

Uncle

said

Pete. "I don't

know

that's

if

the answer, Uncle

Pete," said Mr. Little. "Besides, that takes time

You're

too.

working.

though

— this

Newcomb

heard Mrs.

I

Newcomb

right,

not to get rid of the

plan

isn't

telling

Mr.

cat. She's afraid

the mice will return.

"And she "Thinks

it's

likes the cat,"

cute.

"Not only

that,"

said

it's

high-spirited."

Mrs.

Little,

break up everything in the house

can't

get rid of the cat.

"Why Tom.

68

She says

Mr. Little went on.

don't

It's

we

just to

the Biggs' house, after try

"We all."

taming the cat?" said

"what?"

said

"Let's see

if

Uncle Pete.

we can tame it," repeated Tom.

"Cats have been friends to

men

since the early

days of history."

Uncle Pete looked from Mrs. Little.

he

"Do you hear what

said.

the boy

is

Mr.

saying?"

"He's gone soft in the head."

"No

The

Little to

kidding, Dad," said

Tom.

early Egyptians thought cats

They had them "They

did,

all

"It's true.

were gods.

over the place."

did they?" said Uncle Pete.

"Where did you hear such nonsense?" "I

said

read

it

in

one of the Biggs' history books,"

Tom. Uncle Pete snorted. "A cat has never been

a friend to a Little.

"Maybe tried to

that's

tame a

I

can

tell

you

that."

because none of them ever

cat,"

said

Tom. "They were

always afraid of cats."

69

"What kind

of silly talk

Uncle Pete. "Look

said

Who

is

that,

boy?"

at the size of the beast.

could tame such a monster?"

"Men tame

Tom.

has an interesting idea," said Mr.

"Tom Little.

elephants," said

"Perhaps we're worried too

much about

the size of the cat. Because we're so small we've

always thought enemies.

all

Maybe

large

said Uncle Pete. Littles believe. like

making

"Tom said Mr.

wrong."

that's

way

"I don't like the

animals were our

"It's

this talk is going,"

against everything

we

friends with a cat

Making

is

friends with a rattlesnake."

is

saying

Little.

it's

not the same thing,"

"Cats are friendly to

men —

rattlesnakes are not."

None

of the Littles spoke.

"Now we may be

70

little,"

said Mr. Little,

we

"but

are men."

"Of course we

are," said

looked sideways at his

"Then why house

can't

tail.

Uncle Pete.

He

"We're not animals."

we have

a cat around the

people?"

just like other

"Of

all

"Oh

dear," said Mrs. Little. "It sounds all

right.

But

"Why,

the

silly

don't

I

Uncle Pete.

ideas!" said

know

..."

a wonderful idea!" said

it's

Granny

Little. "It's so simple."

'^^mv^le-mindedr said Uncle Pete.

"Why said

didn't

Granny

someone think

of

it

before?"

Little.

"Because

it's

a coo-coo idea, that's why,"

said Uncle Pete.

"Now Little.

see here, Peter Little," said

"Mind your manners." She stood

ball of knitting

yam

fell

from her

Granny up.

Her

lap. It rolled

71

between Mr.

days than you have. things than

Mr. tossed

could

it

you

Little

more

And

I

know

a few

more

do, too."

He "We

picked up the ball of yam.

gently in the air a few times.

start

present

a few

Little's feet. "I've lived

taming the cat by giving her a

— show

her

we mean

to

be

friendly."

"Give her something to play with," said

Tom.

t

,<*>

I

"How is

Granny

fiddling with?" said

cats like to play

with things

"As a matter of Mr.

yam

about that ball of

fact,

your father

Little.

"Don't

like that?"

Granny, they do," said

Little.

"Will that

make her

friendly?" said Mrs.

Little.

"It

might help," said Mr.

yam at we have

a ball of

roll

happens. All

Little.

"We could

the cat and see what to

do

is

make

have room to get out of the way

if

sure

we

she doesn't

get the idea."

"I'm against

it,"

said

Uncle Pete. "Too

dangerous. Cats are cats — you can't change jy

y

em. "There's a large ball of

sewing basket." said Lucy. It's

lighter than

yam "I

in Mrs. Bigg's lifted

it

once.

anything."

73

get

"Let's it's

it,"

worth trying."

"That

is,

if

"Count stay here

no one

me

said Mr.

He

and sharpen

think

"I

looked at Uncle Pete.

else has

out,"

Little.

said

my

any better

ideas."

Uncle Pete. sword."

"I'll

#.

4

M^

'^^^'v^mTniiiumUf^

M

'J^HEY found the sleeping near the

cat in the cellar. She stairs.

and Mrs.

Mr.

Little

and the children

stood by the trap door under the all

was

stairs.

They

held onto the end of the yam. Mr. Little

rolled the

The

yam toward

cat

the cat.

opened one eye

past her nose.

Her paw

as the

yam went

shot out. She batted

75

r%

^^o-..

5""

,

^WW****'

+':

-v-^

t

SI

H

X. ** -w y-*

'-X >«.,

il

d'"^-5, [f.

^

,^

^ ^; t^'

the ball of yam.

The yam

rolled to a stop in

front of the trap door.

dear," whispered Mrs. Little. "Will

"Oh

we be

able to get through the trap door

if

we

have to?" "Don't move!" whispered Mr.

The

76

cat

jumped up

to

Little.

run after the yam.

^i,

When went her

-1

she saw the Littles, she stopped. She

into a crouch.

Her eyes were hard, and

began twitching. The cat was getting

tail

set to attack.

Suddenly the cat.

he said

He

walked a few steps toward

held out his hand. "Nice kitty,"

in a soft voice.

"Tom!

"Come

Tom

Pssst!

"Come

here, kitty."

Tom!" Mr.

Little

hissed.

back! Don't be foolish."

"Here,

kitty, kitty," said

Tom

again.

77

The

cat's

stopped

tail

cocked her head and looked "Here,

"Come

twitching. at

kitty, kitty, kitty,"

here,

She

Tom.

Tom went

on.

girl.''

"Mee-ow!" said the "Amazing!"

said

cat.

Mr.

Her eyes Little

softened.

under

his

breath.

Tom

took a few more steps. "Nice kitty,"

he said over and over again.

Then the

Littles

coming from the

humming. The

cat

Now Tom He

cat.

heard a strange noise

A

deep,

soft,

pleasant

was purring.

was standing next

to the cat.

reached up and scratched her gently under

the chin.

The

purred louder.

cat closed her eyes slowly

Tom

kept talking to her

all

and the

while. "It

78

was the

talking that did

it,"

said Mr.

"The way

I figure,

the cat didn't

know we were people until Tom

started talking

Little later.

to her. I guess cats like

When city,

the

people to talk to them."

Newcombs

left to

the cat didn't go with them.

she had wandered hadn't. Littles,

The

cat

away and

had grown

return to the

They thought got

so

lost.

She

fond of the

she didn't want to leave. For one thing,

Tom had

taken to riding on the

two became great where together.

friends.

cat's

back.

They went

The

every-

The day

Newcombs

the

left,

the cat found

a hiding place and stayed out of sight. Mr.

Newcomb found

looked

her.

all

"It's

He

never

said

Mrs.

over the house. well,"

as

just

Newcomb. "She wouldn't have much fun

in

the city." "If she

shows up, George Bigg

care of her," said Mr.

will take

Newcomb.

The Bigg family came back from

their

vacation to find the cat sleeping next to the cellar stairs.

"That cat must have sneaked in

somehow," said Mr. Bigg. "We'll have rid of

it."

Tom help to

it,"

think

change story.

80

to get

Little

he

said.

had other

Tom knew

up something

his

ideas.

mind. But that

to is

"Not

if I

can

he would be able

make Mr. Bigg probably another

SCHOLASTIC BOOK SERVICES NEW YORK

•

TORONTO

•

LONDON

•

AUCKLAND

•

SYDNEY