y that she saw me."

"Nonsense! she'll never hear about it," I said, and, running into the
dark stable, I stopped short, for I fancied there was a sound overhead;
but I heard no more, and, thinking it was fancy, I ran to the steps,
climbed up, and was crossing the floor when I heard a faint rustling in
a heap of straw at the far end, in the darkest corner of the loft.

"Rats," I said to myself, as I went on to the place where the big bin
stood under a little window, passed it, and reached up to take the key
from the beam upon which it was always laid, the simplicity of the
hiding-place making it all the more secure.

To my utter astonishment, the key was not there, but a second glance
showed me that it was in the padlock.

"Been up here and forgot to lock it," I said to myself. "All the better
for me. Some one else may have been up, and done it through his leaving
the key there."

I laughed to myself as I took the padlock out and threw open the bin,
with the intention of having what I called a game.

This was to consist in my arranging the various stuffed creatures in as
comical a way as I could; and my first thought was to take the rabbit,
alter its position a little, and lay it upon an extemporised bed, with
the doctor--the owl--holding one paw to feel its pulse, while all the
other creatures looked on.

"What shall be the matter with him?" I thought. Then directly--"I
know: all his stuffing come out."

I seized the owl, and found that I could easily twist the wire down its
leg, so that the claw would appear to be grasping the rabbit's wrist,
while the sage-looking bird stood on one leg; and, satisfied in this, I
was about to arrange the jay and other birds, but thought I would do the
rabbit first, and, taking it up, I thrust my hand in the orifice made in
the skin when taking it off, and pulled out a good piece of tow, meaning
to leave it hanging down. Then I thrust my hand in again, and drew it
out in astonishment, for I had taken hold of something hard and flat and
round. What it was I could not see; it was too much surrounded by the
tow. Then I laughed.

"Why, it's a big leaden nicker!" I said to myself. "Why did he put
that in? I know. There are holes in it to fix wire to, and--" I turned
cold and queer the next instant, as I divided the soft tow, and stood
staring down, with the light from the little window falling full upon
that which I held in my hand. Then I felt puzzled and confused; bu