and ourselves? We have met here to make some plan for our
defense."

Having spoken, Mr. Longtail walked back into the crowd.

Mr. Graypate arose and said:

"You have heard why we are here. Anyone who has a good plan for
ridding us of the cat will please tell of it. The meeting is open
to all."

"Let us all run at him suddenly when he is not looking for us, and
each give him a bite. That would surely kill him," said one brave
mouse.

"But how many of us do you think he would kill?" said another
mouse. "I will not risk my life nor that of my family." "Nor I";
"nor I"; "nor I," said many other mice.

"Let us steal his food and starve him to death," suggested
another.

"That will only make him hungrier for mice," they replied. "That
will never do."

"I wish we might drown him," said another; "but I don't know how
we could get him into the water."

At last a little gray mouse with a squeaky voice went up to the
front and spoke: