a mountain was in labour, and the people of seven cities had

assembled to watch its movements and hear its groans1. while they

waited in breathless expectancy2 out came a mouse.

"oh, what a baby!" they cried in derision.

"i may be a baby," said the mouse, gravely, as he passed outward

through the forest of shins, "but i know tolerably well how to

diagnose a volcano."