It was
a great discovery for the three mice, and they ate heartily until the
last crumb had disappeared.
"This is better than a cupboard or a pantry," said Dock, when they had
finished their supper, "and I should n't be surprised if there were
plenty more good things around if we only hunt for them."
But they could find nothing more, for all the doors leading into the
hall were closed, and at last Dock came to the clock and looked at it
curiously.
"It does n't seem to be alive," he thought, "although it does make so
much noise. I 'm going behind it to see what I can find."
He found nothing except a hole that led to inside of the clock, and
into this he stuck his head. He could hear the ticking plainer than
ever now, but looking way up to the top of the clock he saw something
shining brightly, and thought it must good to eat if he could only get
at it. Without saying anything to his brothers, Dock ran up the sides
of the clock until he came to the works, and he was just about to
nibble at a glistening wheel, to see what it tasted like, when
suddenly "Bang!" went the clock.
It was one o'clock, and the clock had only struck the hour; but the
great gong was just beside Dock's ear and the noise nearly deafened
the poor little mouse. He gave a scream of terror and ran down the
clock as fast as he could go.
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