There was a sly Cat in a house, and the Mice were so plagued with her at every turn, that they called a council to plan a way by which they might guard against being caught by her.

“If you will be ruled by me,” says one of the Mice, “there’s nothing like hanging a bell about the Cat’s neck, to give warning when Puss is coming.” They all thought that a capital plan.

“Well,” says another, “and now we are agreed upon the bell, say, who shall hang it upon the Cat’s neck?” But there was no one ready to bell the Cat.