Posted by Ed Kiser on November 07, 2000 at 18:08:33 from 64.20.230.101:
References to "MOUSE" in Ransome:
This search includes only the five books whose stories take place at the lake.
SWALLOWS AND AMAZONS
Chapter 8, is a reference to mouse-traps being available at the store
in which they went shopping.
SWALLOWDALE
Chapter 33, is a reference to John's rather loud imitation
to an own call being enought to frighten every mouse on the moor.
PICTS AND MARTYRS
There are several references to "Titmouse", which is the boat so
named by Tom Dudgeon in "Coot Club", but that cannot hardly be considered
any reference to a "mouse."
The only nautical reference to a "mouse" is in PM, Cptr 15, when Nancy
is rigging the Scarab for the first time, rather hurriedly, with the D's
anxiously trying to see everything she is doing.
Here, the use of "mouse" is as a verb.
"Better let me," she said. "Just to save time." The mast went
up, and she cast loose the halliards. "Good. Flag halliards ready
too. Where's that flag, Dot? Let Dick have it. Two clove hitches,
one half way up the flagstaff and one at the very bottom...
Look here. Never forget to mouse the sisterhooks when you fasten
the main halliard to the yard... Like this... They always
shake loose if you don't... No. Don't hoist the flag yet. Half
a minute. Giminy!" (She slapped a picket of her shorts.) "No,
it's all right. I thought I'd forgotten it... Now..."