on the join！〃
I did； and saw what he wanted me to see almost right away。 The beams had been pegged together with dowels； half a dozen of them； and one was gone； leaving a black； circular hole the size of a quarter。 I looked at it； then looked doubtfully back over my shoulder at Brutal。 〃It was a small mouse；〃 I said； 〃but that small？ Man； I don't think so。〃
〃But that's where he went；〃 Brutal said。 〃I'm just as sure as houses。〃
〃I don't see how you can be。〃
〃Lean closer … don't worry I got you … and take a whiff。〃
I did as he asked； groping with my left hand for one of the other beams； and feeling a little better when I had hold of it。 The wind outside gusted again； air puffed out of that hole and into my face。 I could smell the keen breath of a winter night in the border South 。。。 and something else； as well。
The smell of peppermint。
Don't let nothing happen to Mr。 Jingles； I could hear Delacroix saying in a voice that wouldn't stay steady I could hear that； and I could feel the warmth of Mr。 Jingles as the Frenchman handed it to me； just a mouse； smarter than most of the species； no doubt； but still just a mouse for a' that and a' that。 Don't let that bad 'un hurt my mouse； he'd said； and I had promised； as I always promised them at the end when walking the Green Mile was no longer a myth or a hypothesis but something they really had to do。 Mail this letter to my brother； who I haven't seen for twenty years？ I promise。 Say fi