A chorus of excited squeaking came from the mice as commands were relayed 
and issued. The carpet went into violent but highly organized motion as the 
mice drew themselves up into platoons, companies, battalions, and regiments, 
each of them commanded by an officer. One mouse clambered up the leg of 
Princess Nell's table, bowed low to her, and then began to squeak commands from 
on high. The mice executed a close-order drill, withdrew to the edges of the 
room, and arrayed themselves in an empty box shape, leaving a large open 
rectangle in the middle of the floor.