THE MURDEROUS CAT 207 



*'So it's a snake's," replied the boy, "but that 

 doesn't keep us from breaking the back of every 

 snake we see." 



This crude judgment appealed to the woodsman. 

 It was a part of his iron creed that those who were 

 guilty of misdeeds should suffer. 



"Well," he asked, at last, "what have yo' got 

 to say for yo'self ?" 



This was the invariable question which preceded 

 the drastic punishment that Bull Adam gave, when 

 he thought it necessary. Only in his most violent 

 tempers had he ever beaten Shan without giving 

 him a chance to be heard. Shan knew well that his 

 answer was his only chance. 



* ' I killed Bob, " he said, ' ' because he 'd killed the 

 bird. I didn't know it was Bob, when I struck. 

 If I had — " he paused, "I'd have done it just the 

 same. It isn't the life of one cat against one bird, 

 but one cat against at least fifty birds a year. The 

 hunting cat is classed as a beast of prey and is 

 legally liable to be shot when destroying bird life 

 anywhere far from a house. 



"The cat," the boy went on, "isn't a domes- 

 ticated animal. A judge, the other day, ruling on 

 a question as to the shooting of a cat, called it 'the 

 wildest animal in Christendom.' The cat tribe, 



