GRAYMALKIN OUTWITTED 35 



backing when only six inches from the edge and, 

 pulling himself together, tried to think of a way 

 of escape. But he found it difficult to think 

 under the eyes of the brute crouching there. 

 His best chance was to swim to Genvor Beach, 

 but this never entered his head ; the bewildered 

 fellow was debating as best he could whether 

 it was better to spring over the cat or dodge 

 her. Had it not been for the bunch of seaweed 

 at the very spot on which he would alight he 

 would have tried the spring ; but in the circum- 

 stances he decided to risk all on the zigzag 

 ruse, at which he was an adept, having played 

 it with his sister on the green. Like an arrow 

 from a bow he shot forward as if he meant to 

 pass to the right of the cat ; as soon as his pads 

 touched the rock, like lightning he swerved to 

 the left ; then he shot ahead again and so got 

 away without a scratch. The cat, thoroughly 

 outwitted, had sprung for the place where she 

 had supposed the hare would be ; but she 

 sprang at the air and fell into the sea. Almost 

 immediately a wave washed her on the rocks, 

 and there she stood silent while, with eyes like 

 living coals, she watched the jack disappear over 

 the dunes. 



The terrified fellow ran for two miles along his 

 mother's trail without halting ; then coming to 



