146 DOG STORIES 



eye. He rules the kitchen with a rod of 

 iron, the inmate there admiring and fearing 

 him. Next to tramps, Willie hates cats ; 

 he has been flogged again and again for 

 chasing the neighbour's "Tom"; nothing can 

 stop him rushing at the alien cat, however. 

 But for his own domestic " Tabby " he has 

 tolerance and a certain amount of affection ; 

 if another dog were to attack her, dire would 

 be the warfare. A while ago, this cat had 

 three kittens ; two were taken by the maid 

 and placed in a bucket of water, and left to 

 their fate. Before that fate had come Willie 

 perceived them ; he snatched them from the 

 bucket one by one, and carried them to his 

 kennel. The maid attempted to get them 

 away, but Willie flew at her with fury, and 

 then returned to lick first one and then the 

 other, to shove them up together, and lie 

 down near them, and in every way to give 

 the poor half-dead things a chance. This 

 went on for some time ; but when at last 

 there was no sign of breath, and he saw that 

 they were hopelessly dead, he marched out of 

 the kennel, shook himself, and indicated to 



