194 



here and there, and the white fur of his 

 belly is blotched with black the better to 

 hide himself amid the lights and shadows. 

 A cat, sure enough, but unlike anything of 

 the kind you have ever seen before. 



As you look and wonder there is a faint 

 sound that you will do well to heed. The 

 muscles of his long thick legs are working 

 nervously, and under the motion is a warn- 

 ing purr, not the soft rumble in a contented 

 tabby's throat, but the cut and rip of ugly 

 big claws as they are unsheathed viciously 

 upon the dry leaves. His stub tail is twitch- 

 ing you had not noticed it before, but now 

 it whips back and forth angrily, as if to call 

 attention to the fact that Nature had not 

 altogether forgotten that end of Pekompf. 

 ip, whip, it is a tail Kyaaaah ! And 

 you jump as the fierce creature 

 screeches in your face. 



If it is your first wildcat, you 

 will hardly know what to do, to 

 stand perfectly quiet is always best, 

 unless you have a stick or gun in 



'?^&rt^&2^ ^^Jy 



"*- 5 



^ 



