THE EXPERIMENT WITH THE CAT 161 



had finished supper they resumed the subject of thun- 

 der. Uncle Paul began: 



"This morning I promised to show you, with the 

 cat's help, some very curious things. The time has 

 come for keeping my word, provided Puss is agree- 

 able. " 



I le took the cat, whose hair was burning hot, and 

 ]>ut it on his knees. The children drew near. 



" Jules, put out the lamp ; we must be in the dark." 

 The lamp put out, Uncle Paul passed and repassed 

 his hand over the tom-cat's back. Oh! oh! wonder- 

 i'ul ! the beast's hair is streaming with bright beads; 

 little flashes of white light appear, crackle, and dis- 

 appear as the hand rubs; you would have said that 

 sparks of fireworks were bursting out from the fur. 

 All looked on in wonder at the tom-cat's splendor. 



"That puts the finishing touch! Here is our cat 

 making fire!" cried Mother Ambroisine. 



I 1 Does that fire burn, Uncle ? ' ' asked Jules. * ' The 

 cat does not cry out, and you stroke him without be- 

 in ir afraid." 



"Those sparks are not fire," replied Uncle Paul. 

 11 Y<>u all remember the stick of sealing wax which, 

 after boiim rubbed on cloth, attracts little pieces of 

 straw and paper. I told you that electricity, aroused 

 by friction, is what makes the paper draw to the wax. 

 AVell, in rubbing the cat's back with my hand I pro- 

 duce electricity, but in greater abundance, so much 

 so that it becomes visible where it was at first invisi- 

 blr, and bursts forth in sparks." 



"It it doesn't burn, 1< t mr try," pleaded Jules. 



Jules passed his hand over the cat'- fur. The 



