THIEVES OF THE NIGHT 



an utterly different baby as the rat. However, 

 I scratched her head and talked to her to take 

 her attention, and slipped the baby rat down 

 between her and the kitten so that it nestled 

 up into her fur. Every moment I thought she 

 would find out that something strange was 

 beside her and turn round and eat it. The 

 only hope was that she might not discover that 

 it was there until it had got a nice ' kitteny ' 

 smell from lying with the kitten against her. 

 Of course if it would take its food along with 

 the kitten it would be safe, for no creature 

 will hurt any young thing which has once 

 sucked it. For ten minutes or more I sat 

 beside them, then crept away leaving puss 

 sound asleep with the new baby as well as her 

 kitten nestled close beside her. 



First thing the following morning found me 

 downstairs, fully expecting to find that the rat 

 had vanished; but no, there it was, safe and 

 sound asleep in the box with the kitten, the old 

 cat having gone out for a walk. By breakfast 

 time she was back, and when I looked into the 

 cupboard there were the rat and the kitten 

 taking their food side by side. Hearing me 

 the cat raised herself, purred, and began to 

 wash the kitten, next she licked the rat all 



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