The Book of Cats. 147 



Cat were, in a fortnight, as active, forward, and 

 playful as kittens would have been ; they had the 

 use of their legs, basked and gambolled about ; 

 while the other three, nursed by the mother, were 

 whining and rolling about like fat slugs. The Cat 

 gave them her tail to play with, and they were 

 always in motion ; they soon ate meat, and long 

 before the others they were fit to be removed. 

 This was done, and the Cat became very incon- 

 solable. She prowled about the house, and on 

 the second day of tribulation, fell in with the little 

 spaniel who was nursing the other puppies. 



" Oh !" says Puss, putting up her back, " it is 

 you who have stolen my children." 



" No !" replied the Spaniel, with a snarl ; " they 

 are my own flesh and blood." 



" That won't do," said the Cat ; " I'll take my 

 oath, before any Justice of the Peace, that you 

 have my two babies." 



Thereupon issue was joined — that is to say, 

 there was a desperate combat, which ended in the 

 defeat of the Spaniel, and in the Cat walking off 

 proudly with one of the puppies, which she took 

 to her own bed. Having deposited this one, she 

 returned, fought again, gained another victory, and 

 bore off another puppy. Now, it is very singular 



