l82 The Book of Cats, 



it was upon the animal the bewitched ones deter- 

 mined to wreak their vengeance, and then it was 

 that the true satanic nature of poor Puss appeared. 

 Traps were set to catch her, but she would not be 

 caught ; ropes were purchased to hang her, but she 

 would not bow her head to the noose ; and, finally, 

 a blunderbuss was loaded to shoot her — loaded to 

 the very muzzle. By conjurations and enchant- 

 ments, when that gun was fired, it knocked the 

 holder backwards, and never injured the black Cat. 

 Another man tried, with the same result, and yet 

 another. It was evident the gun was bewitched, so 

 Pussy's murder was given up for the time, and, 

 with the exception of the tip of her tail, lost in 

 one of the traps, passed the remainder of her life 

 happy and unmutilated. 





