242 The Book of Cats. 



Sutherlandshire, and in passing from one pool to 

 another, had to climb over some rocky and broken 

 ground. In doing so, I sank through some rotten 

 moss and heather up to my knees, almost upon a 

 wild Cat, who was concealed under it. I was quite 

 as much startled as the animal herself could be 

 when I saw the wild looking beast rush out so un- 

 expectedly from between my legs, with every hair 

 on her body standing on end, making her look 

 twice as large as she really was. I had three small 

 sky-terriers with me, who immediately gave chase, 

 and pursued her till she took refuge in a corner of 

 a rock, where, perched in a kind of recess, out of 

 reach of her enemies, she stood with her hair 

 bristled out, and spitting and growling like a 

 common Cat. Having no weapon with me, I laid 

 down my rod, cut a good sized stick, and proceeded 

 to dislodge her. As soon as I came within six or 

 seven feet of the place, she sprang right at my 

 face, over the dogs' heads. Had I not struck her 

 in mid-air, as she leapt at me, I should probably 

 have got some severe wound. As it was, she fell, 

 with her back half broken, among the dogs, who, 

 with my assistance, dispatched her. I never saw 

 an animal fight so desperately, or one so difficult to 

 kill. If a tame Cat has nine lives, a wild Cat must 

 have a dozen." 



