THE CAT TO-DAY 247 



repent her severity, when, on the third morning, 

 she returned, bearing in her mouth a little live chip- 

 munk which she had captured in the woods, and 

 which she intended, apparently, should take the 

 place of the one she had murdered. 



So at least believes every member of that deeply 

 affected family. The fact that cats frequently bring 

 live prey into the house, and that this particular 

 cat had done so on several other occasions, counts 

 for nothing. The coincidence was too striking, the 

 logical inference too conclusive. No reputation for 

 sanctity was ever more swiftly or more surely estab- 

 lished. It will bear many a sad rent in the future 

 before it ceases to cover a multitude of iniquities. 



In one respect, and one only, the intelligence or 

 instinct of the cat passes our comprehension, and 

 leaves us lost in amazement. No homing pigeon 

 speeds more surely to its goal than does poor Pussy 

 when banished from the roof- tree that she loves. 

 The bird wings its safe flight through the broad 

 ether, without let or hindrance. The cat encounters 

 and overcomes obstacles that seem insuperable 

 when we think how small she is, how weak and 

 helpless. The authenticated stories of her exploits 

 in this regard are happily so marvellous that they 

 cannot be outdone by man's industrious invention. 

 One of the best is told by that " wise and honest 

 traveller," Arthur Young, who leased Samford Hall, 



