190 LETTERS TO MARCO xxvm 



refer to crossing rivers? men on stilts, in 

 boats, on stepping-stones, on the ice, etc. 

 There is a black cat crossing on a plank too, 

 and very many bridges of one sort and 

 another. 



Cats are generally considered to be ex- 

 tremely averse to going into the water, but I 

 have seen river-side cats at times swim very 

 well. We have a young jet-black tom-cat 

 named Chibo, which is constantly down by 

 the edge of the river, especially when Peter 

 is fishing, and which often gets into the water; 

 it is true, generally by accident. It will also 

 go out in the punt with Peter of its own accord. 

 One day one of my boys climbed from off an 

 overhanging willow into a large dredging- 

 punt which was moored a considerable dis- 

 tance from the bank, and Chibo followed him 

 into the boat ; my son came ashore by the 

 tree, but Chibo deliberately walked up to the 

 end of the punt, and, taking a header, swam 

 ashore quite easily, his tail stretched out like 

 a rudder behind him. Whenever Chibo gets 



