THE CAT 



without his mascot, but to assume the responsibility 

 for her abandoned infants. 



Two days later the prodigal came back. Another 

 and a larger boat filled the Bayonne's place. Re- 

 pentant and dismayed, she visited every steamer in 

 the docks; then, convinced that her indiscretions 

 had made her both homeless and kittenless, she 

 took up her quarters in a watch-box, and patiently 

 awaited Captain Hugo's return. Week followed 

 week; scores of barks arrived, and were each in 

 turn anxiously inspected; and still, undiscouraged 

 by repeated disappointments, she bravely kept her 

 post. At last the Bayonne was sighted, and there 

 was no need this time to hunt for the cat. There 

 she stood, quivering with agitation, on the extreme 

 edge of the wharf, as the malodorous little craft 

 plied its way along the river. The captain's big 

 black dog, Pussy's old friend and companion, 

 barked his furious welcome from the deck. The 

 sound increased her excitement, and, when the 

 steamer was still twelve feet from the docks, she 

 cleared with flying leap the intervening space, and, 

 mid the cheers of the crew, ran straight to the 

 captain's cabin where she had left her kittens three 

 months before. They were well-grown young cats 

 by this time, and disposed to resent her intrusion ; 



138 



