The Slum Cat 
starvation and failed in her ambition of catch- 
ing a Sparrow. She was quite alone, but a new 
force was coming into her life. 
She was lying in the sun one August day, 
when a large Black Cat came walking along the 
top of a wall in her direction. She recognized 
him at once by his torn ear. She slunk into 
her box and hid. He picked his way gingerly, 
bounded lightly to a shed that was at the end 
of the yard, and was crossing the roof when a 
Yellow Cat rose up. The Black Tom glared 
and growled, so did the Yellow Tom. Their 
tails lashed from side to side. Strong throats 
growled and yowled. ‘They approached each 
other with ears laid back, with muscles a-tense. 
“ Yow—yow—ow !” said the Black One. 
“ Wow—w—w !” was the slightly deeper 
answer. 
“ Ya—wow—wow—wow!”’ said the Black 
One, edging up half an inch nearer. 
“ Yow—w—w!” was the Yellow answer, as 
the blond Cat rose to full height and stepped 
with vast dignity a whole inch forward. ‘‘ Yow 
—w!” and he went another inch, while his tail 
went swish, thump, from one side to the other. 
26 
