138 FEATHERED RATS. 
been hatched ten minutes, but—no matter! 
After a time back she came again, and took 
away a second chick, then a third, a fourth, 
and a fifth, and then two eggs. 
Deep in the silent watches of the hot 
summer night the cat returned, sliding through 
the delicate tracery of the moonlight, sinister 
and quiet as a wicked thought. Crouched 
and cautious, belly flat, she stole to the nest. 
She peered in—her right paw uplifted, ready 
to strike. Then her upper lip curled back, 
and an evil snarl escaped her. The nest was 
quite empty. 
