THIEVES OF THE NIGHT 



as proud of her sleek-coated, slim, black-eyed 

 youngster as she was of that fluffy ball the 

 kitten. As soon as they could toddle about 

 the two began to play together, rolling back- 

 wards and forwards across the box, and then 

 running round and round it. Presently they 

 learnt to climb out of the box and run about 

 the kitchen floor. One day I saw the old cat 

 go after the rat, pick him up in her mouth, 

 and carry him back. He squeaked, but it was 

 no good— his foster-mother, gently but firmly, 

 carried him home. Fearing some accident, 

 that either strange dogs or cats might harm the 

 young rat, I moved the family to an empty 

 room upstairs, which they could have to them- 

 selves and where they were safe from harm. 



Whiskers, or to give him his full name, 

 Samuel Whiskers, was one of the tamest 

 creatures I have ever known, being the only 

 animal that I have met with, which would 

 when frightened come to one for protection. 

 Most of the pets I have had would run 

 away when startled, but Whiskers at the 

 sight of anything unusual used to race to me 

 and hide in my coat or up my sleeve. As 

 soon as he could cling with his little hand-like 

 paws, he learnt to climb up my fingers and sit 



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