THE LIFE AND DEATH OF LUCY 115 
hungry kittens away as they came eagerly up to 
the meat, but presently she let them feed, too, and 
all that day, their little stuffed bellies as round 
as balloons, they slept in the sun at the mouth of 
their den, their mother sleeping beside them. 
Once or twice they woke up and purred. Life 
is certainly worth while when you are filled up on 
young, tender venison! 
The kittens all grew rapidly, but Lucy fastest 
of all. She was destined to be a big cat, with 
dark fur, almost black, which thickened up as the 
frosty. autumn nights came on, till she was worth 
to the hunter not only five dollars for the bounty, 
but another ten for her skin. Having no means 
of knowing this, however, Lucy was not vain. 
But she shared with her brother and sisters a 
memory of venison that made her, and them, rash 
with the rashness of youth. Their mother had 
departed now, they did not know where. They 
had attempted to follow, but she had turned, with 
a spit and a bristle of fur, and driven them back. 
The truth is, probably, she was weary of maternal 
cares for a time, and wanted to be rid of them, 
now they were large enough to shift for them- 
