Concerning Cats 



the paper with the bird behind it was within a few 

 feet of the cat, when he gave it a sudden flirt and 

 push into the cat's face, frightening him so that he 

 jumped away from the plate ; and then Peter helped 

 himself to the largest piece of meat and carried it off 

 where he could enjoy it in peace. 



The cat and Peter had several games in which they 

 used to delight. One of them was played in a large 

 pine tree near the house, with branches coming close 

 to the ground. Peter used to hop from the lowest 

 branches to those above, with the cat after him, until 

 the highest limb was reached, and then the chase 

 turned down again ; and this game they used to play 

 for hours at a time. 



Another game was played on the granite coping of 

 a well — Peter hopping gayly around the well with 

 the cat after him. One day, by some mischance, the 

 bird fell into the well, when the cat immediately set 

 up such a hue and cry that the cook's attention was 

 arrested so that she came out and rescued Peter. 

 But another day, when all the family were out driv- 

 ing, the two pets went out to the big fountain in front 

 of the house where they often played. Whether the 

 cat tried in vain to rouse somebody when Peter again 

 fell into the water will never be known, although it 

 is more than likely; but when the family finally 

 returned, poor Peter was floating on the water, dead 

 beyond the possibility of resuscitation. Every mem- 

 ber of the family mourned his untimely fate, but the 



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