58 



FOUR-HANDED FOLK 



to see where he should alight. The cushions 

 under his fingers and toes, indeed, made it a 

 matter of indifference where he did fall ; he 

 could not hurt himself. 



Troublesome was the position of " best friend " 

 to the little fellow, for whatever happened to 

 him, if he got into mischief, if any one spoke 

 reprovingly to him, if he was suddenly startled, 

 he went on a mad gallop for his friend, sprang 

 to her knee, to her shoulder, to the top of her 

 head if she would allow it, and from that point 

 turned upon his enemy, ready to defend himself. 



He could be very savage, too ; he had sharp 

 teeth, and a ferocious way of resenting a direct 

 insult. He flew at the enemy, screaming with 

 rage, climbed up his clothes (it was always man 

 or boy), and acted as if he would tear him to 

 pieces. But the fury was short-lived ; in a few 

 moments he grew calm, though I think he never 

 lost suspicion of a person who had once ill- 

 treated him. 



One thing that Koko considered an unpardon- 

 able affront was an exclamation sometimes used 

 to drive away strange cats, a sort of " quish ! " 

 spoken with emphasis. This always infuriated 

 him. If reproved by any one excepting the two 

 ladies of the household, in those highly offensive 

 words " No I no ! " he was displeased also, turned 

 suddenly, looked over at the speaker with a 



