SPINNETTE, THE FAIRY. 
143 
purring in the most wicked manner, he knew 
that he could expect no mercy from lier ; for, 
if she could reach him, he would assuredly be 
eaten. The cat listened to hear if any person 
was near, when, finding that all was still, she 
jumped up on the table on which the cage 
was placed, and stood beside it, looking with 
green, hungry eyes at Henry. 
‘‘ He, trembling in every limb, tried to call 
his mother ; but his voice failed him, and 
all he could do was to shrink into as small 
a space as possible, and as far from the cat as 
the bars would permit. 
“ Puss, remembering her last night’s biting 
from the bird, at first cautiously put in her 
fore-paw, and touched liim with it. Henry 
sprang away with fear, which the cat observing 
she grew more bold, and, thrusting in her paw 
less carefully this time, tried to draw him to 
the side of the cage with her claws. She 
succeeded in . only giving him some severe 
scratches, for he was able to shake off her 
claws, although the exertions he made hurt 
his wounded limb severely. The cat, finding 
