47’2 
LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS 
brought on board the Victory, and were allowed to run at large 
about the lower deck, where they had for their companions, the 
four cats, who did not appear by any means, to relish this en¬ 
croachment upon their hitherto undisputed sovereignty. Amongst 
the cats was an old tom, who might be considered the patriarch 
of the feline community, and who, from his age and standing, 
ought not to have been exposed to the tricks and gambols, which 
the young foxes were continually playing, and which, certainly, 
were sometimes performed at the most unseasonable times, 
especially, when old tom was taking his senile, before the fire 
in the stove. The cubs, in some respects, found the three 
younger cats to be rather of a sociable disposition; and there is 
very little doubt, but that the cats and the foxes wmuld have 
lived on very friendly terms with each other, had it not been 
for the surly and morose disposition of old tom, who appeared 
to have other things to think of, than playing at bo-peep or hide- 
and seek with the intruders, amongst the tubs and chests, which 
were stowed away in that part of the ship allotted for their 
habitation. The foxes appeared to be thoroughly convinced, 
that, single handed, they were no match for old tom, but their 
natural cunning told them, that by entering w T ith eachother, into 
an offensive alliance against him, not only his haughty spirit 
would be subdued, but perhaps their own supremacy established; 
at all events, he would be brought to the knowledge, that they 
were not the animals to be treated with that indignity and con¬ 
tempt, which had hitherto been their lot to receive from him. 
The first point of attack, projected by the allies, was against 
the food, which w^as daily allotted for the consumption of old 
tom, for they appeared not to be ignorant of one of the first 
principles of war, which teaches, that the surest way to bring 
an enemy to submission, is to starve him out. The allies acting 
up to this principle, attended regularly at the time when the 
cats were fed; and old tom had no sooner taken possession of 
his allotment, and had retired to some corner, for the purpose of 
comfortably enjoying it, than the allies followed him, but 
showed not the slightest disposition to obtain from him his 
allotted portion of food, by any direct act of hostility or aggres- 
