GRIMALKIN THE CAT 169 
gloomy firs. Briars ran riot over the decaying 
branches, grass grew rank and long, and alders 
pushed a way to the air and light. These were 
woven into a jungle so dense that only the rabbits 
thoroughly knew their way about in it ; but the 
foxes and cats followed their runways and often 
hunted them on their own ground. 
Early one morning Grimalkin went to the 
' Jungle.' No dew had fallen for many days, and 
the sun rose up a cloudless sky. Grimalkin glided 
down a rabbit track, and so into a little clearing 
surrounded by walls of thorn and wild rose. Here 
lay a tree trunk which had been uprooted by the 
storm. Under its roots was a little cavern half 
hidden by ivy and broken branches. Grimalkin 
jumped upon the trunk, and squatted down to 
watch for rabbits and enjo}' the morning sunshine. 
Presently a bough snapped behind him, and he 
turned his head very slightly. His muscles were 
tense to spring, when a soft voice of infinite mother- 
liness thrilled him. ' Purr-r-utchuck ! ' it said, 
which in cat language means : ' Thy mother loves 
thee, little love ! ' Trotting towards the tree came 
Zoe. She was thin and her coat looked rough, 
but her eyes had a tender glow. Grimalkin watched 
her glide into the lair under the ivy, and then he 
leaped after her. Carefully concealed from curious 
