176 GRIMALKIN THE CAT 
the ivy leaves were blistering. She plunged into the 
hole and groped desperately for her treasure. 
The moments flew by she could not find it. Her 
eyes were accustomed to see in the gloom, but this 
darkness was impenetrable. Ah ! at last she 
touched the mewing kitten, and gripping it turned 
to fly. Outside she shrank back, for she was met 
by a veritable wall of flame. The fir tree was sur- 
rounded by fire, for the grass was blazing, and 
the bushes were kindling in every direction. There 
was only one place through which escape could be 
made where the burning zone was narrowest. 
Zoe gripped the kitten tighter, laid back her ears, 
closed her eyes, and leaped. For one fierce moment 
the fire actually licked her body, and then she 
dropped safely on the ashes beyond. Her whiskers 
were gone, her beautiful ruffle had shrivelled away, 
her coat was black with ashes ; but the kitten for 
whom she had dared so much was safe. She crawled 
wearily away, dragging it after her, while the fire 
leaped and danced round the old fir tree. 
At sunset, as Grimalkin prowled through the 
fields at the back of the church (for he avoided the 
woods while that mysterious bright power hunted 
there) he saw Zoe, again carrying a singed kitten. 
