56 BOBBY LYNX OP ROUND-TOP 
missed Bobby. Then she stopped wash¬ 
ing Tommy and listened. In an instant 
she bounded out of the house and crept 
along the hillside. 
The moon was gone now and the forest 
was dark and silent, save for the yells 
coming from the pine tree. They were 
growing fainter and fainter. Poor 
Bobby was just ready to give up when 
something crashed through the lower 
branches and a deep, throaty purr-rrh 
came to him. In another moment his 
mother was washing his face and purring 
over him. Quickly leaping to the ground, 
she called and purred until Bobby felt 
brave enough to try to get down and, 
slipping and sliding, he finally managed 
it. He was a very quiet little cat as he 
padded along by his mother, answering 
her soft purrs with faint, baby purrings. 
When they reached the Hollow Tree 
Bobby was so very tired he could just 
