148 
WILD AMERICANS 
They began to peer under other brush and shrubs, 
moving in a circle about the shadowy place where 
they had found the mother. Ginger moved out of the 
heavy shadows. She climbed up on some larger rocks 
into the open sunshine. 
“Oh ! 11 she suddenly called. “Here they are ! 11 
The man and boy hastened to her. 
Sure enough, two kittens lay in the sun, tiny little 
creatures, but larger than tame kittens. They stopped 
playing when the people came near, and one of them 
growled as his mother had done. 
“Stout fellow ! 11 admired Uncle Ely. “Brave, isn't 
he? He says we'll have a fight on our hands if we 
interrupt his play." 
Ginger wanted to pick up one and cuddle it, but 
she didn't dare. She knew their tiny claws and teeth 
were very sharp. 
At length Uncle Ely suggested that they leave. 
“No need to annoy the wild family," he explained. 
“They are all trembling in fear. Most men would kill 
them, and they have come to hate man." 
“Tell us about wildcats, please, Uncle Ely?" plead' 
ed Buck. “You never mentioned them before." 
“I'm sorry, I meant to. Em surprised we haven't 
found one before this, with all the hiking we have 
