But everywhere the creeping
plants and tangled bushes crossed our path, so that we forced our way
along with some difficulty. Suddenly, as we came upon an open space, we
heard a faint cry, and observed a black animal standing in the track
before us.
"A wild-cat!" cried Jack, fitting an arrow to his bow, and discharging
it so hastily that he missed the animal, and hit the earth about half a
foot to one side of it. To our surprise the wild-cat did not fly, but
walked slowly towards the arrow, and snuffed at it.
"That's the most comical wild-cat I ever saw!" cried Jack.
"It's a tame wild-cat, I think," said Peterkin, levelling his spear to
make a charge.
"Stop!" cried I, laying my hand on his shoulder; "I do believe the poor
beast is blind. See, it strikes against the branches as it walks along.
It must be a very old one;" and I hastened towards it.
"Only think," said Peterkin, with a suppressed laugh, "of a
superannuated wild-cat!"
We now found that the poor cat was not only blind, or nearly so, but
extremely deaf, as it did not hear our footsteps until we were quite
close behind it. Then it sprang round, and putting up its back and
tail, while the black hair stood all on end, uttered a hoarse mew and a
fuff.
"Poor thing," said Peterkin, gently extending his hand, and
endeavouring to pat the cat's head. "Poor pussy; chee, chee, chee;
puss, puss, puss; cheetie pussy!"
No sooner did the cat hear these sounds than all signs of anger fled,
and advancing eagerly to Peterkin, it allowed itself to be stroked, and
rubbed itself against his legs, purring loudly all the time, and
showing every symptom of the most extreme delight.
Pages:
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115