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acquaintance of the meat…man； and joined in the shy fringe of Cats that
formed the outer circle。 She also met the Wharf Dog as well as two or
three other horrors of the same class。 She knew what to expect of them
and how to avoid them； and she was happy in being the inventor of a new
industry。 Many thousand Cats have doubtless hung； in hope； about the
tempting milk…cans that the early milk…man leaves on steps and window…
ledges； and it was by the merest accident that Kitty found one with a
broken lid； and so was taught to raise it and have a satisfying drink。
Bottles； of course； were beyond her； but many a can has a misfit lid； and
Kitty was very painstaking in her efforts to discover the loose…jointed ones。
Finally she extended her range by exploration till she achieved the heart of
the next block； and farther； till once more among the barrels and boxes of
the yard behind the bird…man's cellar。
The old iron…yard never had been home； she had always felt like a
stranger there； but here she had a sense of ownership； and at once resented
the presence of another small Cat。 She approached this newcomer with
threatening air。 The two had got as far as snarling and spitting when a
bucket of water from an upper window drenched them both and
effectually cooled their wrath。 They fled； the newcomer over the wall；
Slum Kitty under the very box where she had been born。 This whole back
region appealed to her strongly； and here again she took up her abode。 The
yard had no more garbage food than the other and no water at all； but it
was frequented by stray Rats and a few Mice of the finest quality； these
were occasionally secured； and afforded not only a palatable meal； but
were the cause of her winning a friend。
IV
Kitty was now fully grown。 She was a striking…looking Cat of the tiger
type。 Her marks were black on a very pale gray； and the four beauty…spots
of white on nose； ears； and tail…tip lent a certain distinction。 She was very
expert at getting a living； and yet she had some days of starvation and
failed in her ambition of catching a Sparrow。 She was quite alone； but a
new force was coming into her life。
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She was lying in the sun one August day； when a large Black Cat came
walking along the top of a wall in her direction。 She recognized him at
once by his torn ear。 She slunk into her box and hid。 He picked his way
gingerly； bounded lightly to a shed that was at the end of the yard； and was
crossing the roof when a Yellow Cat rose up。 The Black Torn glared and
growled； so did the Yellow Tom。 Their tails lashed from side to side。
Strong throats growled and yowled。 They approached each other with ears
laid back； with muscles a…tense。
〃Yow…yow…ow！〃 said the Black One。
〃Wow…w…w！〃 was the slightly deeper answer。
〃Ya…wow…wow…wow！〃 said the Black One； edging up half an inch
nearer。
〃Yow…w…w！〃 was the Yellow answer； as the blond Cat rose to full
height and stepped with vast dignity a whole inch forward。 〃Yow…w！〃 and
he went another inch； while his tail went swish； thump； from one side to
the other。
〃Ya…wow…yow…w！〃 screamed the Black in a rising tone； and he backed
the eighth of an inch； as he marked the broad； unshrinking breast before
him。
Windows opened all around； human voices were heard； but the Cat
scene went on。
〃Yow…yow…ow！〃 rumbled the Yellow Peril； his voice deepening as the
other's rose。 〃Yow！ 〃 and he advanced another step。
Now their noses were but three inches apart； they stood sidewise； both
ready to clinch； but each waiting for the other。 They glared for three
minutes in silence and like statues； except that each tail…tip was twisting。
The Yellow began again。 〃Yow…ow… ow！〃 in deep tone。
〃Ya…a…aa…a！〃 screamed the Black； with intent to strike terror by his
yell； but he retreated one sixteenth of an inch。 The Yellow walked up a
long half…inch； their whiskers were mixing now； another advance； and
their noses almost touched。
〃Yo…w…w！〃 said Yellow； like a deep moan。
〃Y…a…a…a…a…a…a ！〃 screamed the Black； but he retreated a thirty…second
of an inch； and the Yellow Warrior closed and clinched like a demon。
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Animal Heroes
Oh； how they rolled and bit and tore； especially the Yellow One！
How they pitched and gripped and hugged； but especially the Yellow
One！
Over and over； sometimes one on top； sometimes another； but mostly
the Yellow One； and farther till they rolled off the roof； amid cheers from
all the windows。 They lost not a second in that fall to the junk…yard； they
tore and clawed all the way down； but especially the Yellow One。 And
when they struck the ground； still fighting； the one on top was chiefly the
Yellow One； and before they separated both had had as much as they
wanted； especially the Black One！ He scaled a wall and； bleeding and
growling； disappeared； while the news was passed from window to
window that Cayley's Nig had been licked at last by Orange Billy。
Either the Yellow Cat was a very clever seeker； or else Slum Kitty did
not hide very hard； but he discovered her among the boxes；
and she made no attempt to get away； probably because she had
witnessed the fight。 There is nothing like success in warfare to win the
female heart； and thereafter the Yellow Tom and Kitty became very good
friends； not sharing each other's lives or food；Cats do not do that way
much；but recognizing each other as entitled to special friendly
privileges。
V
September had gone。 October's shortening days were on when an event
took place in the old cracker…box。 If Orange Billy had come he would have
seen five little Kittens curled up in the embrace of their mother； the little
Slum Cat。 It was a wonderful thing for her。 She felt all the elation an
animal mother can feel； all the delight； and she loved them and licked
them with a tenderness that must have been a surprise to herself； had she
had the power to think of such things。
She had added a joy to her joyless life； but she had also added a care
and a heavy weight to her heavy load。 All her strength was taken now to
find food。 The burden increased as the offspring grew up big enough to
scramble about the boxes； which they did daily during her absence after
they were six weeks old。 That troubles go in flocks and luck in streaks； is
well known in Slumland。 Kitty had had three encounters with Dogs； and
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Animal Heroes
had been stoned by Malee's negro during a two days' starve。 Then the tide
turned。 The very next morning she found a full milk…can without a lid；
successfully robbed a barrow pensioner； and found a big fish…head； all
within two hours。 She had just returned with t