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within two hours。 She had just returned with that perfect peace which
comes only of a full stomach； when she saw a little brown creature in her
junk…yard。 Hunting memories came back in strength； she didn't know what
it was； but she had killed and eaten several Mice； and this was evidently a
big Mouse with bob…tail and large ears。 Kitty stalked it with elaborate but
unnecessary caution； the little Rabbit simply sat up and looked faintly
amused。 He did not try to run； and Kitty sprang on him and bore him off。
As she was not hungry； she carried him to the cracker…box and dropped
him among the Kittens。 He was not much hurt。 He got over his fright； and
since he could not get out of the box； he snuggled among the Kittens； and
when they began to take their evening meal he very soon decided to join
them。 The old Cat was puzzled。 The hunter instinct had been dominant；
but absence of hunger had saved the Rabbit and given the maternal instinct
a chance to appear。 The result was that the Rabbit became a member of the
family； and was thenceforth guarded and fed with the Kittens。
Two weeks went by。 The Kittens romped much among the boxes
during their mother's absence。 The Rabbit could not get out of the box。 Jap
Malee； seeing the Kittens about the back yard； told the negro to shoot
them。 This he was doing one morning with a 22…calibre rifle。 He had shot
one after another and seen them drop from sight into the crannies of the
lumber…pile； when the old Cat came running along the wall from the dock；
carrying a small Wharf Rat。 He had been ready to shoot her； too； but the
sight of that Rat changed his plans： a rat…catching Cat was worthy to live。
It happened to be the very first one she had ever caught； but it saved her
life。 She threaded the lumber…maze to the cracker…box and was probably
puzzled to find that there were no Kittens to come at her call； and the
Rabbit would not partake of the Rat。 Pussy curled up to nurse the Rabbit；
but she called from time to time to summon the Kittens。 Guided by that
call； the negro crawled quietly to the place； and peering down into the
cracker…box； saw； to his intense surprise； that it contained the old Cat； a
live Rabbit； and a dead Rat。
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The mother Cat laid back her ears and snarled。 The negro withdrew；
but a minute later a board was dropped on the opening of the cracker…box；
and the den with its tenants； dead and alive； was lifted into the bird…cellar。
〃Say； boss； look a…hyarhyar's where de
little Rabbit got to wot we lost。 Yo' sho t'ought Ah stoled him for de
'tater…bake。〃
Kitty and Bunny were carefully put in a large wire cage and exhibited
as a happy family till a few days later； when the Rabbit took sick and died。
Pussy had never been happy in the cage。 She had enough to eat and
drink； but she craved her freedomwould likely have gotten 'death or
liberty' now； but that during the four days' captivity she had so cleaned and
slicked her fur that her unusual coloring was seen； and Jap decided to keep
her。
LIFE II
VI
Jap Malee was as disreputable a little Cockney bantam as ever sold
cheap Canary…birds in a cellar。 He was extremely poor； and the negro lived
with him because the 'Henglish…man' was willing to share bed and board；
and otherwise admit a perfect equality that few Americans conceded。 Jap
was perfectly honest according to his lights； but he hadn't any lights； and
it was well known that his chief revenue was derived from storing and
restoring stolen Dogs and Cats。 The half…dozen Canaries were mere blinds。
Yet Jap believed in himself。 〃Hi tell you； Sammy； me boy； you'll see me
with 'orses of my own yet；〃 he would say； when some trifling success
inflated his dirty little chest。 He was not without ambition； in a weak；
flabby； once…in…a…while way； and he sometimes wished to be known as a
fancier。 Indeed； he had once gone the wild length of offering a Cat for
exhibition at the Knickerbocker High Society Cat and Pet Show； with
three not over…clear objects： first； to gratify his ambition； second； to secure
the exhibitor's free pass； and； third； 〃well； you kneow； one 'as to kneow the
valuable Cats； you kneow； when one goes a…catting。〃 But this was a
society show； the exhibitor had to be introduced； and his miserable alleged
half…Persian was scornfully rejected。 The 'Lost and Found' columns of the
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Animal Heroes
papers were the only ones of interest to Jap； but he had noticed and saved
a clipping about 'breeding for fur。' This was stuck on the wall of his den；
and under its influence he set about what seemed a cruel experiment with
the Slum Cat。 First； he soaked her dirty fur with stuff to kill the two or
three kinds of creepers she wore； and； when it had done its work； he
washed her thoroughly in soap and warm water； in spite of her teeth； claws；
and yowls。 Kitty was savagely indignant； but a warm and happy glow
spread over her as she dried off in a cage near the stove； and her fur began
to fluff out with wonderful softness and whiteness。 Jap and his assistant
were much pleased with the result； and Kitty ought to have been。 But this
was preparatory： now for the experiment。 〃Nothing is so good for growing
fur as plenty of oily food and continued exposure to cold weather；〃 said
the clipping。 Winter was at hand； and Jap Malee put Kitty's cage out in the
yard； protected only from the rain and the direct wind； and fed her with all
the oil…cake and fish…heads she could eat。 In a week a change began to
show。 She was rapidly getting fat and sleekshe had nothing to do but get
fat and dress her fur。 Her cage was kept clean； and nature responded to the
chill weather and the oily food by making Kitty's coat thicker and glossier
every day； so that by midwinter she was an unusually beautiful Cat in the
fullest and finest of fur； with markings that were at least a rarity。 Jap was
much pleased with the result of the experiment； and as a very little success
had a wonderful effect on him； he began to dream of the paths of glory。
Why not send the Slum Cat to the show now coming on？ The failure of
the year before made him more careful as to details。 〃'T won't do； ye
kneow； Sammy； to henter 'er as a tramp Cat； ye kneow；〃 he observed to his
help； 〃but it kin be arranged to suit the Knickerbockers。 Nothink like a
good noime； ye kneow。 Ye see now it had orter be 'Royal' somethink or
othernothink goes with the Knickerbockers like 'Royal' anythink。 Now
'Royal Dick；' or 'Royal Sam；' 'ow's that？ But 'owld on； them's Tom names。
Oi say； Sammy； wot's the noime of that island where ye wuz born？〃
〃Analostan Island； sah； was my native vicinity； sah。〃
〃Oi say； now； that's good； ye kneow。 'Royal Analostan；' by Jove！ The
onliest pedigreed 'Royal Analostan' in the 'ole sheow； ye kneow。 Ain't that
foine？〃 and they mingled their cackles。
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〃But we'll 'ave to 'ave a pedigree； ye kneow。〃