animal heroes(动物英雄)-第3节
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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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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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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 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 th
