animal heroes(动物英雄)-第5节
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He came near enough to get a glimpse of the cage； and there read a placard
which announced that 〃The blue ribbon and gold medal of the
Knickerbocker High Society Cat and Pet Show〃 had been awarded to the
〃thoroughbred； pedigreed Royal Analostan； imported and exhibited by J。
Malee； Esq。； the well…known fancier。 （Not for sale。）〃 Jap caught his breath
and stared again。 Yes； surely； there； high in a gilded cage； on velvet
cushions； with four policemen for guards； her fur bright black and pale
gray； her bluish eyes slightly closed； was his Slum Kitty； looking the
picture of a Cat bored to death with a lot of fuss that she likes as little as
she understands it。
VII
Jap Malee lingered around that cage； taking in the remarks； for hours
drinking a draught of glory such as he had never known in life before and
rarely glimpsed in his dreams。 But he saw that it would be wise for him to
remain unknown； his 〃butler〃 must do all the business。
It was Slum Kitty who made that show a success。 Each day her value
went up in her owner's eyes。 He did not know what prices had been given
for Cats； and thought that he was touching a record pitch when his 〃butler〃
gave the director authority to sell the Analostan for one hundred dollars。
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This is how it came about that the Slum Cat found herself transferred
from the show to a Fifth Avenue mansion。 She evinced a most
unaccountable wildness at first。 Her objection to petting； however； was
explained on the ground of her aristocratic dislike of familiarity。 Her
retreat from the Lap…dog onto the centre of the dinner…table was
understood to express a deep…rooted though mistaken idea of avoiding a
defiling touch。 Her assaults on a pet Canary were condoned for the reason
that in her native Orient she had been used to despotic example。 The
patrician way in which she would get the cover off a milk…can was
especially applauded。 Her dislike of her silk…lined basket； and her frequent
dashes against the plate…glass windows； were easily understood： the basket
was too plain； and plate…glass was not used in her royal home。 Her
spotting of the carpet evidenced her Eastern modes of thought。 The failure
of her several attempts to catch Sparrows in the high…walled back yard was
new proof of the royal impotency of her bringing up； while her frequent
wallowings in the garbage…can were understood to be the manifestation of
a little pardonable high…born eccentricity。 She was fed and pampered；
shown and praised； but she was not happy。 Kitty was homesick！ She
clawed at that blue ribbon round her neck till she got it off； she jumped
against the plate…glass because that seemed the road to outside； she
avoided people and Dogs because they had always proved hostile and
cruel； and she would sit and gaze on the roofs and back yards at the other
side of the window； wishing she could be among them for a change。
But she was strictly watched； was never allowed outsideso that all
the happy garbage…can moments occurred while these receptacles of joy
were indoors。 One night in March； however； as they were set out a…row for
the early scavenger； the Royal Analostan saw her chance； slipped out of
the door； and was lost to view。
Of course there was a grand stir； but Pussy neither knew nor cared
anything about thather one thought was to go home。 It may have been
chance that took her back in the direction of Gramercy Grange Hill； but
she did arrive there after sundry small adventures。 And now what？ She
was not at home； and she had cut off her living。 She was beginning to be
hungry； and yet she had a peculiar sense of happiness。 She cowered in a
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front garden for some time。 A raw east wind had been rising； and now it
came to her with a particularly friendly message； man would have called it
an unpleasant smell of the docks； but to Pussy it was welcome tidings
from home。 She trotted down the long Street due east； threading the rails
of front gardens； stopping like a statue for an instant； or crossing the street
in search of the darkest side； and came at length to the docks and to the
water。 But the place was strange。 She could go north or south。 Something
turned her southward； and； dodging among docks and Dogs； carts and Cats；
crooked arms of the bay and straight board fences； she got； in an hour or
two； among familiar scenes and smells； and； before the sun came up； she
had crawled back …weary and foot…sore through the same old hole in the
same old fence and over a wall to her junk…yard back of the bird…cellar
yes； back into the very cracker…box where she was born。
Oh； if the Fifth Avenue family could only have seen her in her native
Orient！
After a long rest she came quietly down from the cracker…box toward
the steps leading to the cellar； engaged in her old…time pursuit of seeking
for eatables。 The door opened； and there stood the negro。 He shouted to
the bird…man inside：
〃Say； boss； come hyar。 Ef dere ain't dat dar Royal Ankalostan am
comed back！〃
Jap came in time to see the Cat jumping the wall。 They called loudly
and in the most seductive； wheedling tones： 〃Pussy； Pussy； poor Pussy！
Come； Pussy！〃 But Pussy was not prepossessed in their favor； and
disappeared to forage in her old…time haunts。
The Royal Analostan had been a windfall for Japhad been the means
of adding many comforts to the cellar and several prisoners to the cages。 It
was now of the utmost importance to recapture her majesty。 Stale meat…
offal and other infallible lures were put out till Pussy； urged by the
reestablished hunger…pinch； crept up to a large fish…head in a box…trap； the
negro； in watching； pulled the string that dropped the lid； and； a minute
later； the Analostan was once more among the prisoners in the cellar。
Meanwhile Jap had been watching the 'Lost and Found' column。 There it
was； 〃25 reward；〃 etc。 That night Mr。 Malee's butler called at the Fifth
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Avenue mansion with the missing cat。 〃Mr。 Malee's compliments； sah。 De
Royal Analostan had recurred in her recent proprietor's vicinity and
residence； sah。 Mr。 Malee had pleasure in recuperating the Royal
Analostan； sah。〃 Of course Mr。 Malee could not be rewarded； but the
butler was open to any offer； and plainly showed that he expected the
promised reward and something more。
Kitty was guarded very carefully after that； but so far from being
disgusted with the old life of starving； and glad of her ease； she became
wilder and more dissatisfied。
VIII
The spring was doing its New York best。 The dirty little English
Sparrows were tumbling over each other in their gutter brawls； Cats
yowled all night in the areas； and the Fifth Avenue family were thinking of
their country residence。 They packed up； closed house and moved off to
their summer home； some fifty miles away； and Pussy； in a basket； went
with them。
〃Just what she needed： a change of air and scene to wean her away
from her former owners and make her happy。〃
The basket was lifted into a Rumble…shaker。 New sounds and passing
smells were entered and left。 A turn in the course was made。 Then a
roaring of many feet； more swinging of the basket； a short pause； another
change of direction； then some clicks； some bangs； a long shrill whistle；
and door…bells of a very big front door； a rumbling； a whizzing； an
unpleasant smell； a hideous smell； a growing horrible； hateful choking
smell； a deadly； griping； poisonous stench； with roaring that drowned poor
Kitty's yowls； and just as it neared the point
