f her head from the big grey cat, sent her reeling dizzily
away from the dish. She recovered herself and turned in abject terror,
her one thought to escape from this uncalled for abuse, but directly in
her path stood the black-and-white cat with lashing tail and flaming
eyes. Another turn, and she was again confronted by the grey, crouching
angrily ready for another attack.

Snowball's heart seemed to stand still, and she shut her eyes and waited
for the end, when with one bound the black cat stood between her and her
enemies. He began battle instantly, and so vigourously that it was
impossible to stand before the whirlwind of flying claws and snapping
teeth that he seemed to have become. Soon his opponents retired with
inglorious haste, and he was victor--Snowball was saved!

In the silence that followed Snowball cautiously opened an eye and
peeped around. Peace! And her deliverer again lapping at the puddle of
blue milk that was spreading from the overturned saucer across the
broken flagstones. He saw the timid glance and moved a little to one
side with a gesture of friendly invitation.

Gratefully she crept to his side; the black and white noses bobbed
busily up and down together as the pink tongues darted in and out, and
the milk rapidly disappeared.

That afternoon Snowball brought Ebony home with her and seemed so fond
of him that I could do no less than ask him to stay, and for the first
time they sat in their now usual resting place--down at my feet on the
warm red tiles.

How do I know about the rescue? Ah, that's quite a story, too; not
to-day, Dear.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

"Scat!"

Said a greedy old tramp of a cat:
"I declare, I heard someone say 'scat!'
Of course I _might_ run;
But t'would spoil all this fun,
And I don't see much reason in that."

"Kittens will be Kittens."

The kittens were playing a sort of "follow-the-leader" in and out of
their comfortable box of straw, while Mrs. Tabby Cat sat patiently by,
only occasionally glancing at them to make sure that all three were
safe.

Things were very comfortably arranged for the little family of pussies
out in the barn, and the only possible danger to the cat babies was the
St. Bernard dog's drinking dish which was set down into the barn floor,
very near the wall, and kept filled with water. One of the grooms had
arranged it one idle afternoon, more for his own amusement than for any
real