nose…led； followed。 In the corner of the iron…yard was a box of
garbage。 Among this she found something that answered fairly well
for food； a bucket of water under a faucet offered a chance to
quench her thirst。
The night was spent chiefly in prowling about and learning the
main lines of the iron…yard。 The next day she passed as before；
sleeping in the sun。 Thus the time wore on。 Sometimes she found a
good meal at the garbage…box； sometimes there was nothing。 Once
she found the big Black Tom there； but discreetly withdrew before
he saw her。 The water…bucket was usually at its place； or；
failing that； there were some muddy little pools on the stone
below。 But the garbage…box was very unreliable。 Once it left her
for three days without food。 She searched along the high fence；
and seeing a small hole； crawled through that and found herself
in the open street。 This was a new world； but before she had
ventured far； there was a noisy； rumbling rusha large Dog came
bounding； and Kitty had barely time to run back into the hole in
the fence。 She was dreadfully hungry； and glad to find some old
potato…peelings； which gave a little respite from the
hunger…pang。 In the morning she did not sleep； but prowled for
food。 Some Sparrows chirruped in the yard。 They were often there；
but now they were viewed with new eyes。 The steady pressure of
hunger had roused the wild hunter in the Kitten； those Sparrows
were gamewere food。 She crouched instinctively and stalked from
cover to cover； but the chirpers were alert and flew in time。 Not
once； but many times； she tried without result except to confirm
the Sparrows in the list of things to be eaten if obtainable。
On the fifth day of ill luck the Slum Kitty ventured forth into
the street； desperately bent on finding food。 When far from the
haven hole some small boys opened fire at her with pieces of
brick。 She ran in fear。 A Dog joined in the chase； and Kitty's
position grew perilous； but an old…fashioned iron fence round a
house…front was there； and she slipped in between the rails as
the Dog overtook her。 A woman in a window above shouted at the
Dog。 Then the boys dropped a piece of cat…meat down to the
unfortunate； and Kitty had the most delicious meal of her life。
The stoop afforded a refuge。 Under this she sat patiently till
nightfall came with quiet； then sneaked back like a shadow to her
old iron…yard。
Thus the days went by for two months。 She grew in size and
strength and in an intimate knowledge of the immediate
neighborhood。 She made the acquaintance of Downey Street； where
long rows of ash…cans were to be seen every morning。 She formed
her own ideas of their proprietors。 The big house was to her； not
a Roman Catholic mission； but a place whose garbage…tins abounded
in choicest fish scrapings。 She soon made the 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。
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。
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 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 domi