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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 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