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a ferryboat and was carried over to Long Island； but she took an
early boat back。 At length on the third night she reached
familiar ground； the place she had passed the night of her first
escape。 From that her course was sure and rapid。 She knew just
where she was going and how to get there。 She knew even the more
prominent features in the Dog…scape now。 She went faster； felt
happier。 In a little while surely she would be curled up in her
native Orientthe old junk…yard。 Another turn； and the block was
in sight。
Butwhat！ It was gone！ Kitty couldn't believe her eyes； but she
must； for the sun was not yet up。 There where once had stood or
leaned or slouched or straggled the houses of the block； was a
great broken wilderness of stone； lumber； and holes in the
ground。
Kitty walked all around it。 She knew by the bearings and by the
local color of the pavement that she was in her home； that there
had lived the bird…man； and there was the old junk…yard； but all
were gone； completely gone； taking their familiar odors with
them； and Pussy turned sick at heart in the utter hopelessness of
the case。 Her place…love was her master…mood。 She had given up
all to come to a home that no longer existed； and for once her
sturdy little heart was cast down。 She wandered over the silent
heaps of rubbish and found neither consolation nor eatables。 The
ruin had taken in several of the blocks and reached back from the
water。 It was not a fire； Kitty had seen one of those things。
This looked more like the work of a flock of the Red…eyed
Monsters。 Pussy knew nothing of the great bridge that was to rise
from this very spot。
When the sun came up she sought for cover。 An adjoining block
still stood with little change； and the Royal Analostan retired
to that。 She knew some of its trails； but once there； was
unpleasantly surprised to find the place swarming with Cats that；
like herself； were driven from their old grounds； and when the
garbage…cans came out there were several Slummers at each。 It
meant a famine in the land； and Pussy； after standing it a few
days； was reduced to seeking her other home on Fifth Avenue。 She
got there to find it shut up and deserted。 She waited about for a
day； had an unpleasant experience with a big man in a blue coat；
and next night returned to the crowded slum。
September and October wore away。 Many of the Cats died of
starvation or were too weak to escape their natural enemies。 But
Kitty； young and strong； still lived。
Great changes had come over the ruined blocks。 Though silent on
the night when she first saw them； they were crowded with noisy
workmen all day。 A tall building； well advanced on her arrival；
was completed at the end of October； and Slum Kitty； driven by
hunger； went sneaking up to a pail that a negro had set outside。
The pail； unfortunately； was not for garbage； it was a new thing
in that region： a scrubbing…pail。 A sad disappointment； but it
had a sense of comfortthere were traces of a familiar touch on
the handle。 While she was studying it； the negro elevator…boy
came out again。 In spite of his blue clothes； his odorous person
confirmed the good impression of the handle。 Kitty had retreated
across the street。 He gazed at her。
〃Sho ef dat don't look like de Royal Ankalostan！ Hyar； Pussy；
Pussy； Pu…s…s…s…s…y！ Co…o…o…o…m…e； Pu…u…s…s…sy； hyar！ I'spec's
she's sho hungry。〃
Hungry！ She hadn't had a real meal for months。 The negro went
into the building and reappeared with a portion of his own lunch。
〃Hyar； Pussy； Puss； Puss； Puss！〃 It seemed very good； but Pussy
had her doubts of the man。 At length he laid the meat on the
pavement； and went back to the door。 Slum Kitty came forward very
warily； sniffed at the meat； seized it； and fled like a little
Tigress to eat her prize in peace。
LIFE IV
XI
This was the beginning of a new era。 Pussy came to the door of
the building now whenever pinched by hunger； and the good feeling
for the negro grew。 She had never understood that man before。 He
had always seemed hostile。 Now he was her friend； the only one
she had。
One week she had a streak of luck。 Seven good meals on seven
successive days； and right on the top of the last meal she found
a juicy dead Rat； the genuine thing； a perfect windfall。 She had
never killed a full…grown Rat in all her lives； but seized the
prize and ran off to hide it for future use。 She was crossing the
street in front of the new building when an old enemy appeared；
the Wharf Dog；and Kitty retreated； naturally enough； to the
door where she had a friend。 Just as she neared it； he opened the
door for a well…dressed man to come out； and both saw the Cat
with her prize。
〃Hello！ Look at that for a Cat！〃
〃Yes； sah；〃 answered the negro。 〃Dat's ma Cat； sah； she's a
terror on Rats； sah！ hez 'em about cleaned up； sah； dat's why
she's so thin。〃
〃Well； don't let her starve；〃 said the man with the air of the
landlord。 〃Can't you feed her？
〃De liver meat…man comes reg'lar； sah； quatah dollar a week；
sah；〃 said the negro； fully realizing that he was entitled to the
extra fifteen cents for 〃the idea。〃
〃That's all right。 I'll stand it。〃
XII
〃M…e…a…t！ M…e…a…t！〃 is heard the magnetic； cat…conjuring cry of
the old liver…man； as his barrow is pushed up the glorified
Scrimper's Alley； and Cats come crowding； as of yore； to receive
their due。
There are Cats black； white； yellow； and gray to be remembered；
and； above all； there are owners to be remembered。 As the barrow
rounds the corner near the new building it makes a newly
scheduled stop。
〃Hyar； you； get out o' the road； you common trash；〃 cries the
liver…man； and he waves his wand to make way for the little gray
Cat with blue eyes and white nose。 She receives an unusually
large portion； for Sam is wisely dividing the returns evenly； and
Slum Kitty retreats with her 'daily' into shelter of the great
building； to which she is regularly attached。 She has entered
into her fourth life with prospects of happiness never before
dreamed of。 Everything was against her at first； now everything
seems to be coming her way。 It is very doubtful that her mind was
broadened by travel； but she knew what she wanted and she got it。
She has achieved her long…time great ambition by catching； not a
Sparrow； but two of them； while they were clinched in mortal
combat in the gutter。
There is no reason to suppose that she ever caught another Rat；
but the negro secures a dead one when he can； for purposes of
exhibition； lest her pension be imperilled。 The dead one is left
in the hall till the proprietor comes； then it is apologetically
swept away。 〃Well； drat dat Cat； sah； dat Royal Ankalostan blood；
sah； is terrors on Rats。〃
She has had several broods since。 The negro thinks the Yellow Tom
is the father of some of them； and no doubt the negro is right。
He has sold her a number of times with a perfectly clear
conscience； knowing quite well that it is only a question of a
few days before the Royal Analostan comes back again。 Doubtless
he is saving the money for some honorable ambition。 She has
learned to tolerate the elevator； and even to ride up and down on
it。 The negro