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The very Horses and Dogs had the wrong smells； the whole country round
was a repellent desert of lifeless； disgusting gardens and hay…fields；
without a single tenement or smoke…stack in sight。 How she did hate it all！
There was only one sweet…smelling shrub in the whole horrible place； and
that was in a neglected corner。 She did enjoy nipping that and rolling in
the leaves； it was a bright spot in the grounds； but the only one； for she
had not found a rotten fish…head nor seen a genuine garbage…can since she
came； and altogether it was the most unlovely； unattractive； unsmellable
spot she had ever known。 She would surely have gone that first night had
she had the liberty。 The liberty was weeks in coming； and； meanwhile； her
affinity with the cook had developed as a bond to keep her； but one day
after a summer of discontent a succession of things happened to stir anew
the slum instinct of the royal prisoner。
A great bundle of stuff from the docks had reached the country
mansion。 What it contained was of little moment； but it was rich with a
score of the most piquant and winsome of dock and slum smells。 The
chords of memory surely dwell in the nose； and Pussy's past was conjured
up with dangerous force。 Next day the cook 'left' through some trouble
over this very bundle。 It was the cutting of cables； and that evening the
youngest boy of the house； a horrid little American with no proper
appreciation of royalty； was tying a tin to the blue…blooded one's tail；
doubtless in furtherance of some altruistic project； when Pussy resented
the liberty with a paw that wore five big fish…hooks for the occasion。 The
howl of downtrodden America roused America's mother。 The deft and
womanly blow that she aimed with her book was miraculously avoided；
and Pussy took flight； up…stairs； of course。 A hunted Rat runs down…stairs；
a hunted Dog goes on the level； a hunted Cat runs up。 She hid in the garret；
baffled discovery； and waited till night came。 Then； gliding down…stairs；
she tried each screen…door in turn； till she found one unlatched； and
escaped into the black August night。 Pitch…black to man's eyes； it was
simply gray to her； and she glided through the disgusting shrubbery and
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Animal Heroes
flower…beds； took a final nip at that one little bush that had been an
attractive spot in the garden； and boldly took her back track of the spring。
How could she take a back track that she never saw？ There is in all
animals some sense of direction。 It is very low in man and very high in
Horses； but Cats have a large gift； and this mysterious guide took her
westward； not clearly and definitely； but with a general impulse that was
made definite simply because the road was easy to travel。 In an hour she
had covered two miles and reached the Hudson River。 Her nose had told
her many times that the course was true。 Smell after smell came back； just
as a man after walking a mile in a strange street may not recall a single
feature； but will remember； on seeing it again； 〃Why； yes； I saw that
before。〃 So Kitty's main guide was the sense of direction； but it was her
nose that kept reassuring her； 〃Yes； now you are rightwe passed this
place last spring。〃
At the river was the railroad。 She could not go on the water； she must
go north or south。 This was a case where her sense of direction was clear；
it said； 〃Go south；〃 and Kitty trotted down the foot…path between the iron
rails and the fence。
LIFE III
IX
Cats can go very fast up a tree or over a wall； but when it comes to the
long steady trot that reels off mile after mile； hour after hour； it is not the
cat…hop； but the dog…trot； that counts。 Although the travelling was good
and the path direct； an hour had gone before two more miles were put
between her and the Hades of roses。 She was tired and a little foot…sore。
She was thinking of rest when a Dog came running to the fence near by；
and broke out into such a horrible barking close to her ear that Pussy
leaped in terror。 She ran as hard as she could down the path； at the same
time watching to see if the Dog should succeed in passing the fence。 No；
not yet！ but he ran close by it； growling horribly； while Pussy skipped
along on the safe side。 The barking of the Dog grew into a low rumblea
louder rumble and roaringa terrifying thunder。 A light shone。 Kitty
glanced back to see； not the Dog； but a huge Black Thing with a blazing
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Animal Heroes
red eye coming on； yowling and spitting like a yard full of Cats。 She put
forth all her powers to run； made such time as she had never made before；
but dared not leap the fence。 She was running like a Dog； was flying； but
all in vain； the monstrous pursuer overtook her； but missed her in the
darkness； and hurried past to be lost in the night； while Kitty crouched
gasping for breath； half a mile nearer home since that Dog began to bark。
This was her first encounter with the strange monster； strange to her
eyes only； her nose seemed to know him and told her this was another
landmark on the home trail。 But Pussy lost much of her fear of his kind。
She learned that they were very stupid and could not find her if she slipped
quietly under a fence and lay still。 Before morning she had encountered
several of them； but escaped unharmed from all。
About sunrise she reached a nice little slum on her home trail； and was
lucky enough to find several unsterilized eatables in an ash…heap。 She
spent the day around a stable where were two Dogs and a number of small
boys； that between them came near ending her career。 It was so very like
home； but she had no idea of staying there。 She was driven by the old
craving； and next evening set out as before。 She had seen the one…eyed
Thunder…rollers all day going by； and was getting used to them； so
travelled steadily all that night。 The next day was spent in a barn where
she caught a Mouse； and the next night was like the last； except th