CHAPTER XIV.
Great was the excitement among the animals when they learned that the little gray kitten was missing.
“She never in this world went off of her own accord,” said the barn-cat to Mrs. Polly; “she always stayed at home and took care of my kittens while I was out hunting. Something has happened to her. We shall never see the dear little thing again, you may be sure;” and the barn-cat gave a deep sigh.
“Don’t be so discouraged,” said the canary hopefully; “all of our plans have gone well so far, and I know this will. It’s always darkest before daylight, you know.”
“What do you propose to do about it, pray?” asked the barn-cat in an irritable tone. “It’s all very well to say ‘Don’t be discouraged,’ but what is to be done? Sitting here and talking about it won’t bring the gray kitten back. Come, let’s have your ideas on the subject. I’m not too old to learn, if I have brought up half a dozen families.”
“I don’t pretend to know myself the best course to pursue,” answered the canary good-naturedly, “and I shouldn’t presume to dictate to you who have had so much more experience than I have. I only meant to say that Mrs. Polly, who has the wisest head of any of us, could probably advise us what to do.”
Mrs. Polly gave a satisfied “Ahem!” for it always put her in a good humor to be looked up to.
“That’s a good idea,” said the barn-cat, appeased by the canary’s good-nature. “Come, Mrs. Polly, I hope you will give us your views on the subject; I know you have been thinking it over.”
“Well,” said Mrs. Polly in an impressive manner, “I have been considering the case, and have come to the conclusion that the only way to accomplish anything is to investigate the case in a thorough manner. Call the animals together, and I will interview them, and discover, if possible, if they can throw any light on this painful affair.”
“Capital!” exclaimed the barn-cat, “I will attend to it at once. If you’ve no objection, ma’am, I should like to bring my kittens; they are old enough to begin to learn how such matters are conducted, and I like to have them get all the information they can.”
“Very sensible indeed,” answered Mrs. Polly; “bring them by all means, and tell the house-cat to bring hers. Please notify the sparrow also of the meeting; and as Major can’t be present you will have to take his affidavit. That is,” explained Mrs. Polly, seeing a puzzled look on the barn-cat’s face, “he must tell you what he knows about the matter, and you can report it to me.”
“That’s very easy,” answered the barn-cat. “Finding the sparrow won’t be quite so easy. He’s never around when he’s wanted.”
“Yes, he is, my darling,” answered a voice from the flowering currant; “he can’t tear himself away from you long;” and there sat the sparrow, swinging on a slender branch, and looking as impudent and careless as ever.
“Well, you are here when you’re wanted for once in your life,” said the barn-cat. “See if you can keep still in one place till we’re ready for the meeting;” and off went the barn-cat on her errand.
In a short time the house-cat appeared with her kittens nicely washed, and looking as pretty and fresh as possible, and soon after the barn-cat appeared with her kittens. She had had time to wash them carefully, as Major was out and she could not have the desired interview with him. Their little tiger-skins were glossy, and they looked as if it were hard work for them to walk sedately behind their mother.
The house-cat was seated with her kittens beside her, and the barn-cat took up her position at a distance and placed her kittens where she could keep an eye on them. While she was making their toilets she had given them so many instructions in regard to their behavior, that they presented a very demure appearance, although their little bright eyes danced about in such a very animated way that it seemed probable that it wouldn’t be a very difficult task to make them forget their dignity.
Mrs. Polly looked as wise as half a dozen judges put together, wigs and all. She looked silently around on the little group collected about her and then gave a little cough, as was usual when she had something of importance to say.
“I suppose you all understand why this meeting was called,” she began. “The little gray kitten, of whom we are all so fond, is missing, and we are trying to discover some traces of her. Now, to proceed in a systematic manner, the first point to find out is, who saw her last, and where?”
There was a moment’s silence, and then one of the little house-kittens said,—
“I think old Graywhisker has eaten the gray kitten up.”
“What makes you think so?” asked Mrs. Polly quickly.
“Because he’s got such long, sharp teeth. My mother says he’d eat me up quicker than a wink if he caught me,” answered the house-kitten.
“When did you see the gray kitten last, my dear?” asked Mrs. Polly.
“Not for a very long time,” replied the little house-kitten. “My mother says she’s common, and doesn’t like to have us play with her.”
“Then, if you’ve no information to give on the subject,” said Mrs. Polly severely, “don’t give it. You must learn to be seen and not heard.”
The little house-kitten was somewhat abashed at this reproof; but her embarrassment did not last long, for her sister, the other house-kitten, who was tired of sitting still so long, moved her tail backward and forward in such a very enticing manner that she couldn’t resist the temptation of springing at it and clawing it.
The house-cat was rather ashamed of her want of discipline, particularly as the barn-kittens sat all this time in a dignified manner, with their small tails straight out behind them; and more especially as the barn-cat’s face wore a very self-satisfied smile, as if she were enjoying the house-cat’s discomfiture.
“If you don’t sit still I shall take you home at once,” she said to the house-kittens when she had restored order and placed them where she could reach them in case of a second disturbance.
“Now that order is restored,” said Mrs. Polly, “we will proceed to business. When did you see the gray kitten last?” she asked the sparrow.
“I haven’t seen her for the last two days,” answered the sparrow. “She isn’t so attached to me as my friend the barn-cat here, and doesn’t follow me up so closely.”
“Don’t joke at such a serious moment,” said the barn-cat crossly.
“It’s as easy to laugh as to cry,” answered the sparrow, “and a good deal pleasanter.”
“Our friend the sparrow did us such a good turn in recovering the stolen ribbon,” said Mrs. Polly, “that we mustn’t be too hard on his peculiarities. We all know that if his manner is sometimes frivolous, he has proved to us that he has a warm heart and is devoted to our service.”
“His heart’s warm enough and he is brave enough too,” said the barn-cat, who had a strong sense of justice; “but I do wish he was a little steadier in his ways.”
“We must take people as we find them,” answered Mrs. Polly. “Now, Mrs. Barn-cat, when did you see the gray kitten last?”
“I left her yesterday afternoon to watch my kittens while I was out, and when I came back she was gone. That’s all I know about it.”
The little tiger-kittens had listened to every word that had been said, and had a very important air, as if they could tell something if they were asked. Mrs. Polly’s keen eyes noticed this, and she said to one of them,—
“Now, my dear, I want you to tell me just what happened while your mother was away yesterday afternoon. Don’t be afraid to speak out.”
The kitten evidently was not afraid to speak out, and began in a clear voice,—
“We had a fine play, and the gray kitten couldn’t catch us because we dodged so. We caught her every time.”
“What’s that to do with the subject, I should like to know?” asked the house-cat severely, for she remembered how her kitten had been snubbed; “and anybody could see with half an eye that my kitten is much smarter than that stupid-looking thing,” she added to herself.
“Please don’t confuse the witness,” said Mrs. Polly to the house-cat. “Very well, my dear,” she continued, turning to the little tiger-kitten; “what happened next?”
“We played till we got tired, and that’s all,” answered the little tiger-kitten.
“I thought so,” exclaimed the house-cat triumphantly.
Mrs. Polly scowled fiercely at her, and then turned to the little tiger-kitten again.
“Well, my dear, and what happened after you became tired of playing?”
“Well,” replied the little kitten, as she kept her eye on one of the house-kittens who was rolling a pebble with her soft paw, “then a little mouse ran by.”
“Oh!” said Mrs. Polly; “and what then, my dear? What did you do when the little mouse ran by?”
“We wanted to catch it, but the gray kitten wouldn’t let us. She said our mother told her not to let us go away.”
“And what did the gray kitten do then?” asked Mrs. Polly quickly.
“She ran after the little mouse and she didn’t come back again, and that’s all,” said the little tiger-kitten.
“Very good indeed, my dear,” answered Mrs. Polly, with an approving nod of her head. “You’ve told a very connected story, and we’ve found out that the gray kitten chased a mouse and has not been seen since.”
The barn-cat was intensely gratified at her kitten’s sagacity, but the only expression she gave to her satisfaction was to wash the little tiger-kitten’s face affectionately. Then she said, after a few moments’ silence,—
“Before we break up, I should like to mention that the collar that Posy gave me has disappeared. It was quite loose for me, and I may have lost it when I was off hunting. I don’t like to accuse anybody wrongly, but it was a very handsome affair, and I dare say created a good deal of jealousy among my acquaintances;” and she looked very hard at the house-cat.
“If you mean me,” said the house-cat, with a toss of her head, “let me tell you that I haven’t stolen your old collar. I don’t need collars to make me look respectable, thank goodness!”
“Very true,” answered the barn-cat; “it would take more than collars to make some people look respectable.”
“Oh, come, come,” said Mrs. Polly, “don’t get personal! I have no doubt that old Graywhisker knows where that collar is, just as well as he knows where the gray kitten is.”
“You don’t mean it!” exclaimed the sparrow.
“Yes, I do,” said Mrs. Polly decidedly. “I believe that Graywhisker sent that mouse to entice the half-blind gray kitten, and that he’s got her safely hidden somewhere, for he wouldn’t dare really to let her come to any harm.”
“How can we find her?” asked the barn-cat.
“All of you keep your ears open and perhaps you’ll pick up some news. If we find out where she is, the children can probably rescue her. They’ll soon notice that she is missing and hunt for her.”
The Barn Cat and her Kittens.