No, Silvertip would not fight. But he very much liked to watch other Cats fight. Now he saw Miss Tabby sit quietly by the house across the street and right in front of a hole under the porch. She had her legs tucked beneath her, and her tail neatly folded around them. She looked as though she had found a small spot which was dry, and wanted to get all of herself on that.
Just inside the open doorway of the barn, there sat Mr. Tiger Cat. He also had his legs tucked in and his tail folded around him. Mr. White Cat walked straight up to him and stood stiff-legged. Mr. Tiger Cat, who had just eaten a hearty meal and wanted an after-dinner nap, half opened his eyes and looked at him. Then he closed them again.
This made Mr. White Cat more ill natured still. He did not like to have people look at him and then shut their eyes. He began to switch his tail and stand his hair on end. He decided to make the other Cat fight anyway. He cared all the more about it because Miss Tabby was watching him. He had not noticed Silvertip. “Er-oo!” said he, drawing back his head and lowering his tail stiffly. “Did you say it was going to rain, or did you say it was not?”
“I hardly think it will,” answered Mr. Tiger Cat pleasantly.
“You don’t think it will, hey?” asked Mr. White Cat. “Well, I say it will pour.”
Mr. Tiger Cat slid his thin eyelids over his eyes.
“Did you hear me?” asked Mr. White Cat, still standing in the same way.
“Certainly,” answered the other.
“Well, what do you say to that?” asked Mr. White Cat, and now he began to stand straighter and hold his tail out behind.
“I am willing it should pour,” said Mr. Tiger Cat, beginning to uncover his eyes slowly.