The banging of the door startled a number of birds up among the eaves, and they flew out of the cottage in a bunch before any of the club members could fire at them.
“Hullo, in there!” called out Boxy, but no answer was received, and the five boys stepped inside.
“Deserted, true enough,” remarked Jack, as he and the others gazed around.
“Yes, and for a good number of years,” rejoined Harry. “Just look how thick the cobwebs hang everywhere. I dare say no one has been here for years.”
“You are right, for even the fireplace is falling down,” said Andy. “I wonder who ever built away out here in this lonely spot?”
“Some chap who was tired of the world, most likely,” laughed Jack. “Say, boys,” he went on, suddenly, “do you know what I think that animal I killed was?”
“What?”
“A house cat, or a house cat’s offspring, gone wild. Didn’t it look like it?”
“Dat’s so,” put in Pickles. “Like as not dat animal’s great-grandmudder was de pet hyar, and when de pusson wot libed hyar died or moved away, de cat had to shift fo’ herself.”
“And so she became a wildcat, and joined the other wildcats around here,” finished Harry. “It may be so—stranger things have happened.”