They stepped in among the stones and found the cat-like creature’s lair just beneath one of them, and plenty of proofs of how it lived, for close around lay many of the brightly-coloured feathers it had stripped from different birds.
“Evidently preyed upon these,” said Oliver, eagerly, picking up some of the feathers to examine.
“Hear that, Tommy?”
“Yes.”
“Ain’t it gammon?”
“No; nat’ral histry’s all true, lad.”
“But I never heard o’ cats being religious. I’ve heard o’ their being wicked and mischievous enough for anything.”
“’Ligious! Why, what have you got hold of now?”
“Nothing. You heard him too. He said as the cat prayed on them feathers.”
“Get out. Don’t be a hignoramus. Wild cats is beasts o’ prey.”