Then the mastiff and I had a battle royal. The very recollection of it at this day does me good. We were all in the highest state of excitement. Puss in the tree, her back showing high above her ears, and her tail swelled to the size of a fox's brush, puffing and spitting at her enemy like a snake or a steam-engine; the mastiff running round the paling on his hind legs, banging up against it on every side, and barking and howling with rage; I, no less furious, howling and barking at him in return, and galloping round the tree as wildly as he did. Determined to try every thing, he turned to dash round the other way, and we came full upon each other. I need not describe the consequences. "Greek" may "meet Greek," and I leave the result to the learned; but if any body had ever doubted whether when dog meets dog, "then comes the tug of war," now was the time to convince themselves. We certainly did tug at each other most decidedly. Our strength and courage were so nearly equal, that for some time the victory was doubtful. Again and again each hero, bitten, scratched, and bruised, rolled in the dust, and rose up again shaking ears and coat, ready to rush upon his adversary with undiminished spirit. The final issue seemed to depend entirely upon the power of holding out longest. As I scorn to boast, I candidly confess that I was many times ready to ask for quarter and own myself beaten: indeed, if I had only been fighting on my own account, I must have yielded; but the goodness of my cause supported me, and in defence of my friend I performed exploits of valour that I did not know to be in my nature. At last I had the satisfaction to see my enemy fairly turn round, and with drooping head, and tail between his legs, sneak off to his own home in a very different state of mind and body from that in which he left it. I sent after him a bark of triumph that made the woods re-echo; but my best reward was in my Pussy's thanks and praises, and the happy consciousness of being her successful champion.
I required a little rest after my exertions; but before long we were on the move again, and met with no further impediments till we arrived at our resting-place for the night. This was under the shelter of an empty barn, rather infested by rats, so that Puss found both food and lodging. Tastes differ: I was glad of a comfortable roof and a warm corner; but though Puss pressed me to partake of her provision, I preferred going without a meal for once in my life to sharing a rat.
We were up and dressed time enough for the rising sun to meet us on our road. I have few more "incidents of travel" to recount; indeed, beyond a little difficulty in crossing a puddle or two without wetting my comrade's feet, or dirtying her white stockings, we arrived at the outskirts of London without hindrance.
But I feared that it would not be so easy to creep unobserved through the busy streets, and I grew very uncomfortable when I found myself and my companion in the midst of the throng. I was anxious to conceal my fears from Puss, lest I should alarm her also; but her penetration saw through my forced cheerfulness, and obliged me to confess my apprehensions. True to her determination of making the best of every thing, she was more courageous than I. With her usual good sense, she pointed out to me that the greater the surrounding numbers, the better the chance of any individuals passing unnoticed; that it was the idle who hindered or molested others; and that this multitude of people, intent upon objects of their own, would have neither time nor inclination to annoy us.
"I know by experience, my dear Captain," continued she, "that when I am properly occupied with my own rats, I have no temptation to interfere with my neighbour's mice. It is when I have been sitting too long purring in the sunshine with nothing to do, that I am in danger of being mischievous or troublesome."
"True," I answered; "I can bear witness to that myself: and I am not afraid of the industrious people, if they noticed us, it would be kindly. But these are not all busy,—some may be at leisure to worry us; and I scarcely know how we are to pass unobserved; I fear we are very remarkable. At home you know how much was said about us."
"Yes, at home," she replied, with a significant curl of her whiskers, "but at home we stood alone; there was no one to compare us with. I fancy that many are thought great personages in their own little village, who would be quite unnoticed elsewhere. I hope that may be our case."
"You hope!" exclaimed I, almost with a bark; for in spite of my fears, I by no means admired Pussy's modest style of consolation. Mortification got the better of prudence, and I felt that I would rather fight every day and all day long than not be thought worth fighting with.
"I hope it for myself," she answered; "but I do not expect you to be of the same opinion. I am content to shun danger and avoid blame; but it is your nature to meet peril and to court praise."
"You are rather inconsistent," interrupted I, somewhat nettled: "one of your objections to coming with me was, that you thought you could be of no use in London; and now you are wishing to be altogether unnoticed."