"Isn't it fun, Fluffy?" cried Jazbury. "Aren't you glad we came?"
"Yes, it is fun," answered Fluffy; but he did not seem quite as joyous over it as Jazbury.
A little later Yowler crept away from them through the grasses. They saw him pounce, and a moment later he came back with a little field-mouse in his mouth.
"What did I tell you?" he purred, proudly. "Guess we won't starve here. The fields are full of them."
They divided the field-mouse amongst them, and though none of them were hungry it was fun to eat out there in the open meadow with the blue sky overhead, and the warm wind ruffling their fur.
They went on again presently, taking their time, and making side excursions through the grasses, or stopping to rest and sun themselves in the more open places.
Not until late afternoon did they come to the wood. By that time they were hungry again. Fluffy managed to catch a small bird, which delighted the other two.
"Isn't he a fine catcher? What did I tell you?" boasted Jazbury.
After they had eaten the bird Yowler told the others to wait where they were, while he went on to find a place for them to sleep.
After he left them the two younger kittens dropped into silence. Dusk was drawing down. How big and dark and lonely it seemed in the wood. Jazbury thought of his mother and Aunt Tabby. They must have missed him by now. How troubled they would be. There would be good milk in the saucer in the pantry. They must be eating their supper by now. But maybe they would be too sad and sorry to eat.