Soon the barn-cat went into the barn, leaving her kittens at play in the yard.
“That’s strange,” said Tom, “to leave her kittens; she’s usually so careful of them.”
In a few minutes the gray kitten came out and seated herself near the tiger-kittens.
“I really believe,” said Posy, “that the barn-cat sent the gray kitten out to take care of her babies while she was out hunting.”
When the barn-cat entered the barn, she called the gray kitten to her and told her she would like to have her take charge of the kittens while she watched for a while at Graywhisker’s hole, as she hadn’t seen him leave the barn for a long time.
The gray kitten, delighted to be of service to her kind friend, hurried down to the yard, and the barn-cat took her station beside Graywhisker’s hole. Meanwhile the sparrow had learned from Major where Graywhisker’s hole was situated, and was already some distance in, when the barn-cat took her position outside.
“Dark as a pocket,” said the sparrow to himself as he cautiously groped his way.
“Perhaps I shall see better when I’m used to the darkness,” he said hopefully; and he went on slowly, putting one foot carefully before the other. Suddenly he lost his footing and fell down several inches, but he landed on his feet and was not hurt.
“All right,” said the sparrow, and looked about him. A little ray of light shone in through a crevice of the wall, and he was able to see faintly. This was evidently Graywhisker’s dwelling; and the long dark place he went through first, the passage-way leading to it. As his eyes became accustomed to the dim light he began to distinguish objects.
“Whew! how close!” said the sparrow, as he took a long breath.