“OUT ON THE PLOUGHED LAND UNDER THE APPLE TREES, A FURRY BALL WAS ROLLING OVER AND OVER.”
“She's my sister,” I gasped indignantly, and I threw myself forward toward the part of the ball that was not Serena's long hair.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw other cats approaching. One from the road, one from the barn. The latter looked dishevelled. It was poor Slyboots, and as I afterward learned, she had been having trouble on her own account. However, she nobly came to our aid. The cat on the road I did not recognize, and of course, at this time, I did not know who Blizzard was.
Joker helped Slyboots and me. We seized the gray hair, and pulled. I got hold of the wicked Blizzard's tail, and I can assure you, I nipped it. Of course they rolled over and over, but Joker, and I, and Slyboots hung on, and presently we dragged that gray beast off.
Then I had a look at him. He was a slight, slim, gray and white cat, with the meanest little head I ever saw—a regular sly, ugly little scamp, and under-sized. Why, he was not as large as I was!
Of course, I did not bestow much attention on him, but confined myself to Serena. I found that she was dreadfully shaky and frightened, but not much hurt.
“That's the way Blizzard fights,” said Joker gleefully. “He doesn't do much damage, 'cause he doesn't want to knock you out.”
“What!” I exclaimed, turning sharply to him.
Joker's mouth was stretched from ear to ear, and he was pointing toward the little gray Blizzard who was being licked down by the cat in the road.