The big cat did not seem to be in any hurry. He walked slowly along the rail fence until he came to the brook. There were no rails across the brook, only a panel of wire fencing—so the big cat sprang to the ground and walked along the brook until he came to a place where the brook was narrow, then the farmer’s Maltese cat crouched and sprang across the brook at one leap.
“He is surely coming to our woods!” said Mrs. Robin, and Robert Robin was so frightened that all he could say was “Tut! Tut! Tut!”
The great cat tiptoed across the corner of the pasture, and crept under the fence. He was now in the meadow next to the woods, and was walking slowly towards Mister Robert Robin’s tree. Every few moments he would stand still and look all around. Once he sat down for several minutes, and Robert Robin was hoping that he would not come any nearer the woods. Mrs. Bee was buzzing around the basswood blossoms, and Robert Robin said:
“Mrs. Bee, you are a very good friend of mine! Please fly down there and sting that big cat for me! It will only take you a moment and it will be a great favor!” But Mrs. Bee was busy filling her bag with honey, and had no time to bother, stinging cats.
Mister Jim Crow came flying past and Robert Robin called to him: “Oh! Mister Crow! Fly right straight at that cat and scare him out of his wits!”
“Oh! Let him alone!” said Jim Crow, “he is only catching meadow mice!”
And Jim Crow flew over into the other woods.
Then nearer and nearer the big cat crept towards Robert Robin’s tree. Mister Kingbird came fluttering his wings and screaming, “King! King! King!” but though he feared no hawk nor owl he was afraid of the big cat and would not go anywhere near him.
The farmer’s big Maltese cat was standing almost under Robert Robin’s tree. He was swinging his long tail from side to side, and looking at Robert Robin with his green eyes. The big cat was thinking to himself, “I would like to have that robin for my breakfast!”
But Robert Robin had no fear of the cat catching him; he was afraid that the animal might climb his big basswood tree and eat his baby robins.