All at once a boy saw Blackie and he called to some other boys:
“Oh, look at the black cat! Let’s catch her and tie a tin can to her tail!”
“Come on!” cried another boy.
They ran toward Blackie, but the black cat ran away from them, and under the edge of the white house, which Blackie found was made of cloth. Inside it were many strange animals, some in cages, and in one cage Blackie saw some straw.
“I’ll jump in there and hide,” she said, and down in the straw nestled the cat. And then, from the other end of the cage, there rose up a big black bear.
“Who are you, and what are you doing in my cage?” the bear asked.
“Oh, please excuse me!” cried Blackie. “I ran in here to get away from some bad boys who were going to tie a tin can to my tail. I want to hide here.”
“[Oh, that’s all right,” said the bear kindly. “Hide as much as you like.] What is your name, and where do you live?”
“My name is Blackie,” was the answer, “and I guess I don’t live anywhere now. I am a lost cat.”
“That’s too bad,” said the big shaggy animal. “My name is Dido, and I am a dancing bear. I dance in this circus.”