The Washington times., 1902-06-01

stable boy went back in the rowboat fol
the precious cat family. Now all thi;
happened in the land where oranges
figs, and bananas grow, where little
green lizards play tag about the porches
and alligators blink on the sand in the
sun. Teddy had grown quite used 10 all
these things. even the alligators. which
after all, were rather small affairs-the
biggest of them only three our four
feet long and not at all fierce-indeed
they had never been known to molest
anyone. But, however, there is one thing
nc. alligator can resist, that is the sight
or sound of 4 kitten, When the boat put
off from shore there was no alligator
IN sight, but when half way across Bill
cad grew frightened and set up ter
rible moving, there was a splash from
the further bank. and old father alliga-
tor himself was seen heading straight
for the little skiff.
Teddy squeezed Bildad's head under
his short Jacket. The man rowed with
all his might. but the alligator gained
on them steadily. Throw il overt"
| called the man from his end of the boat.
II won't mott" yelled Teddy, white with
fright and ready to cry. but clinging
1 fast to Bildad. The rough blunt nose of
the alligator pierced the water only a
short distance behind the stern of the
boat, where Teddy sat. with the mother
cat scared but silent on the seat beside
him
The shore was only few yards off,
but the man was afraid 10 risk 1t. Drop
ping the oars. with one huge stride he
reached for poor Bildah and flung him
into the water. Like an arrow his
mother sprang after him. and so true
-,,,ff Ia o,-,, stat IL, t,.1I
the water at almost the same spot and
moment as he. hapless kitten. Seizing
h.kn by the haeA sf the neck she put out
with all her long. lank might for the
nearest point of shore, and reached 1t
-Teddy's heart was in his mouth-onlv
about three seconds before the stiff
skinned awkward alligator, who had in
stantly changed his course in pursuit of
the mewing kitten. Up the nearest tree
scrambled the dripping mother cat, with
the skin of Blldad's neck still tight be-
tween her teeth. until beyond the reach
of man and beast. she dropped him in
the crotch of limb and began to lick
her own muddy fur as If nothing unusual
had happened.
Landing a little below. Teddy and the
man waited till the old alligator grew
tired OF blinking up at the cats in the
tree above him, and went home, at last,
without his dinner. Then they coaxed
them down and carried them home in
triumph.
Whether II was because of this ad-
venture or that she did not like the So
ciety she found in the village. Teddy
could not decide, but for some reason
the mother cat soon disappeared and
was never seen in Teddy's home again.
Bildad held the fort alone. growing in
wisdom and cunning as he grew in years
For instance, being especially fond Of
dinner of young rabbit. he discovered.
by accident or force Of genius. that dead
things left on the straw in the icehouse
tasted much better for the second meal |
than when left on the grass in the sun. |
he would take infinite pains 1
to chase his small game under the caves 4
and over the precipice of the icehouse. |
or. failing in this, would drag his dead |
victim there. sit contentedly in the cool /
and eat what he wanted. then cover the /
rest with straw for another meal. j