Page:History of Whittington and his cat (2).pdf/19

PUSS IN BOOTS. 17 The Cat, who all this time sat listening just inside the door of a cupboard, now ventured to come out, and addressed him as follows:—

“Do not thus afflict yourself, my good master; you have only to give me a bag, and get a pair of boots made for me, so that I may scamper through the dirt and the brambles, and you shall see that you are not so ill provided for as you imagine."

Though the Cat's master did not much depend upon these promises, yet, as he had often observed the cunning tricks with which Puss use to catch rats and mice, such as hanging by the hind legs, and hiding in the meal to make them believe he was dead, he did not entirely despair of his being of some use to him in his unhappy condition.

When the Cat had obtained what he asked for, he gaily began to equip himself: he drew on the boots, and, putting the bag about his neck, he took hold of the strings with his fore paws, and, bidding his master take courage, immediately sallied forth.

The first attempt Puss made was to go into a warren, in which there was a great number of rabbits. He put some bran and some parsley into his bag, and then stretched himself out at full length, as if he was dead; he waited for some young rabbits, which as yet knew nothing of the cunning tricks of the tribe, to come and get into the bag, the better to feast upon the dainties he had put into it.