Page:Kitty-in-boots.pdf/34

 there was a scuffling noise of falling stones; Kitty was all attention.

The noise moved further on.

Something poked out of a hole, and whisked in again.

After several false starts, Kitty's air-gun went off and there was a squeak.

She ran forward and met—not a mouse—but a large white ferret, rubbing its head, while another brown ferret in gaiters dropped off the top of the wall, and wrenched the precious air-gun out of Miss Kitty's hands, exclaiming, "Give us that there gun! You ain't fit to carry a gun! What do you mean by shooting my cousin Slimmy Jimmy? Give us your pellets this minute!"

Miss Kitty replied with a very painful scratch across both their faces. She also spat at them.