Page:Rowland--The Mountain of Fears.djvu/215



OOK at that cat, Doctor," said Leyden, "but do not let her see that you are looking. There!—did you see the beast crouch, and glance at us, and then begin to wash its face!"

I glanced at the ship's cat—an interesting beast, as are most ship's cats, either because one has more time to study their actions, or because a limited sphere develops the animal's ingenuity. Some one had brought aboard a tulu-pial bird and hung its cage over the hand steering-gear, where the pineapples are strung out to ripen. The cat had lost no time in locating the bird and was busy measuring distances when we interrupted.

"That cat," said Leyden, "would be typified by a sneak-thief among men. Do you know, Doctor, I believe that domestic animals, [ 199 ]