Page:Sparrow, the tramp (IA sparrowtramp00wess).pdf/26

 silent seemed broken, and he fluttered about, uttering cries of terror. The strong paw still held the cage, and the other paw reached in between the wires; but as the frightened bird, in his agitation, fluttered within reach of the relentless paw, Mrs. Polly gave a shrill whistle, and then another louder still.

A rustling was heard in the bushes outside the window, and at the sound Gray Whisker descended the curtain and scurried into the closet, disappearing into his hole as the house-cat, with gleaming eyes, jumped on the window-sill and glared around.

"Which way did he go?" she demanded.

The gray nose was pushed cautiously out of the hole, and a voice said,—

"Mrs. House-cat, did you ever get left?"