now you are right--we passed this place last spring."

At the river was the railroad. She could not go on the water; she
must go north or south. This was a case where her sense of
direction was clear; it said, "Go south," and Kitty trotted down
the foot-path between the iron rails and the fence.


LIFE III

IX

Cats can go very fast up a tree or over a wall, but when it comes
to the long steady trot that reels off mile after mile, hour
after hour, it is not the cat-hop, but the dog-trot, that
counts. Although the travelling was good and the path direct, an
hour had gone before two more miles were put between her and the
Hades of roses. She was tired and a little foot-sore. She was
thinking of rest when a Dog came running to the fence near by,
and broke out into such a horrible barking close to her ear that
Pussy leaped in terror. She ran as hard as she could down the
path, at the same time watching to see if the Dog should succeed
in passing the fence. No, not yet! but he ran close by it,
growling horribly, while Pussy skipped along on the safe side.
The barking of the Dog grew into a low rumble--a louder rumble
and roaring--a terrifying thunder. A light shone. Kitty glanced
back to see, not the Dog, but a huge Black Thing with a blazing
red eye coming on, yowling and spitting like a yard full of Cats.
She put forth all her powers to run, made such time as she had
never made before, but dared not leap the fence. She was running