transactions of the night, by the
frequent involuntary motions of his body, and repeated endeavours to
avoid visionary dangers.

The kitten lay upon the soft neck of the fawn, and at intervals
resumed its low, humming song, which had more than once been hushed in
perfect repose. At a late hour, or rather an early one, just ere the
first faint ray of morning appeared in the distant east, puss purred
rather harshly on the silken ears of its companion, and its sharp
claws producing a stinging sensation, the fawn shook its head
violently, and threw its little bed-fellow rather rudely several feet
away. The kitten, instead of being angry, fell into a merry mood, and
began to frisk about in divers directions, first running under the
bed, then springing upon some diminutive object on the floor as it
would upon a mouse, and finally pricking again the ear of the fawn.
The fawn then rose up, and creeping gently about the room, touched the
cheeks or hands of the slumbering inmates with its velvet tongue, but
so softly that none were awakened. The kitten, no longer able to annoy
its companion by its mischievous pranks, now paced up to the fire and
commenced playing with a dangling string attached to Joe's moccasin.
Once it jumped up with such force against his foot that he jerked it
quickly several inches away. But this only diverted puss the more.
Instead of being content with the palpable demonstration thus
effected, it followed up the advantage gained by applying both its
claws and teeth to the foot. While it confined its operations to the
stout buckskin, but little impression was made; but when it came in
contact with the ankle, which was only covered with a yarn stocking,
the result was entirely different.

"Ugh! Confound the fire!" exclaimed Joe, giving a tremendous kick,
which dashed puss most violently into Sneak's face.

"Hey! Dod! What is it?" cried Sneak, tearing the kitten (whose briery
nails had penetrated the skin of his nose) away, and throwing it
across the room. "I say! did you do that?" continued Sneak, wiping the
blood from his nose with his sleeve, and addressing Joe, who kept his
eyes fast closed, though almost bursting with suppressed laughter, and
pretending to be steeped in earnest slumber. "I won't stand this!"
said Sneak, smarting with his wounds, and striking the chair in which
Joe sat with his foot. "Now," continued Sneak, "if you done that, jest
say so, that's all."

"Did what?" asked Joe, opening