y you Affikin heathums? Whah you britches?"

"Yonnuh Verman's," quavered Herman.

"Whah y'own?"

Choking, Herman answered bravely:

"'At ole cat tuck an' th'owed 'em down cistern!"

Exasperated almost beyond endurance, she lifted the lath again. But
unfortunately, in order to obtain a better field of action, she moved
backward a little, coming in contact with the bars of the cage, a
circumstance that she overlooked. More unfortunately still, the longing
of the captive to express his feelings was such that he would have
welcomed the opportunity to attack an elephant. He had been striking
and scratching at inanimate things and at boys out of reach for the past
hour; but here at last was his opportunity. He made the most of it.

"I learn you tell me cat th'owed--OOOOH!"

The coloured woman leaped into the air like an athlete, and, turning
with a swiftness astounding in one of her weight, beheld the semaphoric
arm of Gipsy again extended between the bars and hopefully reaching for
her. Beside herself, she lifted her right foot briskly from the ground,
and allowed the sole of her shoe to come in contact with Gipsy's cage.

The cage moved from the tottering chair beneath it. It passed through
the yawning hay-door and fell resoundingly to the alley below, where--as
Penrod and Sam, with cries of dismay, rushed to the door and looked
down--it burst asunder and disgorged a large, bruised and chastened
cat. Gipsy paused and bent one strange look upon the broken box. Then he
shook his head and departed up the alley, the two boys watching him till
he was out of sight.

Before they turned, a harrowing procession issued from the
carriage-house doors beneath them. Herman came first, hurriedly
completing a temporary security in Verman's trousers. Verman followed,
after a little reluctance that departed coincidentally with some
inspiriting words from the rear. He crossed the alley hastily, and his
Mammy stalked behind, using constant eloquence and a frequent lath. They
went into the small house across the way and closed the door.

Then Sam turned to Penrod.

"Penrod," he said thoughtfully, "was it on account of fortygraphing in
the jungle you wanted to keep that cat?"

"No; that was a mighty fine-blooded cat. We'd of made some money."

Sam jeered.

"You mean when we'd sell tickets to look at it in its cage?"

Penrod shook his head, and if Gipsy could have overheard and understood
his reply, that atrabilious spirit, almo