animal heroes(动物英雄)-第6节
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smell； a deadly； griping； poisonous stench； with roaring that drowned poor
Kitty's yowls； and just as it neared the point where endurance ceased； there
was relief。 She heard clicks and clacks。 There was light； there was air。
Then a man's voice called； 〃All out for 125th Street；〃 though of course to
Kitty it was a mere human bellow。 The roaring almost ceaseddid cease。
Later the rackety…bang was renewed with plenty of sounds and shakes；
though not the poisonous gas； a long； hollow； booming roar with a
pleasant dock smell was quickly passed； and then there was a succession
of jolts； roars； jars； stops； clicks； clacks； smells； jumps； shakes； more
smells； more shakes；big shakes； little shakes；gases； smokes； screeches；
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door…bells； tremblings； roars； thunders； and some new smells； raps； taps；
heavings； rumblings； and more smells； but all without any of the feel that
the direction is changed。 When at last it stopped； the sun came twinkling
through the basket…lid。 The Royal Cat was lifted into a Rumble…shaker of
the old familiar style； and； swerving aside from their past course； very
soon the noises of its wheels were grittings and rattlings； a new and
horrible sound was addedthe barking of Dogs； big and little and
dreadfully close。 The basket was lifted； and Slum Kitty had reached her
country home。
Every one was officiously kind。 They wanted to please the Royal Cat；
but somehow none of them did； except； possibly； the big； fat cook that
Kitty discovered on wandering into the kitchen。 This unctuous person
smelt more like a slum than anything she had met for months； and the
Royal Analostan was proportionately attracted。 The cook； when she
learned that fears were entertained about the Cat staying； said： 〃Shure；
she'd 'tind to thot； wanst a Cat licks her futs； shure she's at home。〃 So she
deftly caught the unapproachable royalty in her apron； and committed the
horrible sacrilege of greasing the soles of her feet with pot…grease。 Of
course Kitty resented itshe resented everything in the place； but on being
set down she began to dress her paws and found evident satisfaction in
that grease。 She licked all four feet for an hour； and the cook triumphantly
announced that now 〃shure she'd be apt to shtay。〃 And stay she did； but
she showed a most surprising and disgusting preference for the kitchen；
the cook； and the garbage…pail。
The family； though distressed by these distinguished peculiarities；
were glad to see the Royal Analostan more contented and approachable。
They gave her more liberty after a week or two。 They guarded her from
every menace。 The Dogs were taught to respect her。 No man or boy about
the place would have dreamed of throwing a stone at the famous pedigreed
Cat。 She had all the food she wanted； but still she was not happy。 She was
hankering for many things； she scarcely knew what。 She had everything
yes； but she wanted something else。 Plenty to eat and drinkyes； but milk
does not taste the same when you can go and drink all you want from a
saucer； it has to be stolen out of a tin pail when you are belly…pinched with
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hunger and thirst； or it does not have the tangit isn't milk。
Yes； there was a junk…yard back of the house and beside it and around
it too； a big one； but it was everywhere poisoned and polluted with roses。
The very Horses and Dogs had the wrong smells； the whole country round
was a repellent desert of lifeless； disgusting gardens and hay…fields；
without a single tenement or smoke…stack in sight。 How she did hate it all！
There was only one sweet…smelling shrub in the whole horrible place； and
that was in a neglected corner。 She did enjoy nipping that and rolling in
the leaves； it was a bright spot in the grounds； but the only one； for she
had not found a rotten fish…head nor seen a genuine garbage…can since she
came； and altogether it was the most unlovely； unattractive； unsmellable
spot she had ever known。 She would surely have gone that first night had
she had the liberty。 The liberty was weeks in coming； and； meanwhile； her
affinity with the cook had developed as a bond to keep her； but one day
after a summer of discontent a succession of things happened to stir anew
the slum instinct of the royal prisoner。
A great bundle of stuff from the docks had reached the country
mansion。 What it contained was of little moment； but it was rich with a
score of the most piquant and winsome of dock and slum smells。 The
chords of memory surely dwell in the nose； and Pussy's past was conjured
up with dangerous force。 Next day the cook 'left' through some trouble
over this very bundle。 It was the cutting of cables； and that evening the
youngest boy of the house； a horrid little American with no proper
appreciation of royalty； was tying a tin to the blue…blooded one's tail；
doubtless in furtherance of some altruistic project； when Pussy resented
the liberty with a paw that wore five big fish…hooks for the occasion。 The
howl of downtrodden America roused America's mother。 The deft and
womanly blow that she aimed with her book was miraculously avoided；
and Pussy took flight； up…stairs； of course。 A hunted Rat runs down…stairs；
a hunted Dog goes on the level； a hunted Cat runs up。 She hid in the garret；
baffled discovery； and waited till night came。 Then； gliding down…stairs；
she tried each screen…door in turn； till she found one unlatched； and
escaped into the black August night。 Pitch…black to man's eyes； it was
simply gray to her； and she glided through the disgusting shrubbery and
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flower…beds； took a final nip at that one little bush that had been an
attractive spot in the garden； and boldly took her back track of the spring。
How could she take a back track that she never saw？ There is in all
animals some sense of direction。 It is very low in man and very high in
Horses； but Cats have a large gift； and this mysterious guide took her
westward； not clearly and definitely； but with a general impulse that was
made definite simply because the road was easy to travel。 In an hour she
had covered two miles and reached the Hudson River。 Her nose had told
her many times that the course was true。 Smell after smell came back； just
as a man after walking a mile in a strange street may not recall a single
feature； but will remember； on seeing it again； 〃Why； yes； I saw that
before。〃 So Kitty's main guide was the sense of direction； but it was her
nose that kept reassuring her； 〃Yes； now you are rightwe 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
