drama once when Polly came out ahead. Puss was outstretched in abandonment one hot day near the stove, and Polly observing this, climbed down from her perch with a few sotto voce observations. Waddling over to the unsuspecting feline, she took a large beakful of tail and bit hard on it.
A horrified scream and a black streak to the door testified to the thoroughness of the chastisement and to the emotions of the unfortunate cat. As fast as her clumsy talons would go, Poll beat a retreat to the safety of her perch, where she gave vent to strange cacklings of unholy joy with more than a hint of demoniacal laughter.
Among other accomplishments, Polly had picked up the high-pitched note in which Kitty was summoned to refreshments, and was often caught abusing this capacity. More than once I have seen the discomfited cat after a joyful response, realize the situation and slink away, confused and abashed. After the tail episode there was a gleam in the yellow eye that boded no good for Polly, and the time came when their mutual distrust and antipathy developed into a free fight. Polly, on the insecure footing afforded by the back of
