The Mustering Cat

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27860, 7 January 1956, Page 11

The Mustering Cat

(Specially written for “The Press’* by BRUCE STRONACH) About a fortnight ago, I Went out to do some mustering. The idea was to leave home about four o'clock in the morning, but I awoke at three o’clock to find the moon shining strongly and the place as light as day. Dressing at once, I had a drink of water and some cold meat and set off. As I walked across the riverbed, our black cat came along. He knows all the dogs, and they know him, so he was in no danger and I thought he would not come far. However, he did. Dog creek, further up, is quite wide—not as wide as the Christchurch creek, but quite impossible to leap over, except where one finds suitable stepping stones. At the first crossing, I heard a faint meow from the cat and thought I would see him no more. But after three crossings, he was still at my heels, and through the bush and rocks he climbed 2000 feet that morning. Gentle reader, you don’t have to believe this, but it is true. Well, I sat down and the dogs and the cat did the same. Suddenly I saw a small black pig watching me from about six yards away. His mother was grunting in the bush below; and the piglet just didn’t know what to make of us. The dogs sat silent. They could hear the old sow, but as far as I am concerned, mustering and pighunting don't mix. But the small pig, bewildered. suddenly rushed through our group and this was too much for the dogs. They grabbed that pig and after a few squeals all was over.

And when it was all over, the cat had gone. I was disappointed. I wanted to see how he would react when he saw some sheep. And what strange whim inade him cross the creek three times and walk with us some five miles? And he had no decent equipment. Nine lives and a fur coat—that’s all he had. He arrived home two days later.