THE LABURNUM'S CAT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19780, 29 October 1927, Page 12

THE LABURNUM'S CAT.

FELIX ERRS AGAIN. DESERTION FROM VERONICA. LURE OF SUVA TOO GREAT. " 'Nenni,' \said the cat. 'I am the cat who walks by himself and all places are alike to me. I will not come." . . And he went back through the wet, wild woods, waving his wild tail, and walking by his wild lone." This famous cat of the "Just So Stories" was an ancestor of Felix, a former member of the ship's company of H.M.S. Laburnum who, at the moment, is roystering around Suva, not this time a seafaring cat, who has missed his passage, but a deliberate deserter, and such a disgrace to the Navy that it is hardly likely it will go to the trouble of issuing a warrant for his arrest. He is unoffi cially classed as a confirmed "bad hat." This is his story: The only New Zealand rating on the Laburnum, he sailed on her for the Islands cruise—classed as official pet, first-class. He is a big and lusty fellow and carried with some distinction a leather collar with his name and ship engraved upon a metal plate. At Snva he started to behave in the manner of the "young British soldier who goes out to the East." He had a contempt for discipline and was away a good deal without leave. The upshot was that he missed his passage. Later H.M.S. Veronica came in" and Felix reported. The Laburnum was apprised by wireless and she asked that he be brought back to Auckland. Felix, under open arrest, went cruising in the Veronica and made himself so much at home that he claimed a good half of the hammock used by Nugget, a smaller black cat which is the official pet of that ship. They slept "head and tails" style and did not disagree.

When the Veronica returned to Suva recently, Felix fell into his old habits. He regarded himself a liberty man any time he chose, but was on board the morning of the day the sloop was to sail for Auckland. To make sure of both cats they were shut in the dispensary, but Felix commenced to make "rough house" and attempted to climb through a porthole. He was therefore allowed out and watched. When the ship cast off he was on board, but when she was a couple of yards from the jetty he bounded ashore, a brazen deserter.

The sailors say that as soon as he was free he put his tail vertical and slowly but arrogantly stalked up the wharf His face wore the smirk of an unrepentant sinner and he carried his whiskers at a very rakish angle. A yeoman of signals who is trained to be sharp-eyed declares that before passing round the corner of a shed FelLx paused, looked back at the moving ship, and made a rankly insubordinate wink with one eye.

So Nugget has had the hammock all to himself on the voyage, and is pleased to be back at Calliope. He has no desire to "paint the Islands vermilion."