BLACKIE OF THE BUSH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19892, 10 March 1928, Page 4 (Supplement)

BLACKIE OF THE BUSH.

■ ■ ' BY KUTHYN.

We were leaving our camp house at Tapu, and I can tell you it made us very sad to leave the little black cat that had attached herself to us for so long. But everyone said, " Don't be silly; hush cats never starve. They just go to someone else's house or to the Maoris." However, we gave a neighbour a few shillings, and she promised to give the cat some milk every day, and meat and fish now and again. So we felt better about it, but tried not to look at it, sitting on the path. It was just after the winter we returned to Tapu, and it was so lovely arranging the cottage and getting settled I forgot about little puss. The neighbour had gone. too. Ono afternoon we\ had a terrific thun-der-storm. It was a deluge, and after it was over and the noise ceased, we heard a mew at the back door. "Ruthyn," called my mother, " coma and see. Isn't this our little cat ?" . And it was, of course. The same slim, little velvety thing, but soaking wet and looking wean and ill. She was overjoyed to see us. We fed her well and she disappeared again, livery day she came, ate ravenously and disappeared over the fields and into the bush somewhere. After about a week she seemed restless, pUrred about my feet and cried a lot. She seemed as though she was wanting me to follow her. "Go with her," said my mother, " and see where ghe takes you." "So off we set, through barbedwire fences, and paddocks, over a little creek, and then up a gully. It was easy for her, for she could get over logs quickly, while I had to ford the creek. The final pinch was the worst, and I began to wonder why I was giving myself such hardship. Then Blackie disappeared under a huge log. I climbed over the log, and it was as well I did, for as I slid down the other side I saw her disappear into a little cave at the foot of a huge pohutukawa tree. I scrambled along on my chest and put my hand into the hole. Oh! Oh! What a scratching and spitting was going on. I drew out a bleeding hand, then thrust it in again, and drew out three of the loveliest kittens I had ever seen. Fat, furious little beauties, back as jet, with little white chokers and paws. They were just at the naughty stage and wanting to run away all the time. I put them back and returned for a basket. They were soon settled in a nice comfy box, and Blackie was easily the happiest cat in Tapu. The kittens were well fed and soon got tame, although they always had the ways of bush cats, were wonderful hunters, and would stay away for weeks often hunting.