"It's a cat!" he exclaimed.

"A cat!" echoed Stubbs.

"Yes, cats are plentiful in the war zone. Necessity has taken the edge
off their skin-deep docility, and many of them resemble hyenas more than
the domestic pets they used to be."

"Then there is nothing to fear," said Stubbs, drawing a breath of relief.

"No," replied Chester, "there is nothing to fear so long as we are many,
but two or three of them would not hesitate to attack a single man. In
fact, they have done so before now."

"What! pet cats attack a man?" exclaimed Stubbs.

"Yes, and from what I have heard, they are pretty tough customers. I
heard that one man, in an encounter with four of the animals, had one of
his eyes scratched out and was otherwise badly clawed before he could
shoot them. Half starved, they are perfectly wild."

Stubbs shuddered.

"Let's get away from here, then," he exclaimed.

At a command from Hal, the troop moved off again and Stubbs stuck closely
between the two lads.

They had progressed perhaps half a mile further when Stubbs felt his hat