The jinrikisha man, who stood a smiling spectator, saw Dick Merrit's
hand move toward his pocket, and was instantly alert and eager to
settle the matter.

"Him ve'y bad girl," he said; "him make dead for catty. You give me
ten sen, I take girl homely. You have much of catty."

But Dick declined all interference, and putting the cat inside his
coat he stooped down and took one of Yuki Chan's unresisting hands.
Her sleeve fell back, and he saw the long red scratch.

"Hello! The cat had an inning too, didn't she? I'd like to chuck her
for hurting you, but I can't let you give her a bath in that dirty
hole. Never mind, I'll take her home, and some day I'll bring you
something. I bet you don't understand a word I'm saying, but I'll be
hanged if I know how to make you."

Feeling rather helpless, Dick talked on, patting first Yuki Chan and
then the cat.

The child stood speechless and looked deep into his eyes, not having
entirely recovered from the shock of the first blow she had ever
received.

"You'll be good, won't you?" he went on coaxingly, "not drown any more
cats and things?"

Yuki Chan, with the intuition that only a child can have, suddenly
bridged the gulf of strange language and understood. With the quick
movement of a nestling bird, she bent forward and laid her cheek