Threats of vengeance against her had often been uttered, and when
the cat was found dead it was the general opinion in the school
that one or other of their comrades had carried out his threats,
but no suspicion fell upon any one in particular. The boys who
were most likely to have done such a thing declared their innocence
stoutly.

Mr. Hathorn had no doubt on the subject. The cane had been going
all the morning, and he had told them that extra tasks would be
given which would occupy all their playtime until the offender was
given up to judgment.

In point of fact the boys were altogether innocent of the deed.
Pussy was a noted marauder, and having been caught the evening before
in a larder, from which she had more than once stolen titbits, she
had been attacked by an enraged cook with a broomstick, and blows
had been showered upon her until the woman, believing that life
was extinct, had thrown her outside into the road; but the cat was
not quite dead, and had, after a time, revived sufficiently to drag
her way home, only, however, to die.

"I call it a shame!" Ned repeated. "Mind, I say it's a brutal thing
to ill treat a cat like that. If she did knock down inkstands and
get fellows into rows it was not her fault. It's natural cats should
run after mice, and the wainscoting of the schoolroom swarmed with
them. One can hear them chasing each other about and squeaking all
day. If I knew any of the fellows had killed the cat I should go
straight to Hathorn and tell him.