ANOTHER KIND OF CAT (revised)

                    ANOTHER KIND OF CAT

                      PETER ALDEN YULE

                        Chapter One

         Mr. Fred Grimm was a quiet man in Oxnard Bow, who had lived in our town for all of  his life. Fred had been away from town only once, as a young man during the First World War He lived now on a hillside farm cleared of the native rocks by his great-grandparents many years ago. Fred farmed the land with his two boys, but they had grown into manhood and decided that life in Oxnard Bow was just not for them.  Fred decided after the boys had moved, that hiring help and still doing most  of the work himself, was getting to be just a little too  much for him. He was a very able man more than sixty years of age.

                Fred had a natural way with animals, and had for years taken to raising and training, several breeds of dogs. He had trained hunting dogs, of various lineages, large shepherds as farm dogs used to chase away predators and an occasional unwanted guest or two, and had even tried to train small unruly house pets in the fine points of animal behavior. The most favored of all of the dogs, that Fred enjoyed thoroughly were his prized and very loveable Bloodhounds.

         It was the time in his life when Fred decided to take things at a more gentlemanly pace. He would spend his years as a breeder of fine Bloodhounds, and that is where this story begins. Fred had worked with these remarkable beasts during the war in Europe, and knew their value in search and rescue work, and in all manner of police work, and he knew that he could teach dogs far better than anyone else. He was a patient man, and very much a man to be trusted. Fred had a plan. There were folks who doubted his choice, knowing that these big good-natured dogs were certainly not good in the woods. They would be too noisy, and not much on the retrieve of the hunt. No one ever remembered seeing these slobbering beasts standing at point, but Fred was determined. He would never give in to negative comments and he would breed and train Bloodhounds, and that was that.

         Now it may seem odd to tell you that this man, this dog loving dog breeding, one-man champion of Bloodhounds was about to earn fame, far beyond expectations, not for his dogs, but for his CAT! Yes Fred was about to become the undisputed master of one of natures strangest and rarest and most beloved CATS, truly another kind of cat.

         Several years ago, in the late spring, Fred walked out to the forest at Hawks’s Ridge. He had two of his dogs with him and was planning to spend the day teaching the dogs to find an old bag of clothing that he had hidden there a few days before. Fred had carried the old clothes deep into the woods and dragged an old shirt along behind him tied to a rope. He reached the place where an old tree had fallen. He placed the bag in a space beneath the tree trunk where he hoped his dogs would locate it.
         
         When Fred arrived with his dogs, he unleashed them and let them sniff at the old shirt. Having done that he instructed the dogs to find the scent. Well within a few minutes of circling and barking, and looking excited to be out for the day, without being leashed, the dogs picked up the scent. The dogs were off and running leaving Fred behind. He lost sight of the dogs, but he could hear them barking at a distance. He knew from the sound that they had reached their destination. At first there was the steady barking in short, excited bursts. Soon the barking changed. The dogs went silent. No yelping, no barking, just the sound of the woods. He hastened his pace to catch up with the dogs to see what had caused their unusual behavior, their silence.

         As he approached the fallen tree he could not believe his eyes. Both dogs were lying down on the ground, with their noses pointing at the hollow beneath the tree. The animals looked inquisitively at Fred, and then continued their starring into the dark void. He rushed on through the underbrush and came near to the dogs. They both stood and circled behind him, panting and drooling as Blood Hounds do. That is when Fred saw it! Beneath the fallen tree, half wrapped or possibly entangled in his old clothing was a tan and black short-haired ball of fur with large paws tucked beneath its chin and a playful innocent look on its face. “Dang it all,” he thought, that’s a cat. Not just a cat but a cuddly six or eight week-old mountain lion cub. He had never seen a cub that close in toward civilization before. “It must have wandered out of its natural range,” he thought. He felt that a cub of that size would never have been left alone by its mother.

         Very carefully he reached in toward the cat. The dogs sat silently watching and waiting for their reward for having found the old clothing, and totally confused by the presence of the cat. Fred expected the cub to fight him having been so humiliatingly discovered by two saggy faced dogs. To his surprise, the cat moved out of its retreat slowly at first, and there in a spot just two feet from the comfortable hiding place, it laid down. At that moment one of the dogs approached the small odd kitten, stretching its large wet nose toward the animal. Fred cautioned the dog to not get too close or it may get scratched. The dog continued and the cat, rolled on its back as the wet nose explored its face and ears, moving down the soft white belly and back. The cat smelled like the clothing that it had been so wrapped up in, and the dog was truly confused.

         Fred stood back and watched in total amazement as the second dog repeated the examination of this strange discovery. The cat, this small uneducated mountain lion had no fear of the dogs. When the dogs had finished their examination, they sat quietly looking up at Fred. Fred patted the dogs, and gave them a treat for having done their work so well. He then sat on the fallen tree to consider the situation. “Where was the cat’s mother?” he thought.

         As he sat there on the tree, the small cub became braver. It had not been bitten or harassed by the man or the dogs, and surly they all had a familiar scent to them. The cat sprung forward as cats do, jumping about three feet from the tree. The dogs backed away just as surprised and confused as ever. The cat rolled again on its back turning up the wet leaves on the ground. It then stretched out to its full size. It might have been just about the size of a full grown house cat, but it did not have the strength to match its size. The cub now approached the closest dog. It sniffed at the large front paw, looked up into the face of the beast and moved to the rear of the animal. The dog watched carefully, shifting his eyes from the cat to Fred and back again. Very carefully the cat now moved toward the large tail now twitching on the ground before it. It placed a timid paw firmly on the tail. The dog was stunned and had no idea of how to respond at such a forward gesture. The second dog, being more curious and not wanting to be left out moved closer. Again it stuck its wet nose forward. What happened next was truly incredible. On seeing that big nose nearing, the cat stood on its hind feet, and placed its front paws on the wet nose, and began to lick at it.

         Fred sat in silence watching animals of two different species each without fear of the other, form a bonding friendship. The ritual went on for more than an hour’s time. Just as the exploration and bonding started to become more aggressive, one of the dogs felt that enough of this frivolity had taken place. It walked up behind the cat, opened its large drooling mouth, and clamped it jaws shut on the nape of the cat’s neck. As it did so, the cat hung from the dogs mouth as limp as a wet rag, allowing itself to be carried. The dog walked closer to Fred and deposited the small animal squarely into his lap. The cat turned to look at the ground from this new height only to feel a large paw holding it in place.

         Fred reached his own hand down now and stroked the soft fur of the cub. As he did so he realized that this beautiful little creature was just a small and very thin and probably very hungry beast. “That’s it; this is probably the runt of the litter.” He was sure now that the cat had probably been abandoned by its mother and now divine providence had placed the cat firmly into his care. He reached into his pocket and took from it another treat that he had brought for his dogs. The cat perked up, sensed its value and began to chew and lick the solid food. The dogs howled and snorted and tossed their heads in the air as Fred played with the small cub, this tiny creature now in his care. “Okay boys, it looks as if we have a new addition to the family, and you guys better get used to it real quick.”

         Fred tucked the small cat into his jacket and with his dogs in tow, left the woods for home.



                        ANOTHER KIND OF CAT

                                Chapter Two

         When Fred returned home he led the dogs off to the kennel at the rear of his house. After feeding them and closing the long pen in which he kept them, he walked to his house to focus on the new cat. When he entered the house he opened his coat, into which the small soft-furred animal had taken comfort, and placed the animal on the floor at the center of the room. He then settled back in his old stuffed easy chair to watch and learn the cat’s reactions to a new surrounding. Today was to start a new and completely different experience for Fred and for his newfound pet.

         Slowly the timid cat moved about the room exploring with animal curiosity its new territory. It ventured in and out between the legs of chairs and tables and at one point it came to an almost complete standstill as it bumped against an old tin can that had been carelessly dropped on the floor. It quickly recoiled and arched its back and gave out an almost inaudible hissing sound as it stared into the empty offensive can. The can did not move and the cat assumed it was safe, until he touched it with a gentle paw. The can rolled noisily across the floor, drawing more hissing from the surprised kitten. When the can stopped rolling the cat resumed it’s exploration of the room.

         After the initial tour of the floor, the cat expanded its horizon. He sat in the front of the worn-out stuffed couch towering above him, and was determined to get the view from the top. He made one valiant leap in an effort to reach the seat, and he almost made it. A second leap was just as fruitless, but undaunted he tried again. Still no success. The cat turned away from the couch, and considered his situation. He moved now, directly toward Fred’s feet as he was seated in his large old chair. Without hesitation, the cat stretched out his claws, and proceeded to climb the leg of Fred’s pants. He arrived at Fred’s lap, looked around and proceeded to the back of the chair. From here it was an easy jump to the back of the couch. Success at last. The tiny cat had reached the couch. Not satisfied with the view, on he went. Next stop, over to the table, again with a single leap. Every time the cat jumped it did so with an almost spring wound action. That was it thought Fred, this little guy is going to be called Spring.

         Well after a few more exploratory trips around the chair the table the couch and several trips up Fred’s leg the cat had a new mission in mind. It returned to the tin can, and holding it firmly with one paw, it began to lick at the remaining content of the can. Fred got the message real quick. This little guy was hungry. Now Fred had no idea as to the dietary needs of wild mountain lion cubs, but the idea of trapping wild rabbits or small mice or even catching an occasional bird was definitely not in Fred’s plan.

          No, Fred was old and soft hearted, but not daft. He decided that if the cat was hungry it would eat what he ate. On the menu for that day was a large plate of beans with some bacon. Fred proceeded to fill and cook a large iron pot of beans with molasses and pan fried some bacon. He sat down at the table to eat his meal and the cat, not wanting to be left out was soon sitting beside him waiting. Fred got up and placed a large helping of beans and a few slices of bacon on a plate for Spring and placed it on the floor for him. The cat sniffed at the offering, looked at Fred and then cleaned his plate in less than a minute. He licked the plate until it shined like new and again looking at Fred gave up his is there anymore please look. Again Fred filled the plate and the cat was now almost satisfied. Yankee cooking, molasses filled beans and a side of bacon were added to the young kitten’s diet. After a few more minutes, and before Fred had finished his own meal, the cat climbed his leg again, pushing his way onto the table. He saw that Fred had not finished his meal, and made every attempt to dig into Fred’s plate, just to help him out. It was not going to happen. Fred would care for the cat, but he drew the line at sharing his plate with an animal, especially a cat. Spring appeared to understand and took no offense at being put down from the table at that point.

         Shortly after the meal was done, Spring began to scratch at an old worn spot in the aged linoleum flooring near the door. Fred got the message. This cat needed to go out quickly. Fred grabbed him up by the scruff of the neck and pushed the door open. Perhaps if he had been a little more gentle with the animal, he might have made it outside. With his amusement and now his clothing somewhat dampened Fred decided that Spring would have to live outside.

         There was an empty run in the kennel and Spring was deposited inside. A wire fence between the runs kept Spring from visiting with his adopted dogs, and he felt that he would just have to get nearer to them. Before Fred returned to the kennel, after changing his wet clothing, he found Spring quietly and peacefully sleeping with his back pressed against the fence, butting up against the back of the smaller of the two Bloodhounds. Leaving well enough alone, Fred retired for the day.

         When morning came, Fred went to his kennel to see how the animals were doing. He saw that Springs kennel run was empty. He turned again and rubbed his eyes in disbelief. During the night, the dogs from their side, and Spring from his side had dug a hole beneath the fence and Spring had joined the dogs in their run. He was curled up and sleeping between the paws of both dogs, who now took turns at licking the small kitten with their large wet tongues. Neither dog got up to approach Fred, not wanting to disturb their new charge. They were Spring’s protectors and they knew it. Fred banged at the gate and entered it carrying two large pans of moist dog food inside for his boys. Now all three animals came forward and the big dogs began to eat their breakfast. Spring sat to one side watching until both pans were half emptied. Okay he thought, now it must be my turn. Pulling himself up to his full height he moved in again between both of the larger animals, and systematically he began to eat from both pans. Soon he had filled his small belly, and he withdrew to wash himself in a more proper manner. Licking his paws and wiping his face. Beans, bacon, dog meal, it would not matter. All were acceptable to Spring and his diet would never be a problem again.

         Later in the day Fred returned to the kennel to exercise his dogs, and to look in on Spring. He took with him two long training leashes and proceeded to firmly snap one to each of the dogs. He opened the pen and brought the animals out, closing the gate behind him. Spring had retreated into one of the dog houses at the far end of the pen. Fred could see the cat sleeping comfortably in his new home. He decided not to disturb the animal. As he led the dogs away from the kennel, he was stopped in his tracks by the almost humorous cry of the again abandoned Spring who now realized that he was alone.

         The cat paced back and forth in the pen, stopping at each end to offer again his deepest attempt at a ferocious growl. His efforts at effecting the true sounds of one of his own species told Fred that the cat did not want to be alone. Fred tied the dogs to a tree and went back into the house. Now all three animals exchanged vocal outcries. When Fred reappeared the sound stopped. He now carried with him a third leash and a small collar that he securely tied on the young cat. He opened the gate and half dragged and half tugged on the leash, bringing the small cat out with him. Fred collected the two dogs, and with a leash in one hand for the dogs and one for Spring in his other hand, moved on to a nearby open field. When the man and his trio of friends arrived at the field he dug deeply into his pocket and brought out a small soft rubber ball. The dogs grew excited at seeing it, while Spring tried to roll his way free from the leash. Fred released the dogs from their tether and threw the ball as far as he could into the open field. Both dogs, tripping over their own feet beat a path to the place where the ball had landed. Spring watched intently at the action. He stood on his back legs straining at the leash in an effort to get a better look at the goings on around him.  The dogs disappeared into the long grass, and Spring let out a soft plaintiff mewing cry. In moments the dogs were back pouncing about at Fred’s feet and sniffing at Spring. The ball was gently dropped at the man’s feet. Again and again the ball was tossed as the game of fetch continued. Each time the ball was hurled, Spring felt that he was missing out on something, and he continued to strain at his collar and leash, still held by Fred.

         An hour passed and once again the dogs were reconnected to their leashes. As this was done, the ball lay idle on the ground. Seizing at his chance, Spring pounced on the ball with one single leap. He opened his jaws as wide as he could and firmly bit down on the soft rubber object. He held his head high with the ball protruding above him. He shook it and made self-satisfied low growls as he bounced about at the end of his leash. The dogs, looking quite bewildered lay down flat on the ground to watch the strange cat’s antics. “Okay, okay,” said Fred to Spring, “now let’s see just how smart you really are. Give me the ball.” Spring listened to the command and with considered determination, dropped the ball at Fred’s feet. Fred shook his head in disbelief; the dogs lofted their heads in apparent approval. Spring waited! One of the Bloodhounds, the female, inched her way over and began to lick the cat’s fur in a show of approval. Spring yielded to the large beast, rolled on his back and clasped the dog’s large head in all four paws. Fred stood watching with amazement at all that he had seen of this little animal’s obvious intelligence and the bonding that had taken place between it and his dogs. He grasped the leashes and led them home. Before closing the gate on the pen, he again withdrew the ball from his pocket and tossed it in to the far end of the run. Spring was first to reach the ball, and with a newly acquired skill promptly clung to the ball returning it to his master’s feet. Fred smiled and closed the gate.
         

         
                          ANOTHER KIND OF CAT

                                  Chapter Three

         For each of the next several days the dog training was repeated and always with Spring in tow on his leash. By the fourth day Fred, the dogs and Spring were establishing a successful routine. Fred had given much thought to the new situation and decided on an experiment. On this day when they reached the open field, he released the dogs from their leash and Spring from his. He took the ball and tossed it a short distance in front of him. He then ordered the dogs to sit, and Spring knew it was his turn to shine. He was smart and had seen it all before. He leaped bounced and skidded to the ball. He grabbed it firmly in his teeth and returned with it to Fred’s feet. Now it took some effort to get him to give up his prize, his ball, but with the right commands he did release it and waited. Again Fred tossed the ball, this time toward the tall grass a little further away. He let the dogs and Spring all charge out after it. The dogs led the way and had the ball secured in moments, while Spring just followed behind. The dogs bounded back to Fred and yielded the ball without any hesitation. Again Spring just watched, or perhaps it would be best to say he studied the routine closely.

         Fred could sense that the cat was in a learning process and again he ordered the dogs to sit as he tossed the ball a little further, again into the tall grass. Spring with a bouncing start was on top of the ball in seconds. He grabbed it up and raced back to Fred but as before, he was not releasing the ball on command. This time it was the dogs who interceded. Both dogs moved toward their little friend, one on each side and started to bark orders at the cat. Spring got the message and promptly deposited the ball at the man’s feet. The dogs took turns rewarding Spring with large wet tongues washing his face and ears. Spring was a new kitten, rolling and purring on the ground.

         By the end of the first month, Spring had added ten pounds to his weight and had increased in size. He was no longer in the kitten stage, but was taking on his own new identity. The training sessions continued and Fred added a new dimension to the work. Early one morning he resumed hiding a ball of old clothing in the tall pine woods at the far edge of the open field. In early afternoon he opened the pens and released his animals. They no longer needed their leashes. They simply followed Fred’s commands and always as they walked or ran, Spring would remain between the two larger animals, taking his cue from them. When they ran he ran, when they sat he sat. With little intervention from Fred this animal was adapting to a whole new lifestyle, not at all what he might have received in the wild, as a mountain lion.

          As they reached the field on that day, Fred took from his jacket pocket an old torn shirt. He put it on the ground where each of the dogs sniffed at it. Spring did not understand this part of the game at all. Fred ordered the dogs to find and they were off and running. Their heads were low to the ground as they started making wide circles in the field. No great race forward to fetch, no charging into the grass, just widening circles. He followed the dogs closely and each time that one or the other would stop and sniff, Spring would sit. When they resumed their course he would join them. He was confused. After a few minutes things changed. The dogs found the scent that they had been searching for, the trail of the old clothing dragged cross the ground earlier in the day. No more circles. They were off and running, noses to the ground and Spring so close that he could actually bump into them as he bounced along keeping stride with the big dogs. At the edge of the pine woods the dogs began again to circle and sniff the ground.

         Spring was still not in tune with this game, but as he had nothing else to distract him, he played along. Once again the dogs had the scent and were rushing into the woods. Spring bounced behind keeping up with his pals. The dogs again stopped at the site of a stack of old cord wood and broken branches. This time it was Spring who ran ahead and quickly leaped to the top of the pile. As he sat there the dogs scratched at the base of the pile and suddenly started to bark loudly. They pushed their heads into the brush and became more excited. Spring jumped back down and moved between the dogs, to see what had caused this new behavior. He spotted the clothing and digging like a cat, he was first to grab at the torn collar of an old sweater, dragging it out from beneath the pile. The larger dog picked up the bundle and started back toward Fred, with a single pant leg dragging on the ground. Spring saw an opportunity to get back in the game and caught up to the leg taking it in his mouth. What a sight this must have been as they returned to Fred, two Bloodhounds and a small fuzzy mountain lion carrying the old clothes with pride toward him. He sat on the ground as they approached him, and when they were at hand the clothing was deposited at his feet. He reached into his shirt and produced a fresh “doggie” milk bone for each of his animals. This was agreeable to Spring, who now chewed like his larger pals.

         Well as the weeks went on, more training and more testing and the dogs, already proficient in the task of search by scent, had taught the skill to the cat. Spring now knew what was expected of him and was ready for any challenge that would result in fresh dog biscuits for lunch. Life was good for this abandoned runt of the litter, and he was enjoying it.

         Another month passed and training continued. Clothing, old shoes, pieces of torn up bedding, all were being used as hidden materials. Fred would go out now one or even two days prior to the exercise and hide objects. As with all skills, practice was making the animals good at their chore. Spring had increased in size to approximately one half of his expected adult stature. He was about forty or fifty pounds now in weight and almost two thirds as large as the dogs. One dog, the female was pregnant and the expected arrival of a litter of pups was close at hand. By mid-August, she had delivered a litter of four small but beautiful sad-looking long-eared purebred Bloodhound puppies.

          It came as a surprise to Fred who had lost track of the time for the female. He found out about his pups when in the early afternoon on a typical August day, he went to the kennels to exercise the animals. As he neared the cages he saw the male dog standing at the gate, and Spring pacing back and forth across the pen just behind the dog. As he drew nearer to the pen he saw a new behavior from Spring. As he opened the gate to enter, Spring assumed the stance of an animal about to pounce, and bared his teeth and growled with a deep sound that was most disturbing to hear. Fred retreated from the pen and closed the gate. He stood outside the cage area talking to his animals. Eventually the female mom walked to the gate. Fred could see that she had delivered the pups and hidden them inside the dog house at the far end of the run. Again he opened the gate and stepped in taking hold of the female’s collar, and patting her head. He turned his attention toward Spring who was now rubbing up against the back of his legs. He stroked the cat’s fur and smoothed the ruffled hackles on the back of his neck. It was apparent to Fred that Spring had appointed himself protector and defender of the new family. If mom says it’s ok to let you in then Spring would let you in. If anyone tried to enter without the required process, they would certainly be challenged or worse by the menacing, growling, ferocious cat, now an adopted member of a larger family.

         When the puppies were six weeks old, Fred called for the veterinarian from town to come by and see to their needed shots and overall well-being. He was unsure of how Spring would take to allowing the man to enter the area and so he decided to lock Spring up in the house out of sight until the work was done. On the day that the vet. would arrive, Fred let Spring out of the pen and led him to the house. He admitted the cat into the kitchen and at once spring remembered the place completely. No longer an effort to reach the comfort of the old couch that had stymied the young kitten on his first visit. The couch was an easy step up and Spring settled himself on the couch without even an invitation to do so. Fred anticipated no problem with the arrangement as he closed he door and returned to the kennels to clean them and await for the Doctors visit.

         The man arrived and gave a clean bill of health to the pups and then spent some time visiting with Fred. After he had departed Fred went to the house to return Spring to his kennel. What a sight greeted Fred as he entered his kitchen. The large black iron cooking pot that had been left sitting on the back burner from the night before was laying, licked clean as a whistle, in the middle of the floor. The burned on remains of over cooked beans were gone without a trace. Spring lay beside the pot, looked up at Fred and with traces of brown sticky molasses, still clinging to his fur and whiskers was a shining picture of a contented, albeit a somewhat smug looking individual. Contentment reigned at Fred’s place that day.




                          ANOTHER KIND OF CAT

                                  Chapter four


         In town two weeks later, an event took place that would identify Fred Grimm’s cat forever. A young and very pretty girl had left her home in the early morning hours to make her way to school. When class was called into session it was apparent that little Sarah was missing. It was customary in those days in our town that if a child was not going to be able to attend class, the parents would notify the teacher. Miss Dalton our teacher had not received notice, and accordingly she sent one of the older boys to the girl’s home to see why she was absent. When the dutiful boy reached Sarah’s home and made the inquiry, fear and panic swept over her mother. Sarah had left home extra early that day and should certainly have been at school well before now. The boy and Sarah’s mother raced back to the school and having established the girl’s absence quickly asked each of the other children if they might know her whereabouts. The response was negative. Miss Dalton dismissed the class for the day instructing each child to return to their own homes directly. Within a matter of minutes concerned parents crowded around the school all, offering to help in locating the child. By ten-o-clock, one half of the town’s folk had turned out and a full search was underway.

         Eddie from over at the garage, jumped into his pickup truck, and sped off toward the home of Fred Grimm. Arriving there in minutes, he explained the situation to Fred hoping that his dogs might be able to help in the search. Well of course Fred would help, but one of his dogs had just delivered pups and had fallen out of the daily training and he felt that she may not be as sharp as he would like. Instead he offered to bring with him a new animal that he had great confidence in. Well Eddie offered to bring both Fred and his animals back into town, and he waited in his truck while Fred walked to the kennels with two leashes in hand. Moments later Eddie would be astonished at the sight of Fred now coming around the corner of his house with one large Bloodhound tethered to one hand and a nearly full-sized mountain lion on a leash on the other. “Fred,” he said, “you must be out of your mind to be seen with a wild mountain lion on a leash and thinking you’re going to help.” Fred’s response was clear. He knew what he was doing and people would just have to trust him. He led the animals to the rear of the truck and ordered them to jump in. For Spring, it was not a problem, but for the dog, why it took a little help from Fred to boost his large body up into the bed of the truck. On the way to town Fred sat in the rear of the truck with the animals, now perched with their paws against the side rail of the truck.  Their heads were held high enjoying the breeze as the truck rolled on.

         On their approach to town they passed several folks out walking and searching for young Sarah. People would turn their heads in disbelief at seeing Spring and a dog both riding high in the rear of the old rusting truck as it went past. What thoughts they must have had.

         The truck sped past town and straight out to the child’s home. Her father was in the driveway when the men and animals neared. Her mother had seen the truck approaching and took cautious refuge just inside the kitchen. Fred now explained the story of Spring, his new animal, and offered to take part in the search. Eddie would take charge of the dog, while Fred and the girl’s father would work with Spring. Well of course Spring was up to the task, and he somehow knew that this was to be a test. In any event, he must have known that a few dog treats would probably come his way if he were good.

          He jumped down from the truck with Fred and slowly approached the girl’s dad. He began by sniffing everything about him and carefully licking at the man’s hand. Fred asked that they be allowed into the house and asked for several items of clothing worn recently by the girl. Her mother quickly responded and still afraid of the animal, she tossed them to Fred. Fred put the items on the kitchen floor and let Spring sniff at every piece. Fred passed the items to Eddie, still outside with the dog. Now the game would begin. The two men exited the kitchen, and Spring stopped for a moment to sniff at the stove, hopeful of finding leftovers.

          They exited the house and could hear the Bloodhound now leading Eddie down the driveway toward the road. Fred had never taught Spring the art of hunting while on a leash. He released the cat from its leash, and ordered it to find. Spring circled about for a few moments, and then he was off. He elected to run toward the rear of the house, away from the roadway, and Fred and Sarah’s dad followed. Surely they thought the cat can not be right. Sarah would not have gone this way. Still they followed. Spring, now with his head held high in the air, unlike the ground sniffing dogs, was on his way. He pounced and leapt and stopped only for a second or two as he led the men onward. Spring stopped one more time, looked back at his master and was again off and running.

          There was a large old abandoned barn a short distance from the house and it was the target of Spring’s attention as he played out the game of find. The men raced to keep up with Spring, and just as the cat curled his body into the barn from a small side door, they could hear the screams of a small child. Spring entered the barn before the men could catch up and as they entered they were amazed at the vision before them. The small girl, Sarah was almost hidden behind several old hay bales, and Spring was standing over her, licking at her face and hands as she cried out with fear. Fred called to Spring as the girls father quickly grabbed her up in loving arms and calmed her down. Fred gave a dog biscuit to the girl and encouraged her to give it to the kitty, for having found her. The girl, no longer afraid was set down and with some hesitation, extended her hand to Spring. Spring, behaved like a young and very tame cat, taking the child’s offering in his teeth and making short time of crunching it up. Sarah’s dad could not believe that the cat had found the girl before the dog, and was quick to thank Fred and to pat the now very happy and contented Spring. Fred placed the leash back on Spring and the group left the barn just in time to hear Eddie and the dog drawing close from the side road.

          Sarah confessed that she had left home early to see if she could follow a young fox that she had seen near the barn a few days earlier. She had gone into the barn and hidden herself behind the hay bales, waiting to catch a glimpse of the animal. As she sat secreted behind the hay, she had fallen asleep. She was awakened only when she heard Spring charging across the floor of the barn and towering up over her. The others now saw that Spring had won the contest, the girl was safe and all was well.

         Back at Sarah’s house, her mother was thrilled and also amazed that any man could ever have trained an animal, a wild mountain lion as well as Spring had been trained. “Why Mr. Fred Grimm must be the best trainer in the whole world,” she declared. In a few more minutes she too was patting Spring and asking all about him. She asked Fred what he fed an animal like that and was very surprised that the animal ate just about anything, but had a particular favorite in beans with molasses and bacon. 

         Before the day ended, every person in town learned of the great skills of Fred Grimm, and of the magnificent mountain lion that he had trained to rescue people. It was said that Fred had unusual and rare talents, and indeed he became famous across the state with many people seeking his services at training their animals. Fred Grimm had been taught this new great skill by Spring. Spring was very definitely, by any standards an animal that would always be looked on as a true rarity, most certainly as another kind of cat. This type of cat would never be seen again, a one of a kind hero in Oxnard Bow.

          In the evening Sarah, her dad and her mom were at Fred’s place with a special offering for Spring. A large pan of beans, complete with molasses and bacon. Sarah, no longer afraid of the big kitty placed a large kiss right on his nose. Spring responded to the girl in the same way. Spring purred.


                                      "The Old Yankee Storyteller"
                                              Peter Yule