Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Brazilian Cat
Itwassimplyaveryenormousandverywell-keptblackcat,anditcuddledupandbaskedinthatyellowpooloflightexactlyasacatwoulddo.Itwassograceful,sosinewy,andsogentlyandsmoothlydiabolical,thatIcouldnottakemyeyesfromtheopening.
"Isn’thesplendid?"saidmyhost,enthusiastically.
"Glorious!Ineversawsuchanoblecreature."
"Somepeoplecallitablackpuma,butreallyitisnotapumaatall.Thatfellowisnearlyelevenfeetfromtailtotip.Fouryearsagohewasalittleballofblackfluff,withtwoyelloweyesstaringoutofit.Hewassoldmeasanew-borncubupinthewildcountryatthehead-watersoftheRioNegro.Theyspearedhismothertodeathaftershehadkilledadozenofthem."
"Theyareferocious,then?"
"Themostabsolutelytreacherousandbloodthirstycreaturesuponearth.YoutalkaboutaBraziliancattoanup-countryIndian,andseehimgetthejumps.Theypreferhumanstogame.Thisfellowhasnevertastedlivingbloodyet,butwhenhedoeshewillbeaterror.Atpresenthewon’tstandanyonebutmeinhisden.EvenBaldwin,thegroom,darenotgonearhim.Astome,Iamhismotherandfatherinone."
Ashespokehesuddenly,tomyastonishment,openedthedoorandslippedin,closingitinstantlybehindhim.Atthesoundofhisvoicethehuge,lithecreaturerose,yawnedandrubbeditsround,blackheadaffectionatelyagainsthisside,whilehepattedandfondledit.
"Now,Tommy,intoyourcage!"saidhe.
Themonstrouscatwalkedovertoonesideoftheroomandcoileditselfupunderagrating.
