Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Brazilian Cat
YetIfoundmyselfevenatthatmomentadmiringthesinuousgraceofthedevilishthing,itslong,undulating,ripplingmovements,theglossofitsbeautifulflanks,thevivid,palpitatingscarletoftheglisteningtonguewhichhungfromthejet-blackmuzzle.Andallthetimethatdeep,threateninggrowlwasrisingandrisinginanunbrokencrescendo.Iknewthatthecrisiswasathand.
Itwasamiserablehourtomeetsuchadeath—socold,socomfortless,shiveringinmylightdressclothesuponthisgridironoftormentuponwhichIwasstretched.Itriedtobracemyselftoit,toraisemysoulaboveit,andatthesametime,withtheluciditywhichcomestoaperfectlydesperateman,Icastroundforsomepossiblemeansofescape.Onethingwascleartome.Ifthatfrontofthecagewasonlybackinitspositiononcemore,Icouldfindasurerefugebehindit.CouldIpossiblypullitback?Ihardlydaredtomoveforfearofbringingthecreatureuponme.Slowly,veryslowly,Iputmyhandforwarduntilitgraspedtheedgeofthefront,thefinalbarwhichprotrudedthroughthewall.Tomysurpriseitcamequiteeasilytomyjerk.OfcoursethedifficultyofdrawingitoutarosefromthefactthatIwasclingingtoit.Ipulledagain,andthreeinchesofitcamethrough.Itranapparentlyonwheels.Ipulledagain...andthenthecatsprang!
Itwassoquick,sosudden,thatIneversawithappen.Isimplyheardthesavagesnarl,andinaninstantafterwardstheblazingyelloweyes,theflattenedblackheadwithitsredtongueandflashingteeth,werewithinreachofme.
