A red-gold beam of light came from heaven, poured over the landscape
through a mighty window in the clouds, and tinged with mauve the heavy
well-lid’s brittle edges. It lit up Grey Puss’ colours and the kittens’
glossy coats: Black remained black and Grey remained grey; but Red
turned to deeper red and White changed to gold.
The evening breezes began to blow, setting the ryefield’s crowded
stalks a-whispering, and carrying in their wake the strong, delicious
odour of new bread. The aspen leaves blinked and waved, sending the
departing summer day a last farewell.
A large brown-gold “bird,” with four wings and a long, stiff tail, came
pitching with jerky, irregular flight towards the kittens. The lure of
the chase seized them all, and they crouched down among the stones and
waited....
The dragon-fly turned with a crackling sound; White and Tiny shrank
back; Grey drew his hind legs farther in under him; Black’s tail
thickened and his hair rose. Only Big-kitten’s fighting lust remained
unshaken; he gathered himself together for a spring, and the others
noticed that his eyes shone with a curious flickering gleam.
The next time the dragon-fly swooped, White, Red and Tiny bolted
hurriedly into cover. Grey felt shaky, but stood his ground bravely,
while Black hissed, and lunged with his paw.
The dragon-fly pitches farther ... and, rolling perilously over as it
turns, makes a wide circle through the gold, flaming light crowning the
sea of rye ... then comes crackling swiftly back again, fleeing already
from the approaching twilight. But this time the insolent, many-winged
“bird” does not escape! While Black snorts and strikes with his paw,
Big leaps aloft and hangs his claws together on the luckless creature
in its flight.
It was Big-cat’s first important catch. And it was devoured with
general satisfaction, especially its fat, large-eyed head.