It was that human, I give you my word, sir, I forgot for the moment as the poor animal couldn't speak.

I could see the words that were on its lips: "Why don't you tell us you swallowed the anchor ?" and I sat on tenter-hooks, fearing each instant that she would say them aloud.

It was a relief to me when she turned her back on Bill.
"'For a few minutes she sat very still, and seemed to be wrestling with herself like.

I never saw a cat more set on controlling its feelings, or that seemed to suffer more in silence.

It made my heart ache to watch it.
"'At last Bill came to the point where he and the captain between 'em hold the shark's mouth open while the cabin-boy dives in head foremost, and fetches up, undigested, the gold watch and chain as the bo'sun was a- wearing when he fell overboard; and at that the old cat giv'd a screech, and rolled over on her side with her legs in the air.
"'I thought at first the poor thing was dead, but she rallied after a bit, and it seemed as though she had braced herself up to hear the thing out.
"'But a little further on, Bill got too much for her again, and this time she owned herself beat.