The Tale of Old Dog Spot

fight like a vixen. The first time he cornered her she put some scratches on his nose that he neverforgot. And after that he always took great pains to keep out of reach of Miss Kitty's claws. So long as Miss Kitty Cat ran away from him Spot would follow her, yelping madly. But when shestopped, he stopped too, digging his own claws into the dirt in order to leave a safe distancebetween Miss Kitty and his nose. He quickly discovered that there were ways in which he could tease Miss Kitty Cat that annoyed hergreatly, while keeping his nose out of harm's way. Growling always made her tail grow big. Barkingmade her spit at him. But there was something else that angered her still more. When Spot stoodstock still one day, with his tail stuck straight out behind him, and pointed at her with his nose, hemade her almost frantic."What are you pointing at with that long nose of yours?" Miss Kitty Cat snarled. Spot didn't say a word. For the moment he didn't move any more than the iron dog did, that stoodin a yard on the outskirts of the village and never so much as wagged his tail from one year's end toanother. Somehow Spot's queer behavior gave Miss Kitty Cat an odd, creepy feeling along her back. Her furrose on end. She glared at Spot and spat at him in a most unladylike fashion. Spot found it very hard to stand still and never let out a single yelp. Once he almost whined. But hemanaged to stifle the sound."If she swells up much more she's likely to burst," he thought."Go away!" Miss Kitty scolded. "Don't you know better than to stare at a lady?"Never an answer did old Spot make.