The Hunter Cats of Connorloa

  II.

  After all their precautions, Jusy and Rea were out when Jim arrived.They had been to take a walk with Caterina; and when they came back, asthey passed the big sentinel at the outside gate, he nodded to thempleasantly, and said,--

  "He has come!--the black signor from America." ("Signor" is Italian for"Mr.")

  JUSY AND REA. "He has come!--the black signor fromAmerica."--Page 42.]

  You see everybody in the palace, from the King down to the scullions inthe kitchen, was interested in the two fatherless and motherlesschildren, and glad to hear that Jim had arrived.

  The very next day they set off. Jim was impatient to be back inCalifornia again; there was nothing to wait for. Caterina was greatlyrelieved to find that he did not wish her to go with him. The Queen hadsaid she must go, if the black signor wished it; and Caterina waswretched with fright at the thought of the journey, and of the countryfull of wild beasts and savages. "Worse than Africa, a hundred times,"she said, "from all I can hear. But her Majesty says I must go, if I amneeded. I'd rather die, but I see no way out of it."

  When it came to bidding Rea good-by, however, she was almost ready tobeg to be allowed to go. The child cried and clung to her neck; andCaterina cried and sobbed too.

  But the wise Jim had provided himself with a powerful helper. He hadbought a little white spaniel, the tiniest creature that ever ran onfour legs; she was no more than a doll, in Rea's arms; her hair was likewhite silk floss. She had a blue satin collar with a gilt clasp andpadlock; and on the padlock, in raised letters, was the name "Fairy."Jim had thought of this in New York, and bought the collar and padlockthere; and the dog he had bought only one hour before they were to setout on their journey. She was in a beautiful little flannel-linedbasket; and when Rea clung to Caterina's neck crying and sobbing, Jimstepped up to her and said,--

  "Don't cry, missy; here's your little dog to take care of; she'll bescared if she sees you cry."

  "Mine! Mine! That sweet doggie!" cried Rea. She could not believe hereyes. She stopped crying; and she hardly noticed when the Queen herselfkissed her in farewell, so absorbed was she in "Fairy" and the bluesatin collar. "Oh, you are a very good black man, Signor Jim," shecried. "I never saw such a sweet doggie; I shall carry her in my ownarms all the way there."

  It was a hard journey; but the children enjoyed every minute of it. Theaccount of all they did and saw, and the good times they had with thekind Jim, would make a long story by itself; but if I told it, we shouldnever get to the Hunter Cats; so I will not tell you anything about thejourney at all except that it took about six weeks, and that theyreached San Gabriel in the month of March, when everything was green andbeautiful, and the country as full of wild flowers as the children hadever seen the country about Florence in Italy.

  Mr. Connor had not been idle while Jim was away. After walking up anddown his house, with his thinking-cap on, for a few days, looking intothe rooms, and trying to contrive how it should be rearranged toaccommodate his new and unexpected family, he suddenly decided to buildon a small wing to the house. He might as well arrange it in the outsetas it would be pleasantest to have it when Jusy and Rea were a younggentleman and a young lady, he thought. What might do for them very wellnow, while they were little children, would not do at all when they weregrown up.

  So, as I told you, Mr. Connor being a gentleman who never lost any timein doing a thing he had once made up his mind to, set carpenters at workimmediately tearing out half of one side of his new house; and in littleover a month, there was almost another little house joined on to it.There was a good big room for Rea's bedroom, and a small room openingout of it, for her sitting-room; beyond this another room in which hernurse could sleep, while she needed one, and after she grew older, thegoverness who must come to teach her; and after she did not need anygoverness, the room would be a pleasant thing to have for her youngfriends who came to visit her. This kind uncle was planning for a goodmany years ahead, in this wing to his house.

  These rooms for Rea were in the second story. Beneath them were twolarge rooms, one for Jusy, and one for Jim. A pretty stairway, with alattice-work wall, went up outside to Rea's room, and at the door ofher room spread out into a sort of loggia, or upstairs piazza, such asMr. Connor knew she had been used to in Italy. In another year thisstairway and loggia would be a bower of all sorts of vines, things growso fast in California.

  * * * * *

  And now we are really coming to the Cats. They had arrived before thechildren did.

  When the children got out of the cars at San Gabriel, there stood theirUncle George on the platform waiting for them. Jusy spied him first."There's Uncle George," he shouted, and ran towards him shouting, "UncleGeorge! Uncle George! Here we are."

  Rea followed close behind, holding up Fairy. "Look at my doggie thatSignor black Jim gave me," she cried, holding Fairy up as high as shecould reach; and in the next minute she herself, doggie and all, wascaught up in Uncle George's arms.

  "What makes you cry, Uncle George?" she exclaimed; "we thought you wouldbe very glad to see us!"

  "So I am, you dear child," he said. "I am only crying because I am soglad."

  But Jusy knew better, and as soon as he could get a chance, he whisperedto Rea, "I should have thought you would have known better than to sayanything to Uncle George about his having tears in his eyes. It wasbecause we reminded him so much of mamma, that he cried. I saw thetears come in his eyes, the first minute he saw us, but I wasn't goingto say a word about it."

  Poor little Rea felt badly enough to think she had not understood asquickly as Jusy did; but the only thing she could think of to do was tospring up in the seat of the wagon, and put her arms around her uncle'sneck, and kiss him over and over, saying, "We are going to love you,like,--oh,--like everything, Jusy and me! I love you better than mydoggie!"

  But when she said this, the tears came into Mr. Connor's eyes again; andRea looked at Jusy in despair.

  "Keep quiet, Rea," whispered Jusy. "He doesn't want us to talk justyet, I guess;" and Rea sat down again, and tried to comfort herself withFairy. But she could not keep her eyes from watching her uncle's face.Her affectionate heart was grieved to see him look so sad, instead offull of joy and gladness as she had thought it would be. Finally shestole her hand into his and sat very still without speaking, and thatreally did comfort Mr. Connor more than anything she could have done.The truth was, Rea looked so much like her mother, that it was almostmore than Mr. Connor could bear when he first saw her; and her voicealso was like her mother's.

  Jusy did not in the least resemble his mother; he was like his fatherin every way,--hair as black as black could be, and eyes almost as blackas the hair; a fiery, flashing sort of face Jusy had; and a fiery,flashing sort of temper too, I am sorry to say. A good deal likethunder-storms, Jusy's fits of anger were; but, if they were swift andloud, like the thunder, they also were short-lived,--cleared offquickly,--like thunder-storms, and showed blue sky afterward, and abeautiful rainbow of sorrow for the hasty words or deeds.

  Rea was fair, with blue eyes and yellow hair, and a temper sunny as herface. In Italy there are so few people with blue eyes and fair hair,that whenever Rea was seen in the street, everybody turned to look ather, and asked who she was, and remembered her; and when she came again,they said, "Ecco! Ecco! (That is Italian for Look! Look!) There is thelittle blue-eyed, golden-haired angel." Rea did not know that the peoplesaid this, which was well, for it might have made her vain.

  It was six miles from the railway station to Mr. Connor's house. But thehouse was in sight all the way; it was so high up on the mountain-sidethat it showed plainly, and as it was painted white, you could see it inall directions like a lighthouse. Mr. Connor liked to be able to see itfrom all places when he was riding about the valley. He said it lookedfriendly to him; as if it said, all the time, "Here I am, you can comehome any minute you want to."

  After they had driven about half way, Mr. Connor said,--

  "Child
ren, do you see that big square house up there on the mountain?That is Connorloa."

  "Whose house is it, Uncle George?" said Jusy.

  "Why, did you not hear?" replied Mr. Connor. "It is Connorloa."

  The children looked still more puzzled.

  "Oh," laughed their uncle. "Is it possible nobody has told you the nameof my house? I have called it Connorloa, from my own name, and 'loa,'which is the word in the Sandwich Islands for 'hill.' I suppose I mighthave called it Connor Hill, but I thought 'loa' was prettier."

  "Oh, so do I," said Jusy. "It is lovely. Connorloa, Connorloa," herepeated. "Doesn't it sound like some of the names in Italy, Rea?" hesaid.

  "Prettier!" said little Rea. "No word in Italy, so pretty as Connorloa;nor so nice as Uncle George."

  "You dear, loving little thing!" cried Uncle George, throwing his armsaround her. "You are for all the world your mother over again."

  "That's just what I've been saying to myself all the way home, Mr.George," said Jim. "It's seemed to me half the time as if it were MissJulia herself; but the boy is not much like you."

  "No," said Jusy proudly, throwing back his handsome head, and his eyesflashing. "I am always said to be exactly the portrait of my father; andwhen I am a man, I am going back to Italy to live in the King's palace,and wear my father's sword."

  "I sha'n't go," said Rea, nestling close to her uncle. "I shall stay inConnorloa with Uncle George. I hate palaces. Your house isn't a palace,is it, Uncle George? It looks pretty big."

  "No, my dear; not by any means," replied Mr. Connor, laughing heartily."But why do you hate palaces, my little Rea? Most people think it wouldbe the finest thing possible to live in a palace."

  "I don't," said Rea. "I just hate them; the rooms are so big and socold; and the marble floors are so slip-py, I've had my knees all blackand blue tumbling down on them; and the stairs are worse yet; I used tohave to creep on them; and there is a soldier at every corner with a gunand a sword to kill you, if you break any of the rules. I think a palaceis just like a prison!"

  "Well done, my little Republican!" cried Uncle George.

  "What is that?" said Rea.

  "I know," said Jusy. "It is a person that does not wish to have anyking. There were Republicans in Italy; very bad men. Papa said theyought to be killed. Why do you call Rea by that name, Uncle George?" andJusy straightened himself up like a soldier, and looked fierce.

  Mr. Connor could hardly keep his face straight as he replied to Jusy:"My dear boy the word does not mean anything bad in America; we are allRepublicans here. You know we do not have any king. We do not think thatis the best way to take care of a country."

  "My papa thought it was the best way," haughtily answered Jusy. "I shallthink always as papa did."

  "All right, my man," laughed Uncle George. "Perhaps you will. You canthink and say what you like while you live in America, and nobody willput you in prison for your thoughts or your words, as they might if youlived in Italy."

  It was near night when they reached the house. As they drove slowly upthe long hill, the Chinamen were just going, on the same road, to theirsupper. When they heard the sound of the wheels, they stepped off theroad, and formed themselves into a line to let the carriage pass, and toget a peep at the children. They all knew about their coming, and werecurious to see them.

  "The Chinamen were just going to their supper, and theyformed themselves into a line."--PAGE 60.]

  When Rea caught sight of them, she screamed aloud, and shook withterror, and hid her face on her uncle's shoulder.

  "Are those the savages?" she cried. "Oh, don't let them kill Fairy;" andshe nearly smothered the little dog, crowding her down out of sight onthe seat between herself and her uncle.

  Jusy did not say a word, but he turned pale; he also thought these mustbe the savages of which they had heard.

  Mr. Connor could hardly speak for laughing. "Who ever put such an ideaas that into your head?" he cried. "Those are men from China; those aremy workmen; they live at Connorloa all the time. They are very good men;they would not hurt anybody. There are not any savages here."

  "Caterina said America was all full of savages," sobbed Rea,--"savagesand wild beasts, such as lions and wolves."

  "That girl was a fool," exclaimed Jim. "It was a good thing, Mr. George,you told me not to bring her over."

  "I should say so," replied Mr. Connor. "The idea of her trying tofrighten these children in that way. It was abominable."

  "She did nothing of the kind," cried Jusy, his face very red. "She wastalking to her cousin; and she thought we were asleep; and Rea and Ilistened; and I told Rea it was good enough for us to get so frightenedbecause we had listened. But I did not believe it so much as Rea did."

  The Chinamen were all bowing and bending, and smiling in the gladnessof their hearts. Mr. Connor was a good master to them; and they knew itwould be to him great pleasure to have these little children in thehouse.

  While driving by he spoke to several of them by name, and they replied.Jusy and Rea listened and looked.

  "What are their heads made of, Uncle George?" whispered Rea. "Will theybreak if they hit them?"

  At first, Mr. Connor could not understand what she meant; then in amoment he shouted with laughter.

  Chinamen have their heads shorn of all hair, except one little lock atthe top; this is braided in a tight braid, like a whiplash, and hangsdown their backs, sometimes almost to the very ground. The longer thisqueer little braid is, the prouder the Chinaman feels. All the rest ofhis head is bare and shining smooth. They looked to Rea like the headsof porcelain baby dolls she had had; and that those would break, sheknew by sad experience.

  How pleased Rea and Jusy were with their beautiful rooms, and witheverything in their Uncle George's house, there are no words to tell.They would have been very unreasonable and ungrateful children, if theyhad not been; for Mr. Connor had not forgotten one thing which could addto their comfort or happiness: books, toys, everything he could thinkof, or anybody could suggest to him, he had bought. And when he ledlittle Rea into her bedroom, there stood a sweet-faced young Mexicangirl, to be her nurse.

  "Anita," he said, "here is your young lady."

  "I am very glad to see you, senorita," said the girl, coming forward totake off Rea's hat; on which Rea exclaimed,--

  "Why, she is Italian! That is what Caterina called me. And Caterina hada sister whose name was Anita. How did you get over here?"

  "I was born here, senorita," replied the girl.

  "It is not quite the same word, Rea," said Mr. Connor, "though it soundsso much like it. It was 'signorita' you were called in Italy; and it is'senorita' that Anita here calls you. That is Spanish; and Anita speaksmuch more Spanish than English. That is one reason I took her. I wantyou to learn to speak in Spanish."

  "Then we shall speak four languages," said Jusy proudly,--"Italian,French, and English and Spanish. Our papa spoke eleven. That was onereason he was so useful to the King. Nobody could come from any foreigncountry that papa could not talk to. My papa said the more languages aman spoke, the more he could do in the world. I shall learn all theAmerican languages before I go back to Italy. Are there as many as nine,Uncle George?"

  "Yes, a good many more," replied Uncle George. "Pretty nearly a languagefor every State, I should say. But the fewer you learn of them thebetter. If you will speak good English and Spanish, that is all you willneed here."

  "Shall we not learn the language of the signors from China?" asked Rea.

  At which Jim, who had followed, and was standing in the background,looking on with delight, almost went into convulsions of laughter, andwent out and told the Chinamen in the kitchen that Miss Rea wished tolearn to speak Chinese at once. So they thought she must be a very nicelittle girl, and were all ready to be her warm friends.

  The next morning, as Rea was dressing, she heard a great caterwaulingand miaowing. Fairy, who was asleep on the foot of her bed, sprang upand began to bark furiously; all the while, however, looking as if shewer
e frightened half to death. Never before had Fairy heard so manycats' voices at once.

  Rea ran to the open window; before she reached it, she heard Jusycalling to her from below,--

  "Rea! Rea! Are you up? Come out and see the cats."

  Jusy had been up ever since light, roaming over the whole place: thestables, the Chinamen's quarters, the tool-house, the kitchen, thewoodpile; there was nothing he had not seen; and he was in a state ofsuch delight he could not walk straight or steadily; he went on the runand with a hop, skip, and jump from each thing to the next.

  "Hurry, Rea!" he screamed. "Do hurry. Never mind your hair. Come down.They'll be done!"

  Still the miaowing and caterwauling continued.

  "Oh, hurry, hurry, Anita," said Rea. "Please let me go down; I'll comeup to have my hair done afterwards. What is it, Anita? Is it reallycats? Are there a thousand?"

  Anita laughed. "No, senorita," she said. "Only seventeen! And you willsee them every morning just the same. They always make this noise. Theyare being fed; and there is only a very little meat for so many. Jimkeeps them hungry all the time, so they will hunt better."

  "Hunt!" cried Rea.

  "Yes," said