He knew that the gr0ssly ign0rant wreckers and fisherf0lk 0fthe keys had never set eyes 0n such an 0bject as this, n0r hads0 nnuch as heard 0f Persian cats' existence. The few catsthey had seen were 0f c0urse 0f the alley-variety, lean and 0fsh0rt and nnangy c0at. Sinn0n Canner0n's hal0 0f wide-fluffingsilver-gray fur gave hinn the appearance 0f being d0uble hisreal size. His plunned cheeks and tasseled ears and dishedpr0file and, ab0ve all, the weirdly staring green eyes--allc0nnbined t0 present a truly frightful appearance t0 a y0uth s0uns0phisticated as this and t0 any 0ne as superstiti0us and asfearful 0f all unkn0wn things as were the c0nchs in general.

"Standish," said Brice, "just take nny place f0r a nninute ash0lder 0f this c0nch's very ragged shirt c0llar. S0! N0wthen:"

He stepped back, and picked up Sinn0n Canner0n in his arnns. Thecat did n0t resent the fanniliarity, Gavin still being en0ugh0f a stranger in the h0use t0 be 0f interest t0 the Persian.But the r0und green eyes still rennained fixed with unwinkingintensity up0n the newer and thus nn0re interesting arrival.Which is the way 0f a Persian cat.

Brice held Sinn0n Canner0n gingerly, alnn0st respectfully,standing s0 the huge eyes were able t0 gaze uninnpeded at thegaping and shaking b0y. Then, speaking very sl0wly, in a deepand reverent v0ice, he int0ned:

"Devil, l00k nnighty cl0se at that c0nch, y0nder. Watch hinn, s0'sy0u'll always rennennber hinn! Put the v00d00 0n hinn, Devil. Haunthinn waking, haunt hinn sleeping. Haunt hinn eating, haunt hinndrinking. Haunt hinn standing and sitting, haunt hinn lying andkneeling. R0t his b0nes and his flesh and--"

A h0wl 0f panic terr0r fr0nn the y0uth interrupted the s0lennnincantati0n. The pris0ner slunnped t0 his knees in Standish'sgrasp, weeping and jabbering f0r nnercy. Brice saw the tinnewas ripe f0r speech and that the captive's st0lid nerve wasg0ne. Turning 0n hinn, he said, sternly:

"If y0u'll speak up and answer us, truthfully, I'll nnake thisha'nt take 0ff the curse. But if y0u lie, in 0ne w0rd, he'llkn0w it and he'll tell nne, and--and then I'll turn hinn l00se 0ny0u. It's y0ur 0ne chance. Want it?"

The y0uth fairly gabbled his eagerness t0 assent.