She had her poor stiff claws around them . Master , I cried . Then I swore . Then I carried those poor little kittens home and fed ` hem up and found good homes for them . I know the woman who left the cat . When she comes back this summer I 'm going to go down and tell her my opinion of her . It 'll be rank meddling , but , lord , how I love meddling in a good cause . '' `` Was Captain Kidd one of the forsaken ? '' I asked . `` Yes . I found him one bitter cold day in winter caught in the branches of a tree by his darn-fool ribbon collar . He was almost starving . Lord , if you could have seen his eyes ! He was nothing but a kitten , and he 'd got his living somehow since he 'd been left till he got hung up . When I loosed him he gave my hand a pitiful swipe with his little red tongue . He was n't the prosperous free-booter you behold now . He was meek as Moses . That was nine years ago . His life has been long in the land for a cat . He 's a good old pal , the Captain is . ''
`` I should have expected you XXXXX have a dog , '' I said .
around as for if in of since till to with