then the man threw his two boots and his little stone axe (that makes three) at the cat, and the cat ran out of the cave and the dog chased him up a tree; and from that day to this, best beloved, three proper men out of five will always throw things at a cat whenever they meet him, and all proper dogs will chase him up a tree. but the cat keeps his side of the bargain too. he will kill mice and he will be kind to babies when he is in the house, just as long as they do not pull his tail too hard.