"It is not the time to seek the tracks of the Eagle-Emperor," said Quick-to- Grab. "Stay for a while longer in men's houses."
"Never," said the King of the Cats. "Never will I stay by the hearthstone and submit to be abused by c***s and hounds and men. I will range the world openly now and seek out the enemy of the Cat-Kind, the Eagle-Emperor."
Without once turning his back he went towards the wood that was filled with his enemies, the birds. The cats, when they saw their petitions were no use, went everyone back to the house where he or she stayed. Each one sat before a mouse-hole and pretended to be watching. But though mice stirred all round them the cats of Ireland never turned a head that night.
It was the wren, the smallest of birds, that saw him and knew him for the King of the C
