第2章

And just then,over here,the very old man found a kitten which was black and very beautiful.

"It would be a shame to leave that one,"said the very old man.So he took it.

And now,over there,he saw a cat which had brown and yellow stripes like a baby tiger.

"I simply must take it!"cried the very old man,and he did.

So it happened that every time the very old man looked up,he saw another cat which was so pretty he could not bear to leave it,and before he knew it,he had chosen them all.

And so he went back over the sunny hills and down through the cool valleys,to show all his pretty kittens to the very old woman.

It was very funny to see those hundreds and thousands and millions and billions and trillions of cats following him.

They came to a pond.

"Mew,mew!We are thirsty!"cried the Hundreds of cats,Thousands of cats,Millions and billions and trillions of cats.

"Well,here is a great deal of water,"said the very old man.

Each cat took a sip of water,and the pond was gone!

"Mew,mew!Now we are hungry!"said the Hundreds of cats,Thousands of cats,Millions and billions and trillions of cats.

"There is much grass on the hills,"said the very old man.

Each cat ate a mouthful of grass and not a blade was left!