Cobwebs from an Empty Skull

A wild cat was listening with rapt approval to the melody of distant hounds tracking a remote fox.

“Excellent! bravo!” she exclaimed at intervals.  “I could sit and listen all day to the like of that.  I am passionately fond of music. Ong-core!”

Presently the tuneful sounds drew near, whereupon she began to fidget; ending by shinning up a tree, just as the dogs burst into view below her, and stifled their songs upon the body of their victim before her eyes—­which protruded.

[Illustration]

“There is an indefinable charm,” said she—­“a subtle and tender spell—­a mystery—­a conundrum, as it were—­in the sounds of an unseen orchestra.  This is quite lost when the performers are visible to the audience.  Distant music (if any) for your obedient servant!”