------------------------------------------------------------------------ Transcriber’s Note: This version of the text cannot represent certain typographical effects. Italics are delimited with the ‘_’ character as _italic_. Bold text and text in blackletter font are delimited with ‘=’. Minor errors, attributable to the printer, have been corrected. Please see the transcriber’s note at the end of this text for details regarding the handling of any textual issues encountered during its preparation. KITTY ALONE MORRISON AND GIBB, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH KITTY ALONE A STORY OF THREE FIRES BY S. BARING GOULD AUTHOR OF “IN THE ROAR OF THE SEA” “THE QUEEN OF LOVE” “MEHALAH” “CHEAP JACK ZITA” ETC. ETC. IN THREE VOLUMES VOL. I METHUEN & CO. 36 ESSEX STREET, W.C. LONDON 1894 CONTENTS OF VOL. I ---------- CHAP. PAGE I. THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE 7 II. A LUSUS NATURÆ 15 III. ALL INTO GOLD 25 IV. THE ATMOSPHERIC RAILWAY 35 V. ON A MUD-BANK 44 VI. A CAPTURE 55 VII. A RELEASE 64 VIII. AN ATMOSPHERE OF LOVE 73 IX. CONVALESCENCE 83 X. THE NEW SCHOOLMASTER 90 XI. DISCORDS 101 XII. DAFFODILS 112 XIII. THE SPIRIT OF INQUIRY 122 XIV. TO THE FAIR 132 XV. A REASON FOR EVERYTHING 140 XVI. THE DANCING BEAR 150 XVII. INSURED 157 XVIII. BRAZIL NUTS 167 KITTY ALONE CHAPTER I THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE With a voice like that of a crow, and singing with full lungs also like a crow, came Jason Quarm riding in his donkey-cart to Coombe Cellars.