ShewasoverthreedayslearningthemanifolddangersandcomplexitiesoftheEastRiverdocks。OnceshegotbymistakeonaferryboatandwascarriedovertoLongIsland;butshetookanearlyboatback。Atlengthonthethirdnightshereachedfamiliarground，theplaceshehadpassedthenightofherfirstescape。Fromthathercoursewassureandrapid。Sheknewjustwhereshewasgoingandhowtogetthere。ShekneweventhemoreprominentfeaturesintheDog—scapenow。Shewentfaster，felthappier。InalittlewhilesurelyshewouldbecurledupinhernativeOrient——theoldjunk—yard。Anotherturn，andtheblockwasinsight。
But——what！Itwasgone！Kittycouldn’tbelievehereyes;butshemust，forthesunwasnotyetup。Therewhereoncehadstoodorleanedorslouchedorstraggledthehousesoftheblock，wasagreatbrokenwildernessofstone，lumber，andholesintheground。
Kittywalkedallaroundit。Sheknewbythebearingsandbythelocalcolorofthepavementthatshewasinherhome，thattherehadlivedthebird—man，andtherewastheoldjunk—yard;butallweregone，completelygone，takingtheirfamiliarodorswiththem，andPussyturnedsickatheartintheutterhopelessnessofthecase。Herplace—lovewashermaster—mood。Shehadgivenupalltocometoahomethatnolongerexisted，andforoncehersturdylittleheartwascastdown。Shewanderedoverthesilentheapsofrubbishandfoundneitherconsolationnoreatables。Theruinhadtakeninseveraloftheblocksandreachedbackfromthewater。Itwasnotafire;Kittyhadseenoneofthosethings。
ThislookedmoreliketheworkofaflockoftheRed—eyedMonsters。Pussyknewnothingofthegreatbridgethatwastorisefromthisveryspot。
Whenthesuncameupshesoughtforcover。Anadjoiningblockstillstoodwithlittlechange，andtheRoyalAnalostanretiredtothat。Sheknewsomeofitstrails;butoncethere，wasunpleasantlysurprisedtofindtheplaceswarmingwithCatsthat，likeherself，weredrivenfromtheiroldgrounds，andwhenthegarbage—canscameouttherewereseveralSlummersateach。Itmeantafamineintheland，andPussy，afterstandingitafewdays，wasreducedtoseekingherotherhomeonFifthAvenue。Shegottheretofinditshutupanddeserted。Shewaitedaboutforaday;hadanunpleasantexperiencewithabigmaninabluecoat，andnextnightreturnedtothecrowdedslum。