It was strange, this black cat living there all alone.

No humans, or those of her own (p.

037) species, lived within miles of her.

It took me days to make friends and get her to come to me; and when at last I succeeded, the friendship did not last long.

No matter where I worked round that district, the black cat of Thiepval would find me, and would approach silently, and would suddenly jump on my knees and dig all her long nails deeply into my flesh, with affection.