kitten could knock spots off others.

But the mite's spirit of adventure also caused her -- and others -- a fair spot of bother.

And, sadly, there was to be no happy ending to her latest escapade.

It began last Friday when Freckles' wild nature took her from Somerset to Hamilton -- courtesy of Ms Paula Carlington and her car.

Ms Carlington had no idea she had an extra passenger when she drove to the law firm where she worked.

Her passenger's flight of feline fancy, however, was discovered when Ms Carlington pulled in at the Richmond Road Esso station on her way home.

When the service attendant opened the car hood, Freckles was spotted in a corner of the engine compartment.

Ms Carlington instantly recognised the kitty as the stray she had seen occasionally in her yard.

Sporting a few oily spots, Freckles, looking very much as if she had lost her bearings, was then plucked from her hideaway.

"We all thought it was amazing this kitten had gone on such a journey,'' said Esso gas attendant Ms Roberta Lovell.

"I knew of a someone who wanted a cat so I took her home with me.'' Ms Lovell said Freckles -- red, black and white and no more than six weeks old -- gave her a sharp nip on the finger as she reached into the engine compartment.

"She was in good health and looked well fed, although maybe a little traumatised from the journey.'' After returning to her home in Mount Road, St. David's, Ms Lovell handed the kitty to her neighbour, Miss Debbie Burgess.

A thrilled Miss Burgess immediately called her new charge Freckles.

Joy was to turn to sadness, however, when Freckles had another bout of wanderlust when she slipped out through the sliding glass door of her new home.

It was the last time Miss Burgess saw the tiny kitty alive.

Freckles' body was discovered yesterday in the neighbourhood. It is believed she had been attacked by a dog.

"It's really tragic that her adventure should end this way,'' said a distressed Miss Burgess.