What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

This is a children's book I read around 1980-1985. I think it was set in Spain (or a Spanish-influenced country). Two children (boy and girl) live in a house with a servant and there is a stuffed wildcat on display. There's something odd about one of the wildcat's eyes, and I think they hid messages inside it. The messages communicate with a rebel or freedom fighter whom they assist in various ways and eventually visit in a disused windmill after he is injured. The boy cuts his foot on some rusty metal, but they lie to their parents and say he cut it at the sea shore. The doctor says that a tetanus shot is unnecessary because of the iodine in the sea, and the children are very worried about that. Presumably the story is set against a specific historical background but if so, I didn't understand it.

The freedom fighter is known locally as The Wildcat. The housekeeper tells the children bedtime stories about the wildcat's adventures. The children suspect that the housekeeper has some relationship with the freedom fighter (sister? lover?) and is the one passing the messages. The children's father is some sort of local dignitary and they don't think he would be sympathetic to the freedom fighter.

A guess - Wildcat Under Glass by Alki Zei? There are different cover images.

https://books.google.com/advanced_boo... > All of the words: freedom-fighter children | Exact phrase: The Wildcat | Books | English | 1960-1990 ?

Kris wrote: "A guess - Wildcat Under Glass by Alki Zei? There are different cover images.

https://books.google.com/advanced_boo... > All of the words: freedom-fighter childre..."

Maybe. Obviously there's a few details different from my recollection. I have ordered a copy and will read it soon. Thanks for your help.