Part 6 (1/2)
”Yes, and back of that there are fields with tall reeds or gra.s.ses with brown tips to them.”
”Cattails!” giggled Ann.
”And there's a big high cliff, too, with a little stream of water running down, and--” But here Rudolf stopped, for Growler and Prowler rushed up, cut the strings of the three bags, and released the children from their imprisonment. Hardly did they have time to stretch themselves before the _Merry Mouser_ brought up alongside her landing-place, and in a moment more the children were being led ash.o.r.e, each under guard of a cat pirate to prevent escape.
[Ill.u.s.tration]
[Ill.u.s.tration]
CHAPTER VII
CATNIP ISLAND
Little cats, big cats, black, white, gray, yellow, striped, spotted, Maltese, tortoise-sh.e.l.l, calico, and tiger cats! Cats of all sizes and all kinds, cats of all ages, from tiny furry babies wheeled in perambulators by their mamas to gray old grandpas hobbling along by the aid of canes or crutches--all the cats of Catnip Island had trooped down to the sh.o.r.e to watch the landing of the _Merry Mouser_.
Captain Mittens, decked out in the False Hare's jewelry, was the first to leave the pirate s.h.i.+p. He stepped along jauntily, nose in the air and the haughtiest kind of expression on his whiskered face. After him came Growler leading Rudolf, then Prowler with Ann, then the Maltese pirate with Peter by the hand. The spotted sailors brought up the rear, all but two who had been left to guard the s.h.i.+p. As soon as the sh.o.r.e cats saw that their Chief had brought home three prisoners from his cruise, they set up a great yowl of joy, and began to dance, prancing and bounding in the air and whirling round and round upon their hind legs.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Captain Mittens was the first to leave the pirate s.h.i.+p.]
”Oh, my eye!” exclaimed Rudolf, quite forgetting where he was and standing still to watch their antics. ”Don't I wish I had my slingshot!”
”Hus.h.!.+ Silence--'nless ye want to be skinned!” It was the voice of Prowler just behind him.
”If you think I'm afraid of a lot of silly cats--” began Rudolf, but his voice was drowned by the angry yowls that burst from a hundred furry throats as the islanders pressed closer and closer.
”Oh, Rudolf, do be quiet!” Ann begged, and Rudolf, remembering that he was not only a long way from his sling shot, but that even his sword had been taken away from him, was obliged to submit. By this time the pirates had cleared a way through the crowd and the procession left the beach and entered the p.u.s.s.y-willow grove which Rudolf had described from the deck of the _Merry Mouser_. Half hidden among the trees were a number of pretty little houses, each with a neat door yard and a high back fence. Each had its name, too, on a small door plate, and it amused Ann and Peter to spell out as they went along--”Furryfield,” ”Mousetail Manor,” ”Kitten-cote,” etc.
”Oh, look,” Ann whispered, ”see the darling, little, front doors, Peter! Just like the cat-hole in Aunt Jane's big door. The chimneys are shaped something like ears and the roofs are all covered with fur!”
”Yes,” answered Peter, ”and they've got little gardens to 'em, Ann. I guess that must be the catnip we smell so strong. I don't see any flowers, though, only big tall weeds, rows and rows of 'em--milkweed--that's what it is! What do you suppose they planted that for?”
Prowler, who was walking just ahead of Peter, overheard this last remark, and turning, fixed his large, round, yellow eyes on the little boy. ”Don't you like milk, young man?” he asked.
”Why, yes,” said Peter, very puzzled, ”but not _that_ kind, you know.”
”Well, milk's milk these hard times,” said Prowler, wagging his head.
”It don't do to be too particerler. You like mice, don't you?” he continued.
”Why, _I_ like candy mice,” said Peter grinning, ”but I never knew before that cats did!”
”Sh-s.h.!.+” Poor Prowler began to tremble all over and look anxiously about him. ”Not a word of that,” he murmured, ”or I'm a dead cat! You keep mum about that little affair, young'un, and I'll do you a good turn yet, see if I don't!”
”All right; don't you forget!” whispered Peter.
The procession was now approaching a house considerably larger than any of the others and which had ”The Pirattery” written in large letters over its door. Mittens led the way inside, the mates with the children and all the other pirates followed, together with as many of the island cats as could squeeze themselves in. The Pirattery, so the children were informed by Growler and Prowler, was an a.s.sembly hall or general meeting-place for the pirates when on sh.o.r.e. Its floor and the little platform at one end were strewn with rat-skin rugs of the finest quality, and its walls were adorned with handsomely stuffed and mounted mouse and fish heads, snake skins, and other trophies of the chase.
Mittens now took up his position on the platform and began a long and eloquent speech in which he related the story of the capture of his prisoners, making the most absurd boasts of the terrible risks he had run, and dwelling most particularly on the awful fate of the False Hare--while quite forgetting to mention his escape. This speech was interrupted by tremendous cheers from the island cats which were only faintly joined in by the pirates. Mittens finished by saying that a concert in celebration of the victory would now be given, after which there would be refreshments--Peter p.r.i.c.ked up his ears at the word!
--and then the plunder taken from the prisoners would be distributed among the officers and crew of the _Merry Mouser_. This last announcement was greeted by a volley of shrill and joyful yowls from the younger cat pirates, but Growler, frowning, whispered in Rudolf's ear: