This Rudolf--and also Ann--denied. They had seen Peter smuggle
Mittens into bed the second time, but had supposed he must have
escaped and followed Betsy out.
"No, he didn't neither," Peter insisted. "I had him after she went. He
was 'most tamed."
"Then," said Ann, "he must be in the room and we might as well have
him to play with. Rudolf, I dare you to get up and look for him!"
And Rudolf got up--just to show he was not afraid. Before stepping
into those dark shadows, however, he armed himself with his tin
sword, a weapon he was in the habit of taking to bed with him in case
of burglars, and with this he poked bravely under the bed and in all
the dark corners, calling and coaxing Mittens to come forth. At last
both he and Ann felt sure the cat could not be in the room.
"He _must_ have got out somehow," said Rudolf. "Anyway, I sha'n't
bother any more looking for him." Still grasping his sword, he climbed
back into the big bed between his brother and sister. Peter was still
cross and grumbly. He kept insisting that Mittens might have
disappeared _inside_ the bed--which was a piece of nonsense neither of
the others would listen to.
After some discussion Rudolf and Ann agreed that the very nicest thing
to do would be to make a tent out of the bedclothes, and seeing Peter
was again inclined to nod, they shook him awake and sternly insisted
on his joining in the game.
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