"How long," he asked, speaking very
slowly and distinctly, "is--it--since--you--have--tasted mouse?"
Prowler trembled all over. "A--a--week, sir," he mumbled, "that is, I
couldn't _swear_ to the date, sir, but 'twas at my aunt's and she
never has us to tea on a Monday, for that's wash-day, nor on a
Tuesday, for that's missionary, so it must 'a' been--"
"No use, 't won't work, Prowler." The Chief grinned and waved a paw to
one of the spotted sailors. "Here, you, bring along the
Cat-O'-Nine-Tails!"
At this the children were immediately very much interested, for they
had never in their lives seen a cat with more than one tail.
"It would take nine times as much pulling--" Rudolf was whispering to
Peter, when he noticed a new commotion among the sailors. The black
and white sea-cat had turned to carry out the Chief's order when
suddenly some one called out "A breeze, a breeze!" and in the
excitement of getting the _Merry Mouser_ under way, the captain's
attention was turned, and Prowler and his crime were forgotten.
All this time Ann and Rudolf and Peter had been standing a little
apart from the rest under guard of the Maltese pirate at whose feet
lay the dreadful black bags all ready for use. In the confusion Rudolf
turned to Ann and whispered, "Do you suppose we could possibly stir up
a mutiny? Prowler must be pretty sore against the Chief! If we could
only get him and Growler on our side and make them help us seize
Mittens and drop him overboard.
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