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 pricked 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:
"Don't you believe a word of that, about whacking up on the treasure!
He'll never give up so much as a single shirt stud, he won't."
"I would 'a' liked them pink pajamas, I would," sighed Prowler.
"They'd just suit my dark complexion."
"I can't understand," said Ann, "what it is that has made such a
change in Mittens! Why, just yesterday when we got to Aunt Jane's he
was asleep before the fire with a little red bow on his collar--just
as soft and nice as anything, and he let us all take turns holding
him!"
"He never scratched really _deep_ all day," said Peter mournfully,
"only when we dressed him up in the doll's clothes--he didn't seem to
'preciate that--an'--an' when I pulled his tail--he didn't _like_
that, neither."
"He's a bad old thief, that's what he is!" exclaimed Rudolf,
forgetting in his excitement to lower his voice.
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