"We have come from Catnip Island where we were captured by the cat
pirates," began Rudolf, stumbling over the words in his excitement,
"and we--we don't know exactly where we are going, and we--we aren't
doing exactly anything!"
"Aha!" The officer turned to his sergeant with a triumphant
expression. "Just what I thought. Anybody that can't give a better
account of himself than that had better be locked up. Spies--aha!
Another of you came ashore a while ago--a glib-tongued, story-telling
gentleman who fooled us into letting him off, but we've got _you_ safe
and sound and here you'll stay! Sergeant, arrest these spies!"
"Certainly, sir," said the sergeant, making a note of it in his book,
"but please, sir, how do they be spelled, Captain Jinks, sir?"
"S-p-i-s-e, spies, of course, idiot!" snapped the captain. "Now then,
off with 'em. Separate cell for each prisoner, bars to the windows.
Heavy chains on this gentleman in particeler," pointing to Rudolf.
"Bread and water, on a Sunday. Off to the jail with 'em--march 'em
along!"
"Beg pardon, sir," interrupted the sergeant who was glad of an excuse
to stop at a very difficult bit of spelling. "We'll have to wait a
bit. I hear the Queen's band playin'--"
"Then stand at attention and hold yourself answerable for the
prisoners!" With this command, Captain Jinks faced about to the road,
and stiffened all over till he looked like a little tin statue.
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