n to find Dick. But poor Dick was at home, sad;
for he knew that he had seen his puss for the last time.
The ship was full of rats and mice, and puss had a fine time. She made
them fly, and soon no more rats and mice were to be seen in the ship.
The men were glad to have the cat, and gave her food and milk, so that
she was well off.
PART V.
[Illustration]
The ship went on her way. It was more than a year when they got to
that far off land.
The man who took the cat, had, as was said, the name of Jack. He left
the ship when he got to the land, and went to see the king. The king
was glad to see Jack, and told him, he must stay and dine with him.
When they went to the room to dine, they saw that rats and mice were
in it too, and had eat much of the food. They saw the rats and mice
jump down and run when they went in the room.
The king was in a rage, that he had lost his meal. Jack said to him,
"Why do you let the rats and mice do so?" "I do not know how to help
it," said the king. "I will give a pile of gold to one who will rid me
of them."
Then Jack was glad. He said to the king, "If you will give me a pile
of gold, I will rid you of the rats and mice." The king said, "You are
in fun. You do not know how to get rid of them." Jack said, "We will
see." So the next day, he put the cat in a bag, and went with the bag
in his arm to the king. Puss did not like to be shut up in the bag,
and made much fuss.
The king was glad to see Jack, and said, "Let me see what you have in
your bag." But Jack said, "Not just yet; wait till we see the rats
and mice."
So they went to the room to dine. The rats and mice were at the food
just as they had been. Jack took the cord off the bag, and took out
the cat. The king did not know what a cat was; for he had no cats in
his land.
Jack held her in his arms till she had lost her fear, and then set
her down with the rats and mice. She soon made them know what a cat
was, and put them in such fear that they all fled. The king was so
glad that he did not know what to do.
They sat down to dine. Not a rat came out of its hole. The king ate
his meal with joy, and puss sat on his knee and fed out of his dish.
The king told Jack he must let him keep the cat. Jack said, "I will
give her to you, but you must give me the pile of gold." The king was
glad to keep the cat and pay the gold. So Jack put the gold in the
bag that had held the cat, and went back to the ship.
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