Hearty cheers sprang from the furry throats of the crew, while broad
grins spread over their whiskered faces as they listened to this
pleasing news.

"Silence," snarled Mittens--and every cat was still. "Now then," he
commanded Growler, "hand 'em over."

Very much against his will, Growler emptied his pockets of the False
Hare's jewelry and handed it over to his Chief. Mittens took the gold
watch and chain, the flashing pin and studs, the beautiful diamond
ring and put them all on, glaring defiantly at his crew as he did so.
So fierce was that scowl of his, so sharp and white the teeth he
flashed at them, so round and terrible his gleaming yellow eyes that
not a cat dared object, though the faces of all plainly showed their
anger and disappointment at this unfair division of the spoils.

"Now, what's in _there_," demanded Mittens, as he gave a contemptuous
kick to the False Hare's dress-suit case. Growler opened it and took
out a dozen paper collars, a little pair of pink paper pajamas, and a
small black bottle labeled "Hare Restorer."

"All of 'em worth about two cents retail," snorted Mittens with a
bitter look at the False Hare. "And that umbrella, I see, is not made
to go up! Huh! Drowning's too good for _you_!"

"I feel so myself, sir," said the False Hare humbly. "You see," he
added, wiping away a tear with the back of his paw, "I'm so _fond_ of
the water!"

Mittens thought a moment, keeping his eye firmly fastened on the Hare.
"I'll fix you," he cried, "I'll tie you up in one of those bags!"

The False Hare put his paw behind his ear. "Bags?" said he. "Excuse
me, sir, but did you say bags?"

"Yes, I did," roared the Pirate Chief. "Bags! Bags! Bags!"

"Oh, _thank_ you!" cried the False Hare cheerily. "Just my favorite
resting-place--a nice snug bag. Mind you have them draw the string
_tight_, won't you?"

Mittens flew into a terrible passion. "I have it," he roared, "I'll
send you adrift! Here, boys, get that boat ready!"

Then the Hare began to cry, to sob, to beg for mercy, till the
children felt actually ashamed of him. "Look here, Mittens," Rudolf
began.

"_Captain_ Mittens," corrected the pirate coldly.

It was hard for Rudolf, but he dared not anger the pirate cat any
further. "Don't hurt him, please, Captain Mittens," he begged. "He's
only a--" Then he stopped, for the False Hare was making a terrible
face at him behind the handkerchief with which he was pretending to
wipe his eyes.

"Tie