sely as he could, folding his paws on his chest and
scowling gloomily about him. He seemed extremely vexed when the
children laughed, but they really could not help it, since a pirate in
pink pajamas is not particularly dreadful. At last, after much
coaxing, Rudolf got the whole party to sit down in a circle on the
deck and consult with him on some plan of action.

"We _must_ make up our minds," said he firmly, "on where we are going,
and what is the nearest land, and what we are going to do when we get
there, and who is in command of the _Merry Mouser_, anyway, and--"

Here he was interrupted by Prowler who said would he please go a
little slower, for Rudolf was making his head ache and it reminded him
of going to his aunt's to say his catechism.

"The thing ter do," drawled Growler sleepily, "is ter do nothin' 'tall
till ye git somewheres where somethin's gotter be did, an' then
like's not it's too late ter do anything an' all yer trouble's saved
for ye!"

Rudolf did not think much of this as advice, but Prowler seemed
delighted. "Hurrah, my hearties!" he shouted, and up he jumped, stood
on his furry head on the deck, and waved his pink pajamaed legs in the
air. "Now we can have our tea!" he cried.

The faces of the three children brightened at the pleasant thought of
tea, and when the tray arrived, carried by Towser, Ann asked if she
might pour.

"Paw away!" cried Prowler, grinning widely as he fixed his round
yellow eyes on a small covered dish that Toddles had just set before
him.

Ann lifted the cover of the tea-pot to peep inside but as she sniffed
the steam an expression of disgust wrinkled up her little nose.
"Ugh!" she cried, "it's catnip tea."

"Course it is," answered Prowler calmly. "Catnip tea and stewed
mouses' tails--an' I asks what could anybody want nicer?"

"Little girls that don't like what's put before 'em can go without.
Ever hear anything like that before?" asked Growler sweetly, and as he
spoke he reached over and took the covered dish away from Prowler and
helped himself to it largely.

"But we don't any of us like this kind of a tea!" cried Rudolf
angrily.

"Then all the more for us that does," said Prowler, and he snatched
the dish in his turn away from Growler and emptied all that was left
of it on his own plate. Since there was nothing else for the children
to do, they sat and watched the two mates eat, all of them feeling
decidedly cross, especially Peter. When every drop was