plank was lowered.

"All ashore that's going ashore!" quacked the captain.

"Oh Captain Duck," cried Puss, Junior, "we don't have to land, do we?"

"No," replied the Duck. "But you may go ashore for a little while if you
wish. We don't sail for two hours."

"All right!" replied Puss, "I'll take a run on the grass," and he walked
down the gang-plank across the old wharf, until he came to a path, well
worn by the sailors who for years had carried the cargoes up to the
little village. Under a tree close by sat an old sailor. He was smoking
a big black pipe as contentedly as could be. But as soon as he saw Puss
he took it out of his mouth.

"Ahoy, my breezy little reefer," he cried.

"Good morning," replied Puss.

"Don't be in a hurry," said the old sailor. "Just moor your little hulk
alongside of old Tom."

"What's the matter, my breezy little skipper?" asked the old sailor
after a few minutes silence, for, Puss, you see, didn't know what to
say.

"Nothing," replied Puss, sadly, "only, I can't find my father, the
famous Puss in Boots."

"What did he look like?" asked the old sailor, with a grin.

"He looked like me----or, rather, I look like him," replied Puss.

"Well, my merry little sandpiper!" cried the old salt, "you should have
stayed at home!"

"I don't agree with you," said Puss stoutly, "I wanted to see the
world."

"Give me your flipper," said the old sailor kindly. "Good luck to ye. I
hope you find your daddy."

A NEW PASSENGER

PUSS, JUNIOR, waved his paw to the old sailor, who put his pipe back in
his mouth and smoked away contentedly under the shady tree. All of a
sudden a pretty little girl jumped out from behind a stone wall.

"Bobby Shafto's gone to sea,
Silver buckles on his knee;
He'll come back and marry me,
Pretty Bobby Shafto.
Bobby Shafto's fat and fair,
Combing down his yellow hair;
He's my love for aye and ere,
Pretty Bobby Shafto."

"Hello," said Puss when she had finished her song.

"Did you just get off that pretty ship," she asked.

"Yes, Miss," replied Puss.

"Was Bobby Shafto on board?"

"I didn't see him," replied Puss. "Did you expect him?"

"I don't know," replied the little girl, "but I run down to look every
time a ship comes to the old dock. And I always ask the old sailor who
sits on the bench over there if he has seen my Bobby."

"You're looking for your