n board the vessel.

"Gracious goodness!" he exclaimed, speaking to himself, for Mr McCarthy
was busy raking amongst his clothes in his own cabin, also oblivious to
the fate of the poor feline for whom they had come aboard the ship. "I
almost forgot the cat after all. Puss, Pussy, poor Puss!" and he
wrenched open the pantry door, setting the animal free.

If ever mortal cat purred in its life, or endeavoured to express its
pleasure and satisfaction by walking round and rubbing itself against a
person, raising and putting down its fore-feet alternately, with the
toes extended, as if practising the goose step or working on some feline
treadmill, why that cat did then. The poor animal could not speak, of
course, but it really seemed to utter some inarticulate sounds that must
have been in cat language a paean of joy and praise and thanks at its
deliverance; and, finally, in a paroxysm of affection and endearment, it
turned itself head over heels on the cabin floor in front of Frank.

"Poor Puss; poor little thing!" said the young sailor, taking it up in
his arms. "I believe I would have come back for you even if it hadn't
been to oblige Kate--my darling!" and he kissed the fur of the animal as
he held it in his arms, as if he considered it for the time being her
deputy.

Judging by several well-picked bones that could be noticed lying on the
deck of the pantry, Frank assured himself that Puss had not been starved
since she had been locked up; and, indeed, she could not have been in
any serious want, as there was a freshly-cut ham on one of the shelves
and a round of spiced beef, which she had not touched, both of which
Frank took the liberty of appropriating for the benefit of those on
shore.

Then, still in company with Puss, who would not leave his side, he
imitated the example of the first mate, and selected a coat or two and a
change of clothes from out of his own sea-chest. He did not forget the
others either, but gathered together various garments which he saw lying
about in the captain's cabin and that of Mr Meldrum, thinking that both
might perhaps be glad of them bye and bye.

Beyond what Frank had found in the pantry, however, neither he nor Mr
McCarthy could discover any provisions, or other things that might be
useful on shore, save the unbroken half of the cuddy skylight. This
they carefully lowered down into the jolly-boat, for the glass framing
would come in handy for the windows of any house the