e
why should he have a royal cobbler?"

"I only hope he is not a royal mouser," replied Mr. Mouse, "and I think,
now that we have seen all we have, we had better return, for who knows
when he may awake?"

So they scampered off, leaving Puss, Jr., still sound asleep.

PUSS, JR., MEETS THREE JOLLY WELSHMEN AND THE QUEEN OF HEARTS

As Puss, Jr., staff in hand, wandered down the green hills to the
lowlands, he came to a sandy beach, and there stood three jolly Welshmen
looking toward the sea:

One said it was a ship,
The other he said "Nay,"
The third one said it was a house
With the chimney blown away.

"It's nothing of the sort," cried Puss, Jr., jumping nimbly about, "it's
nothing of the sort."

"Perhaps it's a submarine," suggested one of the three jolly Welshmen,
walking over to inspect the little craft.

"Wrong again," tooted a little owl who was perched upon a tree close by.

"It looks like a cheese," suggested the smallest of the three jolly
Welshmen.

"Nonsense," answered Puss, Jr. "Who ever heard of a person sailing about
in a cheese?"

"Well, I didn't mean a Swiss cheese," replied the Welshman who up to
this time had said nothing. "Swiss cheeses are full of holes. I guess
they wouldn't float very long."

"This boat has a big crack in it," said Puss. "Just look and see for
yourself."

"Crackers and cheese!" laughed one of the three jolly Welshmen. "How do
you like my joke?"

"It makes me feel hungry," said Puss, Jr. "I've had nothing to eat for a
long time."

"Come with us, then," said the three jolly Welshmen; "we'll take you to
see the Queen."

"I don't look very neat," replied Puss, rubbing the salt spray from his
boot-tops.

"Neither do I," cried the little owl, preening his feathers and
stretching out his tail. "I'm all ruffled up."

"Well, the Queen's making tarts to-day," cried the three jolly Welshmen
all at once. "We're going, anyway."

Puss, Jr., and the little owl waited no longer, but followed the three
Welshmen at once. In the distance could be seen the turrets of a stately
castle. On arriving at the postern gate they were admitted after a
slight delay. In the courtyard all was bustle and excitement. On long
tables were spread the most delicious-looking tarts--raspberry,
strawberry, lemon, apple, and all the other delicious varieties that
could be imagined. Puss, Jr.'s, mouth fairly watered at the sight, and
the little owl could hardly restrain