ed.

It was hard work tramping back up the hill through the storm and drifts
of snow with the wind blowing in his face, but the old sailor managed
it, and soon the Curlytops and their friends, who had been anxiously
watching through the back window, saw him looming into view.

"Here comes Uncle Toby!" cried Jan, who was the first to spy him.

"Has he got Skyrocket?" asked Ted.

"Yes, I see him!" said Tom. "He's got your dog all right."

A little later Uncle Toby was knocking the snow off his shoes on the
running board of the car, and soon he was safely inside with the dog.

"Where was he?" Ted wanted to know. "What were you doing back there,
Skyrocket?" he asked his pet.

"He was guarding this," said Uncle Toby, and out of his pocket came the
little kitten.

"Oh! Oh!" murmured Lola. "Isn't it a darling!"

"How cute! Oh, what a dear!" exclaimed Jan.

"My kitten! Mine!" cried Trouble, always ready to claim any new pet he
saw.

"Did you really find it?" asked Tom, as Jan took the kitten into her lap
while she and Lola rubbed it, Trouble getting an occasional finger or
two on the soft fur.

"Skyrocket found it, and I got it down out of the tree," explained the
old sailor, with a laugh. "Now I guess we can move along again. I wish
we had some milk for you," he went on, looking at the little cat. "But
we'll be home before dark--if we have good luck," he added, as he
glanced out into the storm.

Once again the automobile started, with a new passenger on board.
Skyrocket was used to cats, and after he had taken part in the rescue of
the kitten he paid no more attention to it but curled up and went to
sleep. As for the kitten, it did not seem to mind the dog in the least.

"I guess it isn't very hungry, Uncle Toby," said Jan in a low voice,
after they had ridden several miles. "See, it's going to sleep."

And the little kitten, with eyes closed, was curled contentedly in her
lap.

Uncle Toby's main thought now was to drive as fast as he could with
safety, so he would get the children to his home in Pocono before the
storm grew any worse and before night came.

Once in his house at Pocono they could remain until the weather cleared
before going out to the cabin at Crystal Lake to spend the holidays.

They passed through a small town, and Jan suggested they might stop and
get some milk for the kitten, which had awakened, and was mewing a
little.

"I think we'd better not stop now," said Mr. Bardeen. "It is