ars and the boat skimmed along the
water in the direction of the _Merry Mouser_. As they drew alongside,
Growler muttered in a not unfriendly whisper:

"Look here, youngsters, here's a word of advice that may save you your
skins. Don't show any cheek--not to me or Prowler, we're the
mates--and above all, not to the Chief!"

"What is your Chief's name, Mr. Growler, dear sir?" asked Ann
timidly.

Growler flashed his white teeth at her. Then he looked at Prowler and
both mates repeated together as if they were saying a lesson: "The
name of our illustrious Chief is Captain Mittens--Mittens, the
Pitiless Pirate--Mittens, the Monster of the Main!"

"Why--why--my Aunt Jane had a tiger cat once with white paws--" Ann
began, but then she stopped suddenly, for Rudolf had given her a sharp
pinch. A terrible frown had spread over the faces of both Growler and
Prowler. "Above _all_," whispered the mate in low and earnest tones,
"none of that! If you don't want to be keel-hauled, don't recall his
shameful past!"

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

CHAPTER VI

ABOARD THE MERRY MOUSER

When Rudolf and Ann and the False Hare, under guard of Growler and
Prowler, reached the deck of the _Merry Mouser_, they found Peter,
dressed in a dry suit of pirate clothing and looking none the worse
for his wetting. He was being closely watched by a big Maltese pirate
whose strong paw with its sharp claws outspread rested on his
shoulder, but as Rudolf and Ann were led past him, he managed to
whisper, "Look out! Mittens is awful cross at us!"

Foolish Ann paid no attention to this warning. She was so glad to see
her Aunt Jane's pet again that she snatched her hand out of Prowler's
paw, and ran toward the Pirate Chief. "Kitty, Kitty, don't you know
me?" she cried. "Oh, Puss, Puss!"

For a moment Captain Mittens stood perfectly silent, bristling to the
very points of his whiskers with passion. Then he ordered in a hoarse
kind of growl: "Bring the bags."

Instantly two ugly black and white spotted cats dived into the little
cabin and brought out an armful of neat, black, cloth bags with
drawing strings in them. "One moment," commanded Mittens in a very
stern voice, "any plunder?"

Growler, the mate, bowed low before his chief. "'Ere's a werry
'andsome weapon, sir," said he, handing over Rudolf's sword. "Nothing
else on the little ones, sir, but _this_ 'ere gentleman"--pointing to
the False Hare--"was loaded down with jools."