cided it would be safe to attempt a little
conversation.

"Oh, Rudolf," whispered Ann, "how shall we ever get away from here?"

"Don't want to get away," grumbled Peter. "We're going to have
refreshments; Mittens said so."

"Nonsense; you'll have to go if we do," answered Rudolf. "But listen,
what are the mates saying?"

The two black cat pirates were conversing excitedly under cover of the
music, and presently the children heard what Prowler was whispering
to Growler: "Look here, Matey, where's the rest of the swag, the suit
case and _his_ sword, you know?"

"On board ship, stowed away in Cap'n's cabin," answered Growler. "You
don't mean to--"

"Yes, I do--I'm no 'fraid-cat--I mean to have them pink pajamas, or--"

"And where do _I_ come in, eh?" exclaimed Growler indignantly.

"Oh, you can have the shirts and collars, Matey. Share and share
alike, you know. We'll just slip off to the ship, and--"

"And take us with you," broke in Rudolf. "Do!"

"You know you promised to do us a good turn," whispered Ann. "And if
you don't take us we'll tell, and we'll tell about what happened to
the white mice, too--"

"And while you're about it," went on Rudolf, "you'd better take
possession of the vessel. Between us we can easily manage those old
spotties that were left on board. Then, don't you see, when you
fellows are masters of the _Merry Mouser_, you'll have Mittens in your
power and you can make him whack up on all the treasure!"

At this brilliant suggestion the two mates gave a smothered cheer,
gazing at each other with their round yellow eyes full of joy and
their whiskered mouths grinning so widely that the children could see
their little red tongues and all their sharp white teeth.

"But how shall we get away without being seen?" Ann asked.

"Oh, that'll be all right," said Prowler, looking about him nervously.
"Just wait till you hear 'em announce the refreshments--that always
means a rush, you know. Then slip through the crowd and out by that
door behind the curtain, and hustle down to the ship just as fast as
ever you can lay your paws to the ground!"

Prowler had hardly finished speaking before, with a final long-drawn
piercing yowl, the duet of the Pirate Chief and Miss Tabitha Tortoise
came to an end, and an intermission of ten minutes for refreshments
was announced. From an inner room at the back of the hall a dozen or
so white cats in caps and aprons trotted forth bearing large trays
loaded with