"Has it got monkeys and serpents an' turtles an'--an'--shell-fish?"
demanded Peter from his.

"N-no," said Rudolf, "I don't see any of those things _yet_. There are
a great many trees, some of 'em coming most down to the edge of the
water, but they're not palm-trees, they're willows, the kind you pick
the little furry gray things off in early spring--"

"Pussy-willows, of course, stupid!" interrupted Ann.

"Yes, and back of that there are fields with tall reeds or grasses
with brown tips to them."

"Cattails!" giggled Ann.

"And there's a big high cliff, too, with a little stream of water
running down, and--" But here Rudolf stopped, for Growler and Prowler
rushed up, cut the strings of the three bags, and released the
children from their imprisonment. Hardly did they have time to stretch
themselves before the _Merry Mouser_ brought up alongside her
landing-place, and in a moment more the children were being led
ashore, each under guard of a cat pirate to prevent escape.

[Illustration]




[Illustration]