insisted on his putting them on, much against the little boy's
wishes, for hot and tight and furry as his borrowed suit had been,
Peter had felt gloriously like a pirate in it! Very sulkily he
followed his brother out of the cabin, but when the two had mounted to
the deck Peter's sulks gave way to a burst of giggles at the sight of
Growler and Prowler.

Ann was sitting on the deck quite weak with laughter, while the two
mates, dressed in their stolen finery, paraded up and down in front of
her. Prowler's pink pajamas were a better fit for him than Growler's
paper collar which nearly concealed his pirate's nose, only the points
of his whiskers and the tips of his black ears showing. Ann had added
to his costume by the loan of her blue hair-ribbon which she had tied
in a nice bow on the tip of his tail. But Prowler, if possible, looked
even more silly than Growler, for he copied the actions of Captain
Mittens as closely as he could, folding his paws on his chest and
scowling gloomily about him. He seemed extremely vexed when the
children laughed, but they really could not help it, since a pirate in
pink pajamas is not particularly dreadful. At last, after much
coaxing, Rudolf got the whole party to sit down in a circle on the
deck and consult with him on some plan of action.

"We _must_ make up our minds," said he firmly, "on where we are going,
and what is the nearest land, and what we are going to do when we get
there, and who is in command of the _Merry Mouser_, anyway, and--"

Here he was interrupted by Prowler who said would he please go a
little slower, for Rudolf was making his head ache and it reminded him
of going to his aunt's to say his catechism.