The children left them where they lay and climbed Over the side of the
_Merry Mouser_ into the little rowboat which Rudolf had brought
alongside. When all were safely aboard, he cut loose the tow-rope,
took the oars, and pulled away from the pirate ship. After a short and
pleasant row they reached a gently shelving beach where it was not
difficult to make a landing.

[Illustration]




[Illustration]

CHAPTER IX


CAPTAIN JINKS


Ann stood and stared at the line of low hills that fringed the edge of
the water. "What funny, funny country!" she exclaimed. "It's like a
checker-board going up-hill."

"No, it isn't either," said Rudolf, who loved to disagree, "because
the squares are not square, they're all different shapes and sizes and
they're not just red and black but ever and ever so many different
colors."

"It's something like the countries in the geography maps, anyway,"