had to stop.

[Illustration: "'They're grapplin' irons and marlin spikes,' explained
Captain Jehosophat, 'and very terrible weapons.'"]

But the Toyman laughed as he pulled him safe on the shore.

"Look there," he said.

And Marmaduke did look, and there was Rover dragging his little sister
out of the sea by the back of her dress.

The Toyman patted the brave dog on the head.

"He's the hero," he said, "good old Rover!"

Then something fine happened. At least Marmaduke and Jehosophat
thought so. And we'll leave it to you to decide whether it was fine or
not.

Now the pirates had started to run, but their chief, the big fat one,
just before he reached the road, slipped in the mud. And down over the
banks into the sea he fell, and the Toyman didn't trouble to fish him
out, either. Of course, it wasn't very deep, but Fatty tumbled flat on
his back, and the water covered him--all but his stomach, which stuck
out above the water like the fat rump of a whale. He got up at last.
And a pretty sight he was, not like a bold pirate, but a great big
"booby," Mother said, with the mud all over his clothes, and the water
going slippity slop in his shoes, and he shouting,
"Bbbbbbllllllllloooooooooo--splutter--gerchoo!" worse even than