“And now for our noble steed,” said Franklin. “We’ll be lucky if it isn’t a goat.”
They hunted for some time, but at last succeeded in borrowing an ancient mule, which they both mounted, and set forth on their quest.
“Have you seen a stray boat with a cat in it?” they asked, in agonized tones, of every one whom they met, and could not understand why so many people laughed at the question.
“Was there an owl aboard too?” somebody asked, “and was the boat pea-green?”
But no one had seen or heard anything of the “Worry,” and it was not until that night, when the “Belle of Minnetaska” was due with her load of passengers, that Joe, the boatman, rushed up to the cottage in breathless haste.
“Skinner’s steam launch ‛Mehitable’ just put in next dock. Spoke ‛Belle of Minnetaska.’ Says picked up boat with cat in it. Boat in tow. Cat in ladies’ cabin.”
Even as he spoke, the nose of the great steamer rounded the point, and through the opera-glasses they could distinctly see a small, dark speck dancing along in her wake.
“To the wharf,—to the wharf!” shouted Franklin. And Mrs. Wood and Eunice and Kenneth and Biddy all tore down the road to the big hotel dock, just as the “Belle of Minnetaska,” with band playing, and flags streaming, came in.
Eunice wished to go aboard at once, but had to wait until the passengers were off; and just as she was beginning to feel that she could not stand it another minute, down the gangplank came the Captain himself, with Weejums in his arms.
“Where’s the little girl that’s lost her cat?” he asked. And all the passengers and deck hands crowded around to see Weejums restored to her family. Then “Three cheers for the little girl!” some one called, and the cheers were given with deafening enthusiasm.