The next I knew we were climbing up the ladder to the deck of the Albatross, and for the first time in two or three days, I felt safe. Dawn was just beginning to show in the east, but I wasn’t interested in dawns. What I wanted was coffee and a place to sleep.
“Well,” says I to Catty, “what kind of a circus was that?”
“I don’t know,” says he, “but I saw Mr. House wanted this chart case, so I started. It wasn’t any time to ask him why or what ailed him. I lit out.”
“You did,” says I.
“What become of him?” says he.
“I turned him into an airship,” says I. “Just as he was going to grab you, I butted him—and he was all through running.”
“Good for you,” says Catty. “We better wake somebody up. No telling what’ll happen now.”
But we didn’t have to do any waking. Rameses III poked his head above the decks all full of sleep and irritation.
“Hey,” says he, “who be you, and what in tunket be you boardin’ this ship fer?”
“It’s us,” says Catty.