Oh, dear me! This is what was going to happen to the little girl who had told on her brothers. And all the little dogs were standing around, wagging their tails, as Puss, Junior, passed by.
It was a wonder that the dogs didn't rush out and bark at him, but they were so anxious to get a piece of the little girl's tongue that they didn't notice him at all. Perhaps a cat with boots and spurs, a hat and plume, and a trusty sword didn't look like an ordinary cat to them. And neither was our little traveler.
You see, these little boys had gone into an alley to play marbles, on their way to school, and then the little girl had told her father how they had missed their lessons.
"And Jimmy Jones won all the marbles, and there was a fight! And the teacher kept them in after school!"
"Oh me! oh my!" cried Puss, Junior. "Please don't slit her tongue!"
"But why did you tell tales on your brothers?" asked her father.
"Oh, please don't slit her tongue!" cried Puss, Junior, again.
"That's what they did in Mother Goose."
"It must have been very long ago in the dark ages," answered Puss, laying hold of his sword.
"Well, it's only a rhyme!" laughed her father, picking up his little girl and hugging her. "Come on, Sir Cat, follow me. You are quite a Knight of the Round Table. If a fair lady be in distress you are her champion!"