“And it reminds me that none of us has had a bite to eat for hours. We were so busy getting away from our pursuers that we forgot to stop to look for something to eat,” said Duke.
“That may smell good to you fellows, but that white clover beside the dock, with the dew still on it, smells better to me. And when they go in to breakfast, if they still keep that gangplank out, I am going to come out of this hiding place, skip ashore and eat a mouthful or two before any of the people on board are through their meal and come up on deck again,” said Billy.
“You are lucky that you can live on grass and green things,” replied Duke. “I wish I could.”
“That is the only trouble dogs and cats have when traveling,” said Stubby; “this matter of food. One has to steal it, or eat it raw, and run the risk of being clubbed or stoned unless he falls in with some one who is kind to animals and doesn’t think it is too much trouble to feed and water them.”
“Most people seem to forget that animals have to eat and drink the same as human beings. They know better, but they just do not think,” said Button.
Billy did as he had planned and slipped off the boat and made a hearty breakfast of clover and took a good drink of water out of the river. Then he was fixed for the day if need be.
“Mew! Mew! Mew!”
“Hark! I hear a cat mewing!” whispered Button to Stubby who were close together upon the pile of hops.
“I see her,” said Stubby. “It is only a little kitten. Sh-sh-sh! Here comes a woman up from below with a plate of food for the kitten.”
“Kitty! Kitty! Kitty!” called the woman, looking around for the cat and paying no attention to the mewing kitten at her feet.