“Evidently she is looking for the mother of the kitten,” whispered Button.
As they watched, they saw a big yellow cat jump out from a pile of rope up near the prow of the boat and walk lazily toward her. A black and white spotted cat also came running from the opposite side of the deck.
“They seem to have a whole family on board,” remarked Stubby.
When the woman saw them coming, she set down a heaping plate of food for them and said, “Well, lazybones,” addressing the yellow cat, “did you catch that big wharf rat I saw run on board last night? If you did not, you better hustle and get him if you want any more to eat from me. I am not going to feed you anything until that rat is killed. Do you hear me? Old Mouser has been doing all the work lately in catching the rats and mice, and it is time you did something, for we want no free lazy passengers on this boat. Baby,” addressing the kitten, “stop crying and mewing around my heels. If you are hungry, eat something on the plate. Oh, I forgot, you are too young to care for meat and potatoes. Come with me and I will get you some milk to drink,” and she picked up the kitten and went below.
The cats were evidently not very hungry, for they scarcely touched the food on the plate, but walked off and left it, the spotted cat going down the hatchway and the yellow cat back to the pile of rope up front.
“Now is our chance, Stubby,” whispered Button, “before any one comes up from breakfast!”
The two of them climbed down from the hops and made a good meal of what the cats had left, as the woman had brought up a plate heaping full.
“Tell you what, that tasted good!” said Button.
“Indeed it did!” replied Stubby. “I did not know I was so hungry. But I was as thirsty as the very dickens. I hate to chance going off the boat for a drink, but I’ve simply got to have water. I think I can chance it to run off and lap a few mouthsful before they come up and pull in the gangplank. I am going to try it anyway. Are you coming?”