No answer. And then, from beneath the cover of the surrey, appeared a fat tortoise-shell cat, who jumped lightly to the floor, yawned, stretched, and blinked suspiciously at the visitors.
“Humph!” grunted Captain Shadrach. “There's one stowaway, anyhow. Maybe there's another; I've had 'em come aboard in pairs.”
The Judge walked over to the surrey, and raised the cover. From behind it came a frightened little squeal.
“Oh, there you are!” said Baxter. “Mary-'Gusta, is that you?”
There was a rustle, a sob, and then a timid voice said, chokingly, “Yes, sir.”
“Come out,” said the Judge, kindly. “Come out; here are some friends who want to meet you.”
Another sob and then: “I—I don't want to.”
“Oh, yes, you do. We won't hurt you. We only want to see you and talk with you, that's all. Come, that's a good girl.”
“I—I ain't a good girl.”
“Never mind. We want to see you, anyway. I guess you're not very bad.”