He fell back pretty quick, and we three went slowly up the path toward the barn, round the building where the dry wood is stored, and the carriage-house, and toward the back door which was wide open, for the Gleasons never close doors or windows at night. In the first place, there are no tramps here, and in the second, they could not get in if they came, on account of the dog Barlo.
As we come into the house from the east side next the barn, there is a small wood-house and then the kitchen. As we were about to go up the steps leading to the wood-house, there appeared the figure of a cat in the doorway.
It was Joker, and running to meet us he began to prance round us in an extravagant manner, and to taunt Serena. “Where is your mole—didn't you catch one? I expected to see you come home with half a dozen hanging from your mouth. You a thoroughbred! The cats are all bursting laughing at you. You're a half-breed!”
I looked at Slyboots. It did seem too bad that one of the conspirators should have been under our roof.
“Did you ever hear of the laws of hospitality, Joker?” I asked sternly.
“Laws—no,” he said grinning idiotically, “but I know what claws be,” and he pointed to Serena. “To catch moles—te, he, he,” and he giggled in a most aggravating way.
We were all tired and sleepy, and had stood about all we could. Slyboots particularly was in a most irritable mood, and without one preliminary, such as a growl or grimace, she sprang at Joker, and didn't she drag him over that door-yard!
He made a fearful wailing, and heads began to come out of the open windows on this side of the house.
Denno threw down several pairs of boots, and at last a lot of water from a pitcher. That stopped the fight, or rather the attack, for Joker did not fight. He just yelled. Slyboots is a master-hand at fighting, as I very well knew. Joker will be sore for many a day. I am sorry to have him punished, and yet he has done very wrong and deserves all he got.
Well, after a time, we again started on our way up-stairs. Joker had run off somewhere, and Serena, Slyboots and I lie here on our feather bed.