8. In one instant she sprang from his arms. She laid a dozen rats and mice dead at the king's feet in half a minute, and all the rest were scared out of their wits, and ran away.
SWEET LITTLE THINGS.
9. They had never seen a cat before, for there were none in that land. The king had never seen one either; and his queen did not know what sort of beast puss was at all. But she thought her very pretty.
10. "What is this strange, useful creature; what is it called?" said the king, "and where did you get it? I will give all I have to buy it from you, rather than be left without one."
11. But though the king sent for a great sack of gold, so heavy that it took three men to bring it into the room, Dick would not hear of selling his friend.
12. "What is that bundle under your arm?" said the captain to Dick. And then the boy showed him the kittens.
13. "Why these are even more pretty than the beast itself," said the queen, and she wished to have all the kittens in her lap. Poor woman! she had never before nursed a kitten in her life!
14. "You had better sell these to the king," the captain said in a whisper to Dick. "Tell him that some day they will grow up to be cats like yours, and in due time will have little ones of their own."
15. "But it would be cruel to take them all away from their mother," said Dick, for he had seen how quickly his cat had run to the queen to beg for her little ones.