"Well, we'll ask for him at every port," replied the kind master of the good ship, which was now rolling and dipping in the most graceful way possible. "I'll ask every old land lubber on the docks when we touch port. We'll hear some news, never fear." And then the Captain went over to tell the man at the tiller where to go. The "man" at the wheel was a little white mouse, but he knew how to steer the ship as well as any pilot, let me tell you.

"I don't have to rock the cradle," said the baby's mother, with a smile, looking up at Puss, as he tip-toed over to where she sat.

"No, he's fast asleep," replied Puss, "and the big blue ocean is rocking him better than the willow tree."

"Rock-a-by baby, safe on the ship, Where the foam-crested billows ripple and dip; And the breeze from the land of the big yellow moon Is turning the sail to a great white balloon."

"Where did you hear that pretty song?" asked Puss.

"Why, I just made it up," replied the baby's mother.

"Mothers always do that when they rock their little ones to sleep, you know."

OLD TOM

THE next morning the good ship came in sight of an old seaport. The harbor was very safe, for a tall white lighthouse stood upon the rocks to guide the sailors, and bellbuoys clanged their solemn warning from the dangerous reefs. In the distance rose a church spire, and near it stood a little red schoolhouse with a flag flying in the breeze. Down on the wharf ran a low row of buildings, worn and battered, where the old sailors lounged and told stories of their early days.

Pretty soon the good ship came about, and with her silken sails flapping in the wind, drifted up to the dock.

"Make fast!" shouted the Captain. The four and twenty little sailor mice jumped nimbly on the dock, and in a few minutes made the silk ropes fast to the posts. Then the good ship came to a standstill, and the gang-plank was lowered.

"All ash.o.r.e that's going ash.o.r.e!" quacked the captain.

"Oh Captain Duck," cried Puss, Junior, "we don't have to land, do we?"

"No," replied the Duck. "But you may go ash.o.r.e for a little while if you wish. We don't sail for two hours."

"All right!" replied Puss, "I'll take a run on the gra.s.s," and he walked down the gang-plank across the old wharf, until he came to a path, well worn by the sailors who for years had carried the cargoes up to the little village. Under a tree close by sat an old sailor. He was smoking a big black pipe as contentedly as could be. But as soon as he saw Puss he took it out of his mouth.

"Ahoy, my breezy little reefer," he cried.

"Good morning," replied Puss.

"Don't be in a hurry," said the old sailor. "Just moor your little hulk alongside of old Tom."

"What's the matter, my breezy little skipper?" asked the old sailor after a few minutes silence, for, Puss, you see, didn't know what to say.

"Nothing," replied Puss, sadly, "only, I can't find my father, the famous Puss in Boots."

"What did he look like?" asked the old sailor, with a grin.

"He looked like me----or, rather, I look like him," replied Puss.

"Well, my merry little sandpiper!" cried the old salt, "you should have stayed at home!"

"I don't agree with you," said Puss stoutly, "I wanted to see the world."

"Give me your flipper," said the old sailor kindly. "Good luck to ye. I hope you find your daddy."

A NEW Pa.s.sENGER

PUSS, JUNIOR, waved his paw to the old sailor, who put his pipe back in his mouth and smoked away contentedly under the shady tree. All of a sudden a pretty little girl jumped out from behind a stone wall.

"Bobby Shafto's gone to sea, Silver buckles on his knee; He'll come back and marry me, Pretty Bobby Shafto.

Bobby Shafto's fat and fair, Combing down his yellow hair; He's my love for aye and ere, Pretty Bobby Shafto."

"h.e.l.lo," said Puss when she had finished her song.

"Did you just get off that pretty ship," she asked.

"Yes, Miss," replied Puss.

"Was Bobby Shafto on board?"

"I didn't see him," replied Puss. "Did you expect him?"

"I don't know," replied the little girl, "but I run down to look every time a ship comes to the old dock. And I always ask the old sailor who sits on the bench over there if he has seen my Bobby."

"You're looking for your Bobby, and I'm searching for my daddy," said Puss, sadly. And then he told the little girl how discouraged he was because in all his travels he had not yet found him.

And then, all of a sudden, they heard a voice calling, "All aboard!"

"Goodness!" exclaimed Puss, "I must hurry; the ship's going to sail.

Good-by!" and off he ran to the dock as fast as he could.

"Wait for me," called out the little girl, "I guess I'll go, too. I may find Bobby Shafto."

"Hurry, hurry!" cried Puss, looking back. "I'll run ahead and ask the Captain to wait."

And it was lucky he did, for the gang-plank was being hauled in just as he arrived. "Wait for us!" he shouted.

"Why, I don't see anybody else," said the Captain, as Puss stepped aboard.

"Yes, there is," answered Puss, "There she comes!"

And in another minute, with her bonnet strings streaming in the wind, the little girl came running down the dock.

"Thank you for waiting," she cried, turning to the Captain. "I'd have been so disappointed if you had left me behind."

And then she stood close to Puss as the good ship left the dock. "Good luck, my little skipper," shouted the old sailor.