harbor of San Francisco, called the Golden Gate, and Billy and Stubby
were looking forward to a good time on shore, and planning what they
would do, when, all unexpectedly, after landing, they got mixed up in
a bunch of cattle, and were driven aboard a big boat that was being
loaded with live cattle for Japan, and try as he would, Billy could
not extricate himself from them or avoid the long whips of the men who
were driving them. As for Stubby, he could easily have slipped away,
but he preferred to follow Billy, and that is how our travelers found
themselves bound for Japan without a day’s rest on shore after they
came up the coast from Mexico to San Francisco.
This was not at all what they wanted, for they were tired of the ocean,
but they were helpless, and what was worse, Billy stood in danger of
being killed and sold for mutton chops, for goat chops are often sold
for such. Stubby was afraid he, too, would be killed and made into
sausage, for he had heard that the Chinese eat dog meat, and if they
did, why not the Japanese? So with heavy hearts they saw the shore
recede farther and farther from them and the Golden Gate sink into the
blue waters of the Pacific, leaving them nothing to look at but water,
water all around them.
The only thing that varied the monotony of the long trip to Japan was
their short stop at the Sandwich Islands, where Billy and Stubby were
taken ashore for a run by the cook and his assistant, who were both
Japanese and were returning home to fight for their country against
Russia.
Since starting they had made great pets of both Billy and Stubby and
had often given them meat and apples, and got permission for them
to run on deck once in a while. Otherwise they would have been shut
below with the cattle and the trip would have been unendurable to the
independent, free-roving Billy.
One dark night as the steamer was ploughing the waters and they were
laying in a little sheltered nook on deck, they heard the captain say
to the mate:
“We are getting pretty near Port Arthur now and it is going to be
mighty ticklish sailing in these waters; with the two armies, the
Russians and the Japanese, banging away at each other from their
battleships and the waters under us filled with hidden mines and
torpedo boats. I tell you, I don’t like these submarine things floating
around. Who knows but one might get loose, float off and perhaps blow
up the wrong boat.”
And that is just what did happen, for while the captain was talking, a
terrific explosion was heard, louder than one hundred cannons going off
at once, and for a second, the heavens were lit up with a weird light
in which were seen huge pieces of debris flying in the air like the
eruption from a volcano, while, almost in the same second, they began
falling with a sissing sound into the waters beneath, and all that was
left of the Russian’s battle ship was a few splinters of wood and the
mangled bodies of her officers and men floating on top of the water.
It had all been so sudden and was over so quickly that it was hard to
realize that such a terrible disaster could have occurred in so short a
time.
“Now, what did I tell you about the danger of sailing along here? One
of these submarine mines or torpedo boats caused the blowing up of that
war-ship and I tell you what, we had better get out of here as fast as
ever we can or we too may be blown sky high before we know it.”
Consequently, they cautiously and softly steamed away from Port Arthur
and kept a sharp lookout for every Russian boat that might be sailing
round looking for some boat of the enemies to capture, but they escaped
them all.
When they landed, Billy’s and Stubby’s friends, the Japs, took them
home with them where they were fed and nicely housed in their back
yard, and while Billy and Stubby were making friends with the beautiful
pheasants that were shut in the same yard, their Japanese friends went
to military headquarters to join the army and when they came back they
were dressed in their uniforms with orders in their pockets to report
at headquarters the next morning.
For several days after this, Billy and Stubby saw nothing of them but
they were fed and looked after by a pretty, rosy faced, little Jap girl
who wore a pretty flowered kimona and wore her hair in funny looking,
little, smooth puffs with toy fans sticking out of it.
They had been in the yard about a week and Billy was getting tired of
such close quarters with nothing to see or do, when he heard a military
band marching down the street on the other side of the high fence. The
little Jap girl who had just brought them some water, when she heard
this, dropped her pan and ran to the gate in the fence and looked out
to see the soldiers go by. Of course Billy turned and was through the
gate in a flash with Stubby close at his heels and down the street they
ran in the direction the band had taken, while the poor little Jap girl
ran after them wringing her hands in dismay and calling to them to
come back, but they only ran the faster.
[Illustration]
Billy was as bad as any little Irish Paddy about liking to follow a
parade or a band and when he caught up to it he found it was leading a
regiment that was marching to the front. When Billy and Stubby dropped
back to the rear who should they see but their Japanese friends, the
last men of the last ranks.
When Billy spied them he made up his mind in a twinkle to follow and go
to the war with them. This he bleated to Stubby and of course Stubby
thought it would be great fun and agreed to go, too.
When the regiment had left the city’s cheering crowds behind, Billy
and Stubby crept up closer to the soldiers and trudged on quietly
after them until Stubby gave a quick little bark which one of the Japs
recognized and turning his head, he saw with surprise Billy and Stubby
marching behind him.
He tried to drive them back by shooing them and scolding but what cared
Billy and Stubby for a shoo or a scold when they were going to the war.
As the Japs could not break ranks and go for the goat and the dog,
they had to let them follow, which they did, mile after mile until the
regiment broke ranks for the night and went into camp.
By that time, they had traveled too far to send them back, so that
night when the Japs threw themselves down by their camp-fire, a large
black goat and a little yellow dog lay down with them.
And for many days and weeks and months they did this, sticking to the
regiment whether it chanced to be in the thick of the fight or waiting
for marching orders, and strange as it may seem, whenever this regiment
was in a fight, it always won and the two Japs had fought so bravely
that they had been promoted until they were no longer privates but
were colonel and captain, and their regiment was known as the “Black
Goat and Yellow Dog Regiment,” while Billy and Stubby had become their
mascots and here we will leave them to enjoy their honors.
Billy Whiskers Series
(TRADE MARK.)
[Illustration]
By FRANCES TREGO MONTGOMERY
BILLY WHISKERS
Billy Whiskers is a mischievous creature, full of wickedness and folly,
whose antics have furnished fun for a million readers. The child enjoys
every moment after he is introduced to the irresistible fellow.
BILLY WHISKERS’ KIDS
“Recounting the adventures of Day and Night, twin kids of the
nursery-famous Billy Whiskers. This is a stirring tale of travel and
trouble and mischief that will delight the little world.”--_Galveston
News._
BILLY WHISKERS, JR.
“Night, now grown, is known as Billy Whiskers, Jr. and as he has
all the personal traits which made his father’s career one round of
surprising activity and astonishing adventure, the son will be quite as
well beloved as his sire.”--_Chicago Record Herald._
BILLY WHISKERS’ TRAVELS
In which the ever active Billy tours Europe, each city in turn
furnishing ample opportunity for fun for sight-seeing Billy.
BILLY WHISKERS AT THE CIRCUS
“Everything goes well enough with Billy until a circus comes to town,
and then just like the small boy, he made up his mind to go come what
might and cost what it would. He made preparations for a week and went,
there to meet with all manner of adventures, becoming so infatuated
with the life that he joined it.”--_Des Moines Capital._
BILLY WHISKERS AT THE FAIR
In going to the Fair, Billy Whiskers didn’t leave a single prank at
home. He had more fun to the minute than most others have to the hour.
What he didn’t do and didn’t see is not worth relating.
Each volume bound in boards, cover and jacket in colors, six full-page
illustrations in colors, with scores of text drawings, quarto,
postpaid, per volume $1.00
THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING CO., AKRON, OHIO
The Billy Whiskers Series
TRADE MARK. REGISTERED IN U. S. PATENT OFFICE.
DICKY DELIGHTFUL IN RAINBOW LAND by James Ball Naylor
Dicky is truly a delightful youngster, who ventures over Rainbow Road,
to find himself the guest of Grandfather Gander and Grandmother Goose
in the Land of the Immortals.
Dr. Naylor knows how to please boys and girls, for the story is
brimming over with humor, rapid movement and lively conversation.
THE LITTLE GREEN GOBLIN by James Ball Naylor
The Little Green Goblin comes from Goblinland in his tiny featherbed
balloon, administers a goblin tablet to Bob Taylor, a dissatisfied
boy. The tablet shrinks him to goblin size, and away the two sail for
Goblinland, which is the place where you do as you please. Upon their
arrival, Bob--but to tell more would be to spoil a good story.
WITCH CROW AND BARNEY BYLOW by James Ball Naylor
Barney fell to wishing down in the haylot, along came a crow and gave
him a magic penny--he would always have that much but no more. Many
strange things then happened--things which cured Barney of that bad
habit of wishing.
SQUEAKS AND SQUAWKS FROM FAR-AWAY FORESTS by Burton Stoner
“Mr. Bull has done some remarkably good work for SQUEAKS AND SQUAWKS,
both in colors and halftones. The color work is superb.”--_Grand Rapids
Herald._
Charles Livingston Bull illustrates this charming book of nature
stories, in which the animals speak for themselves.
JIM CROW TALES by Burton Stoner
Jim Crow was the pet of a farmer boy. He was very wise and knew
all about the ways of the beasts and birds, and told them to his
friend--the most interesting anecdotes of the forest folk.
TEDDY BEARS by Adah Louise Sutton
“A fanciful story of the doings of a little girl’s toys, which get into
all sorts of pranks while people sleep. The doings of this interesting
coterie form a pleasing tale for children.”--_Pittsburg Post._
“Full of the brand of fun that tickles children.”--_Portland Oregonian._
A LITTLE MAID IN TOYLAND by Adah Louise Sutton
Eating a piece of magic cake, a little girl becomes diminutive and goes
to live among the dollies in her doll house. One day she steps through
the back door and finds herself in Toyland, and thereafter adventures
come thick and fast.
A CHRISTMAS WITH SANTA CLAUS by Frances Trego Montgomery
Santa carries two children to his home in his wonderful sleigh. They
meet Mrs. Santa, are shown a royal good time, and then Santa brings
them back when he makes his annual trip.
EACH BOOK BOUND IN BOARDS, QUARTO, ILLUSTRATED IN COLORS.
Postpaid for $1.00
The Saalfield Publishing Co., Akron, Ohio
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES:
Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_.
Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.
Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized.