"_Jeremiah's disappeared again._"
After dinner that night, Grandfather took Hortense on his knee and told
her an exciting story, of pirates and Malay Kris.
"Is it true?" Hortense asked.
"Pretty nearly," said Grandfather. "It might be true."
"If you think things are true, then they are true, aren't they?"
Hortense demanded.
"Perhaps," said Grandfather, wrinkling his forehead. "Philosophers
disagree on that point. Now run off to bed."
Hortense kissed her Grandfather and Grandmother good night and went to
her room.
"I hope you got a good nap to-day," she said to Highboy when she had
closed the door, "because we are going to play hide and seek to-night,
and Andy, who lives next door, is coming over."
"I slept all day," said Highboy, "and I'm fit as a fiddle."
"Why do you say fit as a fiddle?" asked Hortense. "Do fiddles have
fits? Cats have, of course!"
"And dresses," added Highboy, "and things fit into boxes. Your
grandmother says when she puts things into me, 'This will fit nicely,'
so I suppose a fiddle fits or has fits the same way."
"It doesn't seem clear to me," said Hortense.
"How many things are clear?" Highboy demanded.
"Lots of things aren't," Hortense admitted. "Of course, a clear day is
easy."
"And you clear the table," said Highboy.
"And clear the decks for action," said Hortense, "but that's pirates. I
must ask Malay Kris about that. He's seen it happen lots of times.
We'll get him to play to-night."
"Who is Malay Kris?" asked Highboy.
"He's the long, snaky knife that hangs in the parlor," said Hortense.
"Then there's Alligator Sofa, too. We'll get him to play, if he'll wake
up. He's so slow I suspect he'll always be _It_."
Highboy shivered until he creaked.
"They sound fierce and dangerous to me," he said, "worse than Coal and
Ember."
"Perhaps we can set him on Jeremiah and the other one," said Hortense.
"I'm longing to see the bright, round one with prickly sides. I've a
guess as to who it is."
Highboy shivered again.
"Don't mention them in my hearing--please!" he begged. "You never can
tell when Jeremiah is snooping about, and he's a telltale."
"Well, we needn't be afraid of Jeremiah," Hortense said. "Malay Kris
will make the other one run, too, I expect."
She looked out of the window.
"There's no light on the lawn from the library," said she. "Everybody
must be in bed. Let's go down."
"You hold my hand tight," said Highboy.
Hortense did so, and they stole down the stairs together.
Coal and Ember growled a bit when they entered Grandmother's room but
stopped when they saw who it was.
"What do we do to-night?" Owl asked. "I feel wakeful."
"Andy's coming over," said Hortense, "and then we're going to ask Malay
Kris and Alligator Sofa to play with us."
"Andy sounds like a boy," said Owl. "I hate boys. One robbed my nest of
eggs once, and I swore I'd pull his hair if I ever met him again."
"That was another boy, I'm sure," Hortense replied.
"All boys are bad," Owl grumbled. "Who are Malay Kris and Alligator
Sofa?"
"I'll show you," said Hortense, "but first I must let Andy in. The
cellar door's sure to be locked. You all wait here until we come."
She found her way into the dark kitchen and, unlocking the door, stood
at the head of the stairs. Soon she heard bumps in the wooden box.
"Is that you, Andy?" she called softly.
"Yes," said a muffled voice, and she heard him stumbling in the dark.
Andy found his way to the stairs at last and soon stood beside her.
Hortense took him by the hand and led him to Grandmother's room.
"This is Andy," she said to the others.
"Let us smell him," said Coal and Ember, "so we'll know him in the
dark."
They sniffed at his heels, and Owl glared fiercely at him.
"It's not the boy who robbed my nest," said Owl. "It's lucky for his
hair."
"Now we'll go into the parlor for the others," said Hortense, leading
the way.
It was so dark in the parlor that Hortense could see nothing; so she
threw open the shutters, admitting a faint light which shone on Malay
Kris and made him glitter.
"We want you to come down to play hide and seek," said Hortense.
"I'd rather have a fight," said Malay Kris. "It's a long time since
I've tasted blood. Many's the man I've slithered through like a gimlet
in a plank."
"These boastful talkers seldom amount to much," said Owl.
Malay Kris glared at Owl, whose fierce eyes never wavered.
"You have wings," said Malay Kris, "but anything that walks or swims is
my meat. Show him to me."
"Nonsense," said Hortense sharply. "This is hide and seek and not a
pirate ship."
"In that case," said Malay Kris, "I'll join you in a friendly game."
Down he leaped as agile as a cat, a trim, slim fellow with bright eyes.
"And now for Alligator," said Hortense. "He's asleep, as usual."
She shook him roughly, and Alligator spoke in a hoarse voice like a
rusty saw.
"Who's tickling me?"
"His voice needs oiling," said Owl.
"A fat pig is what I need," said Alligator.
"Well we have no fat pigs," said Hortense. "We are going to play hide
and seek."
"I'll play, of course," said Alligator, "but I'm slow on my feet. Now
if it were a lake or river, I'd show you a thing or two."
"The point is, who is to be _It_? said Owl.
"Very true," said Lowboy. "He's a mind like a judge--never forgets the
point."
"She's _It_, of course," said Malay Kris. "She thought of the game."
"Oh, very well," said Hortense.
"It would be more polite to make Andy _It_," said Owl. "Always be
polite to ladies."
"I'll choose between Andy and me," said Hortense.
"Eeny, meeny, mona, my
Barcelona bona sky,
Care well,
Broken well,
We wo wack.
"I'm _It_. I'll count to a hundred, and the newel post in the hall
will be goal."
There was a hurrying and scurrying while Hortense hid her face.
"Ready," Hortense called and opened her eyes. She moved cautiously in
the dark hall and stumbled over something at the second step.
Slap, slap, slap, something went against the newel post.
"One, two, three for me," said a hoarse voice.
"That isn't fair. You slapped with your tail," said Hortense.
"Why isn't it fair?" said Alligator. "I wouldn't stand a chance with
you running. Now go ahead and find the others while I take a nap."
"Well, there are plenty more," Hortense consoled herself. "I'll look in
Grandmother's room first."
The first thing she saw was the bright eyes of Owl, who was perched on
the mantel.
"I see you," said Hortense and started to run back.
But Owl flew over her head and was perched on the newel post when she
arrived.
"Dear me," said Hortense, "I'll be _It_ all the time at this rate. I
wonder if Coal and Ember are in the fireplace. She looked, but they
weren't there.
"I'll try the library," thought Hortense.
She hadn't more than reached the center of the room when Coal and Ember
dashed past her.
"Why didn't you tell me?" said Hortense reproachfully to the bronze
image of Buddha seated placidly on his pedestal. The image didn't deign
to reply.
"I wish I could make him talk," said Hortense aloud.
Somebody snickered in the corner.
"Sounds like Lowboy," said Hortense.
Lowboy started to run for the door but collided with a chair.
"I've scratched myself," said Lowboy.
Hortense did not wait to console him. Instead, she ran to the newel
post.
"One, two, three for Lowboy!" she called. "Lowboy's _It_. All-y all-y
out's in free."
Malay Kris crawled out from behind the clock, and the others appeared
one by one.
"Lowboy's _It_," said Hortense.
Lowboy shut his eyes and began to count. Hortense seized Andy by the
hand and ran with him up the stairs.
"We'll hide in the attic," she whispered.
Up and up they ran, softly opened the door to the attic, and hid behind
a trunk in the corner.
"They'll never find us," said Andy.
They lay quiet and heard nothing for a long time.
"Perhaps they've given up," said Andy.
"Ssh!" Hortense whispered.
Something was running very fast up the stairs. It did not stop at the
top, but raced on to the ladder which reached to the cupola above.
Hortense peeped out. On the sill of the open window above stood
Jeremiah with arched back and swollen tail. His yellow eyes shone like
lamps.
"Of all things!" said Hortense.
Then the Cat disappeared, and they heard the soft thud of his feet
alighting on the roof.
"We must see what he's up to," said Hortense.
Followed by Andy, she ran to the ladder, scrambled to the top, and
peered out. The Cat was perched on top of the chimney, looking this way
and that.
Hortense ducked her head in order not to be seen.
"What do you suppose he's doing there?" she asked.
"Perhaps something is after him," said Andy.
From below came a slow scratching sound. Some heavy creature with claws
was coming up the attic stairs.
"Is it you, Alligator?" Hortense called.
"Where's that Cat?" said Alligator in a determined voice. "I must have
him."
"He's on the roof," said Hortense, climbing down. "But what do you want
him for?"
"For supper," said Alligator in his harsh voice. "He'll be furry, but
eat him I will."
He started up the ladder.
"I'm old and big for such work as this," said he, "but have him I will.
Push my tail a bit and give me a lift."
Hortense pushed and Andy, at the top, pulled. Out went Alligator,
Hortense and Andy holding his tail while he scrambled down the roof.
Jeremiah raised his voice.
"Help! Help!" he cried as Alligator slid slowly down the roof towards
him. Then, as Alligator put his forelegs against the chimney and began
to lift his horrible head, Jeremiah shut his eyes and jumped.
Quick as a flash Alligator's huge jaws opened wide, and into them fell
Jeremiah. Hortense could see Alligator's throat wiggle as Jeremiah went
down.
Alligator crawled back slowly.
"I must seek my corner and go to sleep," said Alligator, balancing
himself on the window ledge. "Hear him?"
Hortense and Andy put their ears to Alligator's back. Within they could
hear Jeremiah running around and around and crying out.
"He's having a fit," said Hortense.
"A snug fit," said Alligator grimly. "He'll get used to it after a
while."
Hortense and Andy were quite silent as they slowly followed Alligator
down the stairs.
"It's rather horrible," Hortense whispered to Andy, "although I didn't
like Jeremiah."
"I think I'll go home," said Andy.
In the hall below they found all the rest.
"Where have you been keeping yourselves?" said Owl irritably. "Ember's
_It_, and we've waited ever so long."
"Alligator's swallowed Jeremiah," said Hortense.
"Served him right," said Owl, but Coal and Ember backed off as though
fearing their turn would be next. Lowboy was sober for once.
"I want to go home," whimpered Highboy.
"Why didn't you let me run him through first?" demanded Malay Kris.
"I'd have skewered him like a roast of beef."
"Too late," said Alligator, making off to the parlor.
"I suppose the party's broken up for to-night," said Owl.
All moved away by common consent. Hortense let Andy out of the back
door and locked it after him. Taking Highboy, who was still shaking, by
the hand, she led him up the stairs.
"That Alligator's a dreadful person," said Highboy. "I'm sure I'll not
sleep at all."
Hortense, however, slept soundly and was late for breakfast. When she
entered the dining room, Grandmother was saying, "Jeremiah's
disappeared again. I wonder what can have got into him of late."
Mary, bringing toast, entered with a troubled face.
"Jeremiah's somewhere in the parlor, ma'm," she said. "I heard him
crying under the sofa, but though I looked I couldn't see him. I called
to him, but he wouldn't come. It's most surprising."
"We'll find him after breakfast," said Grandfather.
So after breakfast they all went to the parlor. Jeremiah's plaintive
cries could be clearly heard. Grandfather looked under the sofa and
poked around with a cane, but still no Jeremiah appeared.
"We'll have to move it out," said Grandfather. "He must be caught
somewhere."
He moved the sofa out into the room and peered behind it. Jeremiah's
cries came distinctly, but he was not to be seen.
"Most extraordinary," said Grandfather.
Aunt Esmerelda shook her head, as did Uncle Jonah.
"Dat cat is sho' a hoodoo," said Uncle Jonah.
"Something's moving in the sofa," said Hortense.
All looked, and sure enough there was a slight movement from within.
"But he couldn't get into the sofa!" said Grandmother.
Uncle Jonah and Fergus turned the sofa over on its back.
"There's no hole," said Grandfather, examining the sofa carefully from
end to end, "but there is something moving inside!"
He opened his pocketknife and carefully slit the covering at one end.
Uncle Jonah and Aunt Esmerelda retreated to the door and looked on with
frightened faces.
Grandfather inserted his hand, felt around, and pulled forth Jeremiah,
a very crestfallen cat.
"How did you get in there?" demanded Grandfather.
Jeremiah mewed and looked much ashamed.
"A most extraordinary thing," said Grandfather, carrying Jeremiah from
the room.
Hortense followed with the others. As she went, she raised her eyes to
Malay Kris, hanging in his customary place on the wall.
Malay Kris winked one bright eye at her.
[Illustration]