Pinkie Whiskers found it very hard to travel over the country road with
all of his baggage. He caught his feet in the cage and fell over it
several times.
He did not know the way home and he had to ask every little wild
creature that he met where the cheese factory was.
At last he met Billy Jay, for Billy Jay had gone out to search for him.
Billy Jay felt sure that Pinkie Whiskers was not drowned and when he met
his little friend coming down the road he was not even surprised.
"Hello, Billy Jay!" shouted Pinkie Whiskers. "You see that I am coming
home."
"Hello, Pinkie Whiskers!" cried Billy Jay. "I never was so glad to see
anyone in my life. Let me carry something for you."
"All right, you may carry my handbag, if you wish," said Pinkie
Whiskers.
Now that Pinkie Whiskers had company, it did not seem any time at all
before they reached the cheese factory.
Pinkie Whiskers opened the door and walked right in, just as the family
was eating supper.
Mother Gray screamed and ran to kiss her son. Father Gray, Winkle,
Twinkle and Uncle Whiskers stood by and waited for their turn.
"Now, children, let Pinkie Whiskers eat his supper before you ask him
any questions. The poor little fellow must be very, very hungry after
his long journey."
Pinkie Whiskers ate and ate, then he told them all about the good
Water-Fairy, who was a friend of the Tree-Fairy and how she had asked
the Water-Fairy to help him.
Winkle, Twinkle and Billy Jay were so amazed by Pinkie Whiskers' story
that they stood and stared at him with big eyes.
Uncle Whiskers shook himself and said, "There now, Mother Gray, didn't I
tell you not to worry about Pinkie Whiskers?"
"And, yes," cried Pinkie Whiskers, "you said perhaps I might write a
book and I have already started one. So you see that you are always
right, Uncle Whiskers."