"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.
"Good-by," cried Puss, waving his cap to the old salt.