ROBINSON CRUSOE'S home was unlike anything Puss, Junior, had ever seen.
Notwithstanding that he had visited many strange places and met many
strange people, he was greatly surprised at Robinson Crusoe's style of
dwelling. It wasn't exactly like a fort, and yet it was one. Tom Thumb
said it reminded him of some of the strange castles he had seen while
with Good King Arthur.
It stood against the side of a small hill, surrounded by a high
stockade. There was no door to it, but while Puss was wondering how they
were going to get in, Robinson Crusoe placed a ladder against the wall
and climbed up, saying, "Follow me, my friends; this is the way we enter
Crusoe Castle."
After reaching the top they descended by the same ladder, which, of
course, was pulled up and lowered on the inside. A very nice looking
tent met their eyes, back of which was a large cave hollowed out of the
rocky hill.
"Here is where I live, my little friends," cried Robinson Crusoe. "This
is my dog, Snoozer, and my two cats, Caromel and Caroline."
[Illustration]
Puss had never been very fond of dogs, but Snoozer came forward in such
a respectful way that Puss took a liking to him at once. I suppose there
were so few visitors at Crusoe Castle that Snoozer would have welcomed
even a strange cat.
With Caromel and Caroline, however, matters were different. Caromel from
the first was jealous of Puss. You see, he had no fine, red-topped
boots, nor a sword and feathered cap. Caroline, however, made up for
him. She thought Puss, Junior, just about the handsomest cat she had
ever seen. Poor Caroline! She had never been off of Crusoe Island.
For all that, however, I don't think if she had been all over the wide,
wide world she would have met such a handsome cat as Puss, Junior. No,
indeed! Puss, Junior, was the Prince of Cats; that goes without saying,
though we have said it.
"And now that we have all been introduced, let us sit down and talk,"
cried Robinson Crusoe, "for I've hardly spoken to a soul for many years.
I've forgotten how a voice sounds."
So they all began to talk and laugh and to tell all sorts of jokes and
riddles until it began to grow dark. Then Robinson Crusoe jumped up and
said, "Come and watch me get supper, for I am Lord and Chief Cook of
Crusoe Castle."