Part 5

Puss and Tom were too amazed to answer for a few minutes. Then Puss, Junior, stretched out his right paw, saying: "I'm very pleased to meet you, Mr. Crusoe."

"And so am I," said little Tom Thumb, standing on tiptoe and reaching up his hand.

"Well, you're certainly as welcome as the flowers in May," said Robinson Crusoe. "Visitors are few and far between. Come with me to my house."

CRUSOE CASTLE

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."

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."

FRIDAY

PUSS, JUNIOR, and Tom Thumb enjoyed their supper at Crusoe Castle better than any meal they ever had. "Even when I visited the Man in the Moon, the cheese wasn't as good as this," said Puss.

"Glad you like it," said Mr. Crusoe, "I made it myself from goat's milk. I have some fine goats, let me tell you. I made me this coat from an old Nanny goat. Do you wonder how Crusoe could do so?"

"Well, I suppose there are no tailors on Crusoe Island," said Tom Thumb.

"I've never met any," replied Mr. Crusoe with a laugh. "I've never met anybody so far except goats and kids, parrots and monkeys, ducks and drakes, snakes and lizards."

"Where did you get Snoozer and Caromel and Caroline?" asked Puss.

"They came off the ship with me when it was wrecked," said Mr. Crusoe. "That is, I brought them off the next day when I went out on the raft to the wreck. And they've been with me ever since."

"Oh, by the way," Puss, Junior, suddenly exclaimed. "Is Friday here?"

"Oh, yes," cried Tom Thumb, "where is Friday?"

Mr. Crusoe got up and walked over to a tall pole and looked over carefully the notches cut into the wood. "Let me see," he said. "To-day is Thursday. Yes, that's right; Friday will be here to-morrow."

"You've made a mistake, Mr. Crusoe," said Puss, with a laugh.

"Have I," he replied, looking over his wooden calendar carefully a second time.

"I don't mean the day," said Puss. "I mean your man Friday."

"Oh, you mean my black man Friday," said Mr. Crusoe. "Oh, I gave him a holiday. He'll be here to-morrow."

"I'm very anxious to see him," said Tom Thumb.

"He'll be surprised when he sees you, too," said Mr. Crusoe, with a grin. "He's never seen a white man but me."

By this time it was quite dark, so Mr. Crusoe lighted some very nice home-made candles and stuck them here and there in the cave. They gave a very soft light. The waves on the beach murmured gently, and pretty soon Snoozer was snoring and Caromel and Caroline were fast asleep on an old sack in a corner.

"Let us turn in," said Mr. Crusoe, showing Puss and Tom a very comfortable hammock. In a short time everybody was sound asleep and snoring away in Crusoe Cave.

SUPPOSING

THE loud ringing of a bell awoke everyone in Crusoe Castle. Puss, Junior, jumped out of his hammock and little Tom Thumb yawned and asked in a sleepy voice, "Who's ringing the door-bell?" Then Mr. Crusoe picked up the ladder and went outside and, placing it against the fence, climbed up to the top, and after that he pulled up the ladder and then let it down on the outside. All this time Snoozer stood below wagging his tail, while Mr. Crusoe's two cats, Caromel and Caroline, purred and rubbed against the calendar pole. Pretty soon a curly-headed black face appeared above the wall.

"Black man Friday," whispered Tom Thumb.

"Bow-wow!" yelped Snoozer, and in a few minutes Mr. Crusoe and his man Friday climbed down the ladder.

"This is my good man Friday," said Mr. Crusoe. So Puss and Tom Thumb shook hands with him, which seemed to please him immensely.

"Glum-glum. Blum-blum!" he cried, smiling and showing a row of very white teeth.

"That's 'Howdy! Pleased to meet you,' in his language," said Mr. Crusoe. "He can talk very little English yet. I've had little time to devote to his education so far."

"But who rang the bell?" asked Puss, Junior.

"Why, Friday did, of course," replied Mr. Crusoe. "Come over here and I'll show you," and he led Puss to the rear of the cave.

"I brought this bell from the wreck," explained Mr. Crusoe. "After Friday came to me I tied a rope to it. At the other end of the rope I fastened a door-knob. When I go out Friday usually stays in. And when I ring the bell he lets down the ladder to me. And when he's out he rings the bell, just as he did this morning, and I let the ladder down to him."

"What do you do when both of you go out?" asked Puss. "Does Snoozer attend to the ladder?"

"No, no," replied Mr. Crusoe. "We hide the ladder in the woods nearby. Then when we come back we get it out and stand it up against the wall and climb up."

"Supposing someone should come across the ladder and make a call while you're out?" asked Tom Thumb.

"Well, I don't know whether they'd think of that if they just happened to find the ladder," answered Mr. Crusoe.

"Well, supposing they did," said Tom Thumb.

"Caesar's Ghost!" cried Mr. Crusoe. "Suppose we don't do any more supposing! I've been so long alone that I've forgotten how to play that game. Let's all go down to the beach and get some fresh soft clams for breakfast. Start the water boiling, Friday, we're going to have steamed clams for breakfast." And then Mr. Crusoe climbed up the ladder, with Puss and Tom Thumb close at his heels.

THREE MEN IN A TUB

ON reaching the seashore, Robinson Crusoe raised a spy glass to his eyes and looked carefully over the water. And then all of a sudden he lowered the glass and whispered: "The cannibals are coming! We must go back to my fort at once."

"Do they eat cats?" asked Puss, Junior.

"I don't know," replied Mr. Crusoe. "You see, I've never met a cannibal; in fact, I've always held aloof from them."

Crusoe's man Friday was nearly frightened to death. He was as pale as a black ghost, which is pretty white for a negro.

Once inside the fort, Mr. Crusoe again took a look at the cannibals. "Why, I guess I've made a mistake," he cried; "it's a tub, not a canoe!"

"Rub-a-dub-dub! Three men in a tub; And who do you think they be? The butcher, the baker, The candlestick maker, Turn 'em out knaves all three!"

"Well, that's good news," cried Puss, Junior, while Black Man Friday jumped about in great glee. You see, he had escaped only a short time before from the cannibals.

Little Tom Thumb, although safe inside Puss, Junior's, pocket, was also relieved. The only one who didn't seem overjoyed was Mr. Crusoe himself.

"What's the matter now?" said Puss.

Mr. Crusoe gave a deep sigh. "If you owed the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker as much as I do you wouldn't be overjoyed at seeing them, either."

"But I'd rather see them than cannibals," cried Tom Thumb. "I'd rather they'd take my money than my life!"

"That's very true," said Mr. Crusoe, "but you don't quite get me. The laws on this island are very strict. They will allow you to shoot a cannibal at sight but not your grocery man."

"Then you are powerless against these three men in a tub?" said Puss, Junior.

"Well, not exactly," replied Mr. Crusoe. "I needn't answer the bell, you know."

By this time the three men had landed on the beach, and pretty soon the doorbell rang.

"S-s-sh!" whispered Mr. Crusoe, "don't make a sound. They can pull the handle off, for all I care."

They didn't do this, but they kept the bell going until every one in Crusoe Castle was nearly crazy. First the butcher took a hand, then the baker, and then the candlestick maker. Then they began all over again.

A BIG FISH

"IF those fellows don't stop ringing that bell, I'll get out my gun," said Robinson Crusoe. "I didn't get the bell for them; it's all paid for long ago."

At that moment, the bell-cord snapped, and the baker, who had just given the handle a dreadful yank, fell over backwards and rolled down the hill to the beach.

"Mr. Crusoe's not at home," said the butcher. "We might as well go back." So he and the candlestick maker went down to the shore and joined the baker; and then all three got into the tub and sailed away.

"And we must do the same," said Puss, Junior. "Tom Thumb and I thank you very much for our nice visit on your island, but it's time we went forth again on our journey of adventure."

"Well, I'm sorry to see you go," said Robinson Crusoe. And after that Puss shoved off the little boat and soon he and Tom were far out of sight on the big, wide sea.

"When the wind is in the East, 'Tis neither good for man nor beast; When the wind is in the North, The skilful fisher goes not forth. When the wind is in the South, It blows the bait in the fish's mouth; When the wind is in the West, Then 'tis at the very best."

"Well, as the wind is in the South, why don't you fish?" cried Captain Puss, Junior. So Tom Thumb started in, and presently he felt a tremendous tug on the line.

"I've got a fish! I've got a fish!" he cried, and then he began pulling in his line as fast as he could. But, oh dear me! It wasn't a fish after all, but a great big whale!

"Don't you pull on that line any more," cried the whale, "if you do I'll smash your boat."

"Oh, is that so," said little Tom Thumb, although, of course, he was frightened almost to death, but what was the use to show fear? It would only make things worse, and if he put on a bold front, perhaps the whale would let them alone.

"I'll take the hook out of your nose, if you'll promise not to swallow me," said little Tom Thumb.

"All right," said the whale, and then Tom tried to pull it out. But it was in so tight that the whale began to spout great big tears. "Oh, dear me! It hurts just like a tooth!"

"Well, it's your own fault!" said Tom. "Next time don't swallow everything that comes along!"

MARY LEE

"IF you're not more careful, I'll spout water over your boat and sink it," cried the whale, growing tired of Tom Thumb's fruitless endeavors to get the fish hook out. "My nose is bleeding now and the hook is still in it."

"Let me give the string a yank," said Tom Thumb. "Didn't you ever have a tooth pulled out that way? It won't hurt much."

"Well, go ahead," said the whale, closing his eyes and shutting his teeth tight. And then out came the hook and over went Tom into the bottom of the boat.

"Ouch! Ouch!" said the whale, while little Tom Thumb picked himself up and said to Puss, Junior, "Don't you ever ask me to fish again in the ocean. I'd rather fish like Simple Simon."

Simple Simon went a-fishing For to catch a whale; All the water he had got Was in his mother's pail.

"What are you grumbling about?" asked the whale, peering over the side of the boat. "One would think you had been caught with a hook," and saying this disagreeable thing, he dived down into the sea.

"No more fishing for me," laughed Tom Thumb.

And just then they came close to a lighthouse on a big rock. So they ran the boat up on the little stretch of sand.

"I don't know what we're landing for," said Captain Puss, Junior, "only I've never been in a lighthouse and here's a good chance."

"Haven't you?" asked a pretty voice, and a young girl appeared on the stone steps leading down to the beach. "Come, my gallant tars, and I'll show you my lighthouse and after that you can tell me some of your adventures, for 'tis a lonely life I lead here alone on the rock until my Bobby Shafto returns."

Bobby Shafto's gone to sea In his schooner Mary Lee. Hard-a-port, or hard-a-lee, "Hasten, Bobby, home to me."

So Puss picked up Tom Thumb and followed the girl into the lighthouse and up the stairs to the very top where the great lamp sent out its rays of light to guide the ships at night; or the great bell clanged in foggy weather to warn the weary sailor from the cruel rocks.

STORY-TELLING

AFTER they had seen everything there was to be seen they all went into the cosy kitchen, Puss, Junior, with Tom Thumb on his shoulder and the pretty girl who kept the lighthouse.

"And now we shall have supper," she said. "And after that, when the lamp is lighted in the tower, we'll sit outside on the doorstep and Puss, Junior, shall tell me one of his adventures."

"Well, what shall I tell and where shall I begin?" asked Puss, when they all were seated outside the lighthouse.

"Tell me how you and Tom became fellow travelers," said the girl, taking Tom up in her hand and placing him on her knee.

"Willingly," said Puss, stroking his whiskers and curling his great mustache, "and should I make a mistake in the telling Tom may correct me.

"When I left my father at the Castle of my Lord of Carabas I had gone but a few miles when I came to Tom Thumb's house. And as soon as his mother saw me she asked me to go to King Arthur's Court and find out about her son, Tom Thumb. She had made him but a few days before a small cambric parasol, and with this as a sort of airship he had floated off on the wind to the castle. When I got there I found that poor Tom was imprisoned in a mousetrap. He had fallen into the dough which the royal baker was about to bake into cakes for King Arthur. And this had so angered the baker that he had thrown Tom into a mousetrap."

"It was worse than that, I was to be beheaded," interposed Tom. "I owe my life to Puss, Junior."

At this, Puss actually blushed, for he was a modest little cat, although he had traveled much and had been royally treated.

"Say not so, my dear Tom," he cried, "for King Arthur was only too glad to comply with my request when I asked him to release you. In fact, it was not because he feared my sword, but because he liked my rhyme."

"How did it run?" asked the girl. And Puss, blushing still more deeply, commenced to recite this little verse:

"My good King Arthur rules this land With justice and a generous hand. Far be it that a cat should plead In vain that Tom Thumb shall be freed."

"Is that what you said?" cried little Tom Thumb. "Dear, dear Puss, I shall never forget what you did for me!"

Dear, dear! Here we are at the end of the book and poor little Puss, Junior, has not yet found his father. Maybe he will in the next book.

THE END

THE PUSS-IN-BOOTS, Jr. SERIES

By DAVID CORY

Author of "The Little Jack Rabbit Stories" and "Little Journeys to Happyland"

* * * * *

=Handsomely Bound. Colored Wrappers. Illustrated. Each Volume Complete in Itself.=

* * * * *

To know Puss Junior once is to love him forever. That's the way all the little people feel about this young, adventurous cat, son of a very famous father.

THE ADVENTURES OF PUSS-IN-BOOTS, JR.

FURTHER ADVENTURES OF PUSS-IN-BOOTS, JR.

PUSS-IN-BOOTS, JR. IN FAIRYLAND.

TRAVELS OF PUSS-IN-BOOTS, JR.

PUSS-IN-BOOTS, JR., AND OLD MOTHER GOOSE

PUSS-IN-BOOTS, JR., IN NEW MOTHER GOOSE LAND

PUSS-IN-BOOTS, JR., AND THE GOOD GRAY HORSE

PUSS-IN-BOOTS, JR., AND TOM THUMB

PUSS-IN-BOOTS, JR., AND ROBINSON CRUSOE

PUSS-IN-BOOTS, JR., AND THE MAN IN THE MOON

* * * * *

GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK

Little Jack Rabbit Books

(Trademark Registered)

By DAVID CORY

Author of "Little Journeys to Happyland"

* * * * *

=Colored Wrappers With Text Illustrations.=

* * * * *

A new and unique series about the furred and feathered little people of the wood and meadow.

Children will eagerly follow the doings of little Jack Rabbit, and the clever way in which he escapes from his three enemies, Danny Fox, Mr. Wicked Wolf and Hungry Hawk will delight the youngsters.

LITTLE JACK RABBIT'S ADVENTURES LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND DANNY FOX LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND THE SQUIRREL BROTHERS LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND CHIPPY CHIPMUNK LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND THE BIG BROWN BEAR LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND UNCLE JOHN HARE LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND PROFESSOR CROW LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND OLD MAN WEASEL LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND MR. WICKED WOLF LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND HUNGRY HAWK LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND THE POLICEMAN DOG LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND MISS MOUSIE LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND UNCLE LUCKY LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND THE YELLOW DOG TRAMP

* * * * *

GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK

LITTLE JOURNEYS TO HAPPYLAND

By DAVID CORY

* * * * *

=Profusely Illustrated. Individual Colored Wrappers.=

* * * * *

Printed in large type--easy to read. For children from 6 to 8 years.

* * * * *

=A new series of exciting adventures by the author of the LITTLE JACK RABBIT books. This series is unique in that it deals with unusual and exciting adventures on land and sea and in the air.=

THE CRUISE OF THE NOAH'S ARK

This is a good rainy day story. On just such a day Mr. Noah invites Marjorie to go for a trip in Noah's Ark. She gets aboard just in time and away it floats out into the big wide world.

THE MAGIC SOAP BUBBLE

The king of the gnomes has a magic pipe with which he blows a wonderful bubble and taking Ed. with him they both have a delightful time in Gnomeland.

THE ICEBERG EXPRESS

The Mermaid's magic comb changes little Mary Louise into a mermaid. The Polar Bear Porter on the Iceberg Express invites her to take a trip with him and away they go.

THE WIND WAGON

Little Hero stepped aboard the Wind Wagon and started on a journey to many wonderful places and had a delightful time.

THE MAGIC UMBRELLA

A little old man gave Jimmy the Magic Umbrella which took him to Happyland, where he had many adventures.

* * * * *

GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK

THE LITTLE WASHINGTONS SERIES

By LILLIAN ELIZABETH ROY

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=Handsomely Bound. Colored Wrappers. Illustrated. For Children 6 to 12 Years.=

* * * * *

This series presents early American history in a manner that impresses the young readers. Because of George and Martha Washington Parke, two young descendants of the famous General Washington, these stories follow exactly the life of the great American, by means of playing they act the life of the Washingtons, both in battles and in society.

THE LITTLE WASHINGTONS

Their thrilling battles and expeditions generally end in "punishment" lessons read by Mrs. Parke from the "Life of Washington." The culprits listen intently, for this reading generally gives them new ideas for further games of Indian warfare and Colonists' battles.

THE LITTLE WASHINGTONS' RELATIVES

The Davis children visit the Parke home and join zealously in the games of playing General Washington. So zealously, in fact, that little Jim almost loses his scalp.

THE LITTLE WASHINGTONS' TRAVELS

The children wage a fierce battle upon the roof of a hotel in New York City. Then, visiting the Davis home in Philadelphia, the patriotic Washingtons vanquish the Hessians on a battlefield in the empty lot back of the Davis property.

THE LITTLE WASHINGTONS AT SCHOOL

After the school-house battle the Washingtons discover a band of gypsies camping near the back road to their homes and incidentally they secure the stolen horse which the gypsies had taken from the "butter and egg farmer" of the Parkes.

THE LITTLE WASHINGTONS' HOLIDAYS

They spend a pleasant summer on two adjoining farms in Vermont. During the voyage they try to capture a "frigate" but little Jim is caught and about to be punished by the Captain when his confederates hasten in and save him.

* * * * *

GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK

THE BUNNY BROWN SERIES

By LAURA LEE HOPE

Author of the Popular "Bobbsey Twins" Books, Etc.

* * * * *

=Durably Bound. Illustrated. Uniform Style of Binding. Every Volume Complete in Itself.=

These stories are eagerly welcomed by the little folks from about five to ten years of age. Their eyes fairly dance with delight at the lively doings of inquisitive little Bunny Brown and his cunning, trustful sister Sue.

BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE ON GRANDPA'S FARM BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE PLAYING CIRCUS BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT CAMP-REST-A-WHILE BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT AUNT LU'S CITY HOME BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE IN THE BIG WOODS BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE ON AN AUTO TOUR BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AND THEIR SHETLAND PONY BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE GIVING A SHOW BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT CHRISTMAS TREE COVE BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE IN THE SUNNY SOUTH BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE KEEPING STORE BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AND THEIR TRICK DOG BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT A SUGAR CAMP BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE ON THE ROLLING OCEAN BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE ON JACK FROST ISLAND

* * * * *

GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK

THE BOBBSEY TWINS BOOKS

For Little Men and Women

By LAURA LEE HOPE

Author of "The Bunny Brown Series," Etc.

* * * * *

=Durably Bound. Illustrated. Uniform Style of Binding. Every Volume Complete in Itself.=

* * * * *

These books for boys and girls between the ages of three and ten stands among children and their parents of this generation where the books of Louisa May Alcott stood in former days. The haps and mishaps of this inimitable pair of twins, their many adventures and experiences are a source of keen delight to imaginative children everywhere.