“Oh, look,” Ann whispered, “see the darling, little, front doors, Peter!  Just like the cat-hole in Aunt Jane’s big door.  The chimneys are shaped something like ears and the roofs are all covered with fur!”

“Yes,” answered Peter, “and they’ve got little gardens to ’em, Ann.  I guess that must be the catnip we smell so strong.  I don’t see any flowers, though, only big tall weeds, rows and rows of ’em—­milkweed—­that’s what it is!  What do you suppose they planted that for?”

Prowler, who was walking just ahead of Peter, overheard this last remark, and turning, fixed his large, round, yellow eyes on the little boy.  “Don’t you like milk, young man?” he asked.

“Why, yes,” said Peter, very puzzled, “but not that kind, you know.”

“Well, milk’s milk these hard times,” said Prowler, wagging his head.  “It don’t do to be too particerler.  You like mice, don’t you?” he continued.

“Why, I like candy mice,” said Peter grinning, “but I never knew before that cats did!”

“Sh-sh!” Poor Prowler began to tremble all over and look anxiously about him.  “Not a word of that,” he murmured, “or I’m a dead cat!  You keep mum about that little affair, young’un, and I’ll do you a good turn yet, see if I don’t!”

“All right; don’t you forget!” whispered Peter.

The procession was now approaching a house considerably larger than any of the others and which had “The Pirattery” written in large letters over its door.  Mittens led the way inside, the mates with the children and all the other pirates followed, together with as many of the island cats as could squeeze themselves in.  The Pirattery, so the children were informed by Growler and Prowler, was an assembly hall or general meeting-place for the pirates when on shore.  Its floor and the little platform at one end were strewn with rat-skin rugs of the finest quality, and its walls were adorned with handsomely stuffed and mounted mouse and fish heads, snake skins, and other trophies of the chase.

Mittens now took up his position on the platform and began a long and eloquent speech in which he related the story of the capture of his prisoners, making the most absurd boasts of the terrible risks he had run, and dwelling most particularly on the awful fate of the False Hare—­while quite forgetting to mention his escape.  This speech was interrupted by tremendous cheers from the island cats which were only faintly joined in by the pirates.  Mittens finished by saying that a concert in celebration of the victory would now be given, after which there would be refreshments—­Peter pricked up his ears at the word! —­and then the plunder taken from the prisoners would be distributed among the officers and crew of the Merry Mouser.  This last announcement was greeted by a volley of shrill and joyful yowls from the younger cat pirates, but Growler, frowning, whispered in Rudolf’s ear: 

“Don’t you believe a word of that, about whacking up on the treasure!  He’ll never give up so much as a single shirt stud, he won’t.”