Puss in Boots, Jr., and the Good Gray Horse Part 2

And he flew off the fence and settled on the handlebar.

"Oh, don't worry! You'll get him, all right," said the crow when Puss told him what a hard time he was having to overtake his Good Gray Horse.

"I saw him go by a few minutes ago. He looked pretty tired." And then the old black bird flew away to tell Mrs. Crow that he had seen a p.u.s.s.y cat in boots riding a bicycle.

PUSS RECOVERS HIS STEED

THE girl in the lane, that couldn't speak plain, Cried, "Gobble, gobble, gobble!"

The man on the hill, that couldn't stand still, Went hobble, hobble, hobble!

"Goodness me!" exclaimed Puss, Junior, as he mounted the bicycle which the kind owner of the Willow Tree Inn had lent him, "I can't understand a word the girl says. I asked her if she had seen my Good Gray Horse and she answers, 'Gobble, gobble, gobble!'" And then little Puss gave a great sigh, for it's pretty hard luck to have your horse stolen while asleep in a strange inn, although it's mighty lucky to have the innkeeper lend you his bicycle.

Well, after a while and many a mile, the road began to wind up a hill, so Puss got off and pushed his wheel ahead until by and by he met a little old man. He held a stick in both hands, on which he leaned as he hobbled along.

"Did you see a runaway horse?" asked Puss.

"I did, indeed, my good Sir Cat," answered the hobble-hobble man. "He went by but a few minutes ago. There were fairies on his back. I thought at first I must be dreaming, till I remembered once before in my life seeing a swarm of fairies, if I might use the word, from yonder forest in hot pursuit for a bold robber who had waylaid a traveler."

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"Thank you," said Puss. "I must catch up with them, for the horse belongs to me, and this bicycle is a poor subst.i.tute."

"Yes, I should think as much," replied the hobble-hobble man. "But how are you going to catch him? Those forest fairies are mischievous, and you will need to pedal fast and furious to overtake them."

"Never fear," replied Puss, stoutly. "I have a good pair of legs." And, jumping on his bicycle, he went up the hill at a great rate. On reaching the top he was delighted to see his Good Gray Horse going down the road to the valley.

"Here's where I overtake them," cried Puss, placing his feet on the coasters. "My bicycle can go downhill faster than a horse. In a few moments I'll again be astride my faithful steed."

The dust flew out in a cloud behind him as he swiftly coasted down the steep road. Ting-a-ling, ting-a-ling! went his bell as he came nearer and nearer. "Gid-ap!" cried the fairies, but the Good Gray Horse was tired. He had gone many miles at a gallop.

"Whoa!" cried Puss.

"Gid-ap!" cried the fairies.

But Puss was now close to them. Standing up on the bicycle seat, he made a wonderful jump and landed squarely on the saddle of his Good Gray Horse. And then, with a scream of dismay, the fairies flew away.

GEORGY PORGY

NOW let me see. In the last story Puss had taken his Good Gray Horse away from the fairies, but didn't know what to do with the bicycle which he had borrowed from the owner of the Willow Tree Inn! "I can't very well ride it and lead my horse," said Puss to himself, "nor can I very well ride my horse and lead the bicycle. What shall I do?"

A short distance off stood a small red schoolhouse and just then through the open door came a merry crowd of children. All of a sudden a little boy with a piece of plum pudding in one hand and a piece of pie in the other ran swiftly toward Puss.

Georgy Porgy, pudding and pie, Kissed the girls and made them cry.

When the boys came out to play Georgy Porgy ran away

And after him came a number of boys in hot pursuit. "Please help me get away from these boys!" cried Georgy Porgy.

"What have you done?" asked Puss.

"Oh, I kissed the girls and made them cry," answered Georgy Porgy, "but it didn't hurt them."

"How do you know?" asked Puss.

"Kisses don't hurt," replied Georgy Porgy.

"But if these boys ever catch me"--looking fearfully over his shoulder--"they'll give me an awful beating and take away my pie."

"Do you know where the Willow Tree Inn is?" asked Puss, all of a sudden.

"Yes, siree--," answered Georgy.

"Quick!" cried Puss. "Get on this bicycle and take it to the innkeeper.

He lent it to me."

But, oh, dear me! the boys were now close at hand and Georgy Porgy had only time enough to give Puss the pie and pudding. "Take 'em," he said, "I sha'n't have time to eat 'em. I can't eat and ride at the same time!"

"Go it!" shouted Puss, and, goodness me! how that bicycle did go!

"Stop! Stop!" yelled the boys.

"Go it!" screamed Puss. "Don't let them catch you!"

And Georgy Porgy didn't! No, siree! Then all of a sudden the recess bell rang, and of course the boys had to turn back.

"I think I'll be jogging along, too," said Puss to himself. "They might throw a stone at me for helping Georgy." And he galloped past the schoolhouse and was soon out of sight.

A JOLLY GALLOP

"WELL, well, well!" cried Puss, Junior, to himself, as he pulled in his Good Gray Horse after leaving the little red schoolhouse far behind. "It was lucky for me that Georgy Porgy happened to come my way. Otherwise, how would I have been able to return the bicycle to the innkeeper?" And after that he walked his horse until he came to a stream, on the banks of which stood an old mill. The mill pond was rimmed with overhanging willow trees, and the water trickled over the dam with a soft, gurgling noise. Through the sluiceway the water ran in a swift stream, turning the old wheel around and around.

Puss dismounted, and after his horse had taken a drink he cropped the fresh green gra.s.s, while Puss lay down in the shade.

"Margaret wrote a letter, Sealed it with her finger, Threw it in the dam For the dusty miller.

Dusty was his coat, Dusty was the siller, Dusty was the kiss From the dusty miller.

If I had my pockets Full of gold and siller, I would give it all To my dusty miller."

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