"
"I'd put my money on the parrot," said one of the men confidently. "It's
'ad a crool bit out of the mate's finger. Where 'ud the cat be agin that
beak?"
"Well, you'd lose your money," said Sam. "If you want to do the cat a
kindness, every time you see him near that cage cuff his 'ed."
The crew being much attached to the cat, which had been presented to
them when a kitten by the mate's wife, acted upon the advice with so
much zest that for the next two days the indignant animal was like to
have been killed with kindness. On the third day, however, the parrot's
cage being on the cabin table, the cat stole furtively down, and, at the
pressing request of the occupant itself, scratched its head for it.
The skipper was the first to discover the mischief, and he came on deck
and published the news in a voice which struck a chill to all hearts.
"Where's that black devil got to?" he yelled.
"Anything wrong, sir?" asked Sam anxiously.
"Come and look here," said the skipper. He led the way to the cabin,
where the mate and one of the crew were already standing, shaking their
heads over the parrot.
"What do you make of that?" demanded the skipper fiercely.
"Too much dry food, sir," said Sam, after due deliberation.
"Too much what?" bellowed the skipper.
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