22-PAWS UP!

PAWS UP! Just then, I heard a noise. "Paws up!" a voice squeaked. We turned around. It was Nastytail and his crew. Fortunately, they had not seen the oil gushing out of the well. "Hey, Boss. That's Strongfur's daughter," Bones told Nastytail. "Let's hold her hostage. That will make her father obey us!" Nastytail nodded. "Good idea," he muttered. "I was just going to say that." Miceson stared at us with a menacing look. "Who do you want me to SQUASH, Boss?" he sneered. "Just give me the word and I'll do it!" Then he punched a stone slab. It broke in two and landed on his paw. A monkey bit

his other paw. "Owwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!" Miceson squeaked. Bones giggled under his whiskers. My cousin rolled his eyes. "What a bunch of nitwits," he scoffed. "You haven't even noticed the ruby." Thea elbowed him to keep quiet. But Bones perked up his ears. "Yes, legend has it that there's a giant ruby hidden here," he grinned. "We have to make them spill the beans, Boss." Nastytail nodded. "Um, right. Spill the beans," he muttered. "I was just going to say that." Miceson puffed up his chest. "Do what the boss said, Spill the bean- sprouts or I will squash you!" he growled.

This time, he didn't hit anything. Instead, he twirled around in a circle, punching the air. After a while, he had to sit down. He looked dizzy. Bones giggled. The rest of us kept quiet. The ruby was right under our snouts. But there was no way we were going to tell these bozos. Bones thought for a moment. "Let's threaten to mousenap Monkeyfur," he said to Nastytail. "That will get them squeaking." Nastytail shook his head. "Yes, yes," he agreed. "I was just going to say that." They grabbed Monkeyfur. At that moment, the professor jumped up. "Leave her alone!" he commanded. "The ruby is here. Right under your SNOUTS." He pointed to the well.

The rotten rodents stared at the glittering stone. Three pairs of eyes opened wide. Three jaws hit the ground. "Jackpot! they shrieked with glee.