20-A RED-HOT CLAW

A RED-HOT CLAW We waited for all of the pirates to get into the water. Then Trap and I ran to the sails, and Thea took the helm. Benjamin quickly closed the doors to the cabins that were on FIRE. He put some wet towels at the bottom of each door. Without any air, the FLAMES slowly began to go out.

When the pirates realized what had happened, they tried to climb back on board. But not one cat got a paw on deck. We had already raised the sails and were speeding away. "WE'RE OFF TO NEW MOUSE CITY!!!" cried Trap, grinning from whisker to whisker. I caught sight of the Black Bandit glaring back at us. The wind carried some of his words. "SOMEDAY we'll meet again, little micey!" he shrieked. "And when we do, you're going to wish you had never learned how to squeak!" Then he cut the air with his sword, as if he were chopping us up. Prowls was doing the kitty paddle, trying to keep up with his brother. We also spotted Slobbertooth, the chef; Claws, our friendly

jailer; Patches, the violin player; and many more. Thea leaned out of the boat to scan the horizon. Ho-hum Island was very close. Before long, the pirate cats gave up trying to follow us and began swimming toward it. WE HEARD THEM SINGING AS THEY SWAM. "Catchy," said my sister, tapping her paw to the beat. Then she grabbed a pencil and began jotting down the words to the song. "If you see a big ship on the water, Beware, the pirate cats are near! If you see our tough fur and tails waving, Beware, the pirate cats are here! We are many, we are mean, Always ready for the unforeseen, Forever looking for great treasure,

forget fighting, you just won't measure! Meoooww... We're the mightiest cats around, So give us your gold, and don't make a sound!" Of course, we had to sing our own battle song in reply. "A THOUSAND TAILS RAISED IN THE AIR, A THOUSAND VOICES SQUEAK WITH CARE, RODENTS CHEER AND HEAVE A SIGH, SWEET MOUSE ISLAND WILL NEVER DIE!"