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Puss Junior and Robinson Crusoe

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<hr style="width: 65%;" />[119] <h2>ROBINSON CRUSOE</h2> <div class='cap'>AFTER leaving Taffy, the Welshman, Puss, Junior, and little Tom Thumb walked along for many a mile until they came to the seashore. Right there in a sheltered cove lay a beautiful sailboat, on the stern of which was painted in gold letters:</div> <div class='poem'> "Take, oh take me for a sail— I can weather any gale." </div> "Shall we accept the pretty boat's offer?" asked Puss, Junior. For answer Tom Thumb jumped in and, so without another word, Puss hoisted the sail and steered for the big blue ocean. All day and all night they sailed away, and when they woke in the morning they were surprised to find the little boat fast aground on a sandy beach. "How did we get here?" asked Puss, sleepily, for it was still early in the morning, and the sun had just begun to climb up to the sky, and the dew dripped from the tall meadow grass that grew close to the water's edge.[120] "Through no fault of ours," replied little Tom Thumb, with a laugh. "Captain Puss, Junior, fell asleep at the helm, and the first mate, Tom Thumb, did likewise," he added, running up to the bow and looking over the land. "Why, it's an island," he called out. "I can see water on the other side." "You don't say so," said Puss. "Well, let's land." So they jumped ashore and walked up the beach towards a clump of trees. "Pretty nice sort of a place," said Tom Thumb. "Let's play Robinson Crusoe! I'll be your black man Friday. We can build a house under these trees, and as we have lots to eat on board ship, we can spend some time here without danger of starving." And just then, all of a sudden, a voice began to sing: <div class='poem'> "Poor old Robinson Crusoe! Poor old Robinson Crusoe! They made him a coat Of an old Nanny Goat; I wonder how they could do so! With a ring-a-ting, tang, And a ring-a-ting, tang, Poor old Robinson Crusoe!" </div> "Who's that?" whispered Puss, Junior.[121] But he needn't have asked the question, for just then a man dressed all in skins came toward them. "Friends or enemies?" he asked. "Friends!" cried Puss, Junior. "Friends!" screamed Tom Thumb. "Welcome, then, to my island. I am Robinson Crusoe!" Puss and Tom were too amazed to answer for a few minutes. Then Puss, Junior, stretched out his right paw, saying: "I'm very pleased to meet you, Mr. Crusoe." "And so am I," said little Tom Thumb, standing on tiptoe and reaching up his hand. "Well, you're certainly as welcome as the flowers in May," said Robinson Crusoe. "Visitors are few and far between. Come with me to my house." <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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