Basil and the Pygmy Cats
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

By Eve Titus
Illustrated by Paul Galdone

(c) 1971 by Eve Titus and Paul Galdone

6
Mutiny!
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It was our second afternoon aboard ship.

I stood at the rail of the yacht Rosetta, enchanted by the beauty around me--the turquoise sea, the pale blue of the sky, the swirling white spray in our wake as the ship skimmed over the waters.

The elegant Rosetta was a two-masted schooner of modern design, with auxiliary motors for emergencies. There were a dozen double-sized passenger cabins, plus captain's quarters, officers' quarters, and space for crew. In the forecastle was the galley, or kitchen, where ship's cooks prepared tasty meals.

The Maharajah had stayed behind to put his kingdom in order. General Garmize, whose cousin Jacques Bernard taught French at the palace, had remained to train the army.

Captain Peter Black, a jolly Britisher, told me his crew was Bengistanian, all but two new sailors.

I had seen the pair--surly fellows who never smiled. One of them wore a black eye-patch.

Basil had been studying maps and charts to determine which island was inhabited by pygmy cats.

"Dawson, it's discouraging! The Captain hasn't heard of such an island, and he knows these seas like the back of his paw. It must be far off the regular shipping lanes. It would take forever to visit all the islands. Some are just tiny pinpoints of land. If only I had a clue!"

"You'll find one," said I. "Sherlock Holmes never fails, and neither will you. Keep at it, and--"

We were interrupted by a terrified young sailor.

"Oh sirs! There's big trouble--I sneaked off before they saw me. Mutiny, that's what it is! They'll throw the Captian overboard unless he tells them the combination of the safe."

"Who are the mutineers?" asked the detective.

"The new sailors, Nagitar and Narod," was the reply.

Basil's eyes glittered. "What's that you say? Nagitar and Narod? Incredible! I shall confront the mutineers, but first bring me a large sheet of paper and a black crayon."

The sailor obeyed. Basil crayoned something on the paper, and we tiptoed to the top deck.

The Captain was tied up, and the sailors were herded against the rail, kept there at gunpoint by the two mutineers.

The mouse with the eye-patch spoke to the crew.

"We'll divide the money in the safe. Then, with me as your captain, we'll become smugglers."

"But Captain Black is always kind to us," said a sailor. "Why should we mutiny against him?"

The pair had their backs to us; the crew faced us.

"Dawson, draw your gun," whispered Basil. "Cover Nagitar, who wears the black eye-patch."

I edged over and jabbed my gun into the ruffian's back. "One move and you're a dead mouse!" I said.

Basil stood beside me, holding the paper high.

"Bengistanians!" he called. "Who robbed your Maharajah of his throne? Who looted your country?"

"Ratigan!" they screamed. "And Doran!"

"Right!" declared Basil. "Now read the names on this paper backward, and you'll learn the real names of the mutineers."

The sailors read the names and surged foward, faces furious, crying out for revenge. Ratigan and Doran were overpowered and taken prisoner.

We freed the Captain, who ordered a lifeboat loaded with enough food and water for a few days.

"Ratigan and Doran, you deserve to be thrown overboard!" said Captain Black. "Instead, two of my sailors will row you back to Bengistan to stand trial."



"And after you serve your sentence," added Basil, "the policemice of London will be glad to give you free lodging in an English jail."

Ratigan's face twisted with rage. "Don't count on it, Basil of Baker Street! I'll foil you yet!"

(We learned later of his escape. Doran gnawed at Ratigan's ropes in the dark. Freeing themselves, the two criminals tied up the sailors and landed at night without being caught. Returning to London, they reorganized their gangs.)

Unaware that this would occur, I watched the lifeboat vanish from view. The others went below, and once again I stood alone at the rail.

Suddenly I blinked in stunned surprise--two snakelike heads were rising from the sea! The heads rose higher, followed by two long necks.

Imagine my horror to see that the two necks were joined together, were one!

"It's a two-headed sea monster!" I gasped weakly.

Dizziness overcame me, and I fainted dead away!

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