Basil and the Pygmy Cats
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By Eve Titus
Illustrated by Paul Galdone

(c) 1971 by Eve Titus and Paul Galdone

7
The Two-headed Sea Monster
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> A pail of cold water dashed in my face revived me, and Captain Black helped me to my feet.

"I hope you're feeling better," he said. "Cold water may be old-fashioned, but it does the job."

"B-but b-but the m-m-m-monster!" I stammered, turning to where I had last seen it.

To my surprise, it was still there, talking to Basil, who stood at the rail as though he hadn't a care in the world.

"Save yourself!" I screamed.

But Basil turned and said, "My dear doctor, you've hurt Jeannie's feelings. She hails from Scotland, and the Loch Ness Monster is her uncle. Do come and be introduced--she's really a dear."

"It's a pleasure to meet you," I said politely.

"And I'm so glad to meet a dcotor," she said. "I feel simply miserable, for one of my heads has a cold. Do you have any medicine for a head cold?"

One face had a sunny smile. The other, with red-rimmed eyes and runny nose, looked glum and gloomy.

I fetched my little black bag, and from it took a large bottle containing a good medicine for colds.

"Jeannie, a mouse needs just a teaspoonful, but a big creature like yourself needs an entire bottle. Now open your mouth and close your eyes!"



She obeyed, lowering the head with the cold to the deck of our ship. I stood halfway up a ladder and poured the bottleful of medicine down her throat.

"Good girl!" I said, mounting to the top of the ladder to pat the top of her head.

She thanked me, then told us her strange story.

(Jeannie had one throat, from which her voice came, but each head had its own mouth. When she spoke, it was most amusing to see two pairs of lips making exactly the same motions. Extraordinary creature!)

"Last year," said she, "our family of Loch Ness monsters traveled around the world. Underwater, of course. I took a wrong turn in the Bay of Bengal, lost the others, and here I am in the Indian Ocean. Oriental monsters, to be sure, are friendly, but I do miss bonnie Scotland and my own dear family. 'Tis homesick I am, such a long way from home.
you in any way?"

"We seek an island inhabited by pygmy cats," said Basil. "Do you know of such an island?"

Her two heads moved sadly from side to side.

"Alas, I do not, but I do know of someone wondrous wise--the Sacred Catfish. He speaks seven languages and lives in a pond on an island. I'll be glad to show you the way."

Jeannie swam slowly so that our little ship could keep up with her, and presently she stopped.

"I'll wait here in deep water," she said. "Row to the nearest island and look for a pond. Good luck!"

Four of us got into a lifeboat. Cherbou and I rowed, while Basil and Lord Adrian talked about catfish.

"Most fish are covered with scales," said Basil, "but catfish and sharks have smooth skins."

"True," said Lord Adrian. "In Egypt I saw the electric catfish of the River Nile. Its body organs produce enough current to shock a human being. Let's hope the Sacred Catfish won't shock us!"

"We shall soon see for ourselves," answered Basil as we beached the boat and went ashore.

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