Billy Whiskers Adventures | Page 8

of ice waiting for an unwary fish to swim by so he may
catch it and make a breakfast on it.

"In round-topped, oven-like mounds made of ice and snow live our
masters, the Eskimos. They live on whale oil, blubber, fish and the
meat of the musk ox, bear and other animals that inhabit the far North.
You dogs and cats who live so far from us in a country where there are
noisy cities cannot imagine the silence of a cityless country or a land
where the only sounds are the crunching of one iceberg against another
or the roar and thunder of a glacier as it falls to pieces when melted by
the sun. This world of ours seems like a dead world when compared to
yours, but underneath this eternal covering of snow, down deep in the
green water of the ocean are myriads of living, moving creatures as
lively as any in your more sultry climate.
"But I see I am taking up too much time, so will stop and extend an
invitation to one and all of you to come and visit my Land of the
Midnight Sun, and see for yourselves how things look and how we live.
I thank you for your courtesy in listening to my stupid speech," and
bowing low his head he left the platform.
[Illustration]
His speech was followed by loud barks and meows and a great
scratching of claws upon the bare floor.
At last it was Billy's turn to go on the platform. He had just been
introduced to the large audience and had started to speak in the
old-fashioned way by saying, "Friends and fellow countrymen!" when
there was a terrific explosion and the window panes were blown in or
shattered, while through the open windows could be seen vivid red and
yellow lights and columns of black smoke. Every heart in that large
assembly stood still for a moment, then one and all started for the exit.
"Some one is trying to blow up the docks. We better get out of here
before this building goes up in smoke," said Billy. "All stick together,
though. If we do become separated, come to our back yard."
Bing! Bang! Bang! and the walls of the building they were in began to
tumble around them and the floor crashed in, falling on those that were
in the cellar. As it happened, our friends had not been near the exit, so

were not among the first to get out. This probably saved their lives as it
kept them from being among those in the cellar when the floor fell.
"I say we take our chance and jump from one of the windows," said
Billy, "before the whole building falls in on us or it blows up."
It was a long way to the ground, but the cats and dogs jumped down on
the heads of the crowd that had gathered, and this broke their fall.
Being very large, Billy could not do this so he ran to another window
and leaped down on a high pile of baled stuff which was nice and soft
on which to alight.
When they were all safely on the ground they made for the back yard of
the chop-house as fast as their legs would carry them. But somehow
they became separated from the bulldog and Tiger, so lost their way
and never again were they able to find the old uncle of the sailor.
They wandered around for the rest of the night looking for a place to
sleep, but they were careful to keep close together so they would not
lose each other.
[Illustration]
About daylight they found themselves on the bank of the Hudson River
opposite a dock where lay a big pleasure boat. No one was astir on it,
so they cautiously crept on board, thinking to get a free ride up the river.
This would give them a lift on their journey north. All three found good
places to hide in different parts of the boat, and they lay down and fell
asleep for they were both tired and sleepy after all the excitement they
had been through.
Billy was awakened by the scrubbing of the decks over his head.
"I can't see why the captains of boats always insist on scrubbing decks
so early in the morning. I guess it is just because they are afraid the
sailors will get fat unless they keep them working from sun-up to
sun-down. I smell bacon cooking, and I just love it, though I am a goat.
I can't get to sleep now that I have once been wakened, so I think I will

go and see if I cannot get some of it to eat."
Billy crept to the head of