Then the Cat disappeared, and they heard the soft thud of his feet alighting on the roof.
"We must see what he"s up to," said Hortense.
Followed by Andy, she ran to the ladder, scrambled to the top, and peered out. The Cat was perched on top of the chimney, looking this way and that.
Hortense ducked her head in order not to be seen.
"What do you suppose he"s doing there?" she asked.
"Perhaps something is after him," said Andy.
From below came a slow scratching sound. Some heavy creature with claws was coming up the attic stairs.
"Is it you, Alligator?" Hortense called.
"Where"s that Cat?" said Alligator in a determined voice. "I must have him."
"He"s on the roof," said Hortense, climbing down. "But what do you want him for?"
"For supper," said Alligator in his harsh voice. "He"ll be furry, but eat him I will."
He started up the ladder.
"I"m old and big for such work as this," said he, "but have him I will.
Push my tail a bit and give me a lift."
Hortense pushed and Andy, at the top, pulled. Out went Alligator, Hortense and Andy holding his tail while he scrambled down the roof.
Jeremiah raised his voice.
"Help! Help!" he cried as Alligator slid slowly down the roof towards him. Then, as Alligator put his forelegs against the chimney and began to lift his horrible head, Jeremiah shut his eyes and jumped.
Quick as a flash Alligator"s huge jaws opened wide, and into them fell Jeremiah. Hortense could see Alligator"s throat wiggle as Jeremiah went down.
Alligator crawled back slowly.
"I must seek my corner and go to sleep," said Alligator, balancing himself on the window ledge. "Hear him?"
Hortense and Andy put their ears to Alligator"s back. Within they could hear Jeremiah running around and around and crying out.
"He"s having a fit," said Hortense.
"A snug fit," said Alligator grimly. "He"ll get used to it after a while."
Hortense and Andy were quite silent as they slowly followed Alligator down the stairs.
"It"s rather horrible," Hortense whispered to Andy, "although I didn"t like Jeremiah."
"I think I"ll go home," said Andy.
In the hall below they found all the rest.
"Where have you been keeping yourselves?" said Owl irritably. "Ember"s _It_, and we"ve waited ever so long."
"Alligator"s swallowed Jeremiah," said Hortense.
"Served him right," said Owl, but Coal and Ember backed off as though fearing their turn would be next. Lowboy was sober for once.
"I want to go home," whimpered Highboy.
"Why didn"t you let me run him through first?" demanded Malay Kris.
"I"d have skewered him like a roast of beef."
"Too late," said Alligator, making off to the parlor.
"I suppose the party"s broken up for to-night," said Owl.
All moved away by common consent. Hortense let Andy out of the back door and locked it after him. Taking Highboy, who was still shaking, by the hand, she led him up the stairs.
"That Alligator"s a dreadful person," said Highboy. "I"m sure I"ll not sleep at all."
Hortense, however, slept soundly and was late for breakfast. When she entered the dining room, Grandmother was saying, "Jeremiah"s disappeared again. I wonder what can have got into him of late."
Mary, bringing toast, entered with a troubled face.
"Jeremiah"s somewhere in the parlor, ma"m," she said. "I heard him crying under the sofa, but though I looked I couldn"t see him. I called to him, but he wouldn"t come. It"s most surprising."
"We"ll find him after breakfast," said Grandfather.
So after breakfast they all went to the parlor. Jeremiah"s plaintive cries could be clearly heard. Grandfather looked under the sofa and poked around with a cane, but still no Jeremiah appeared.
"We"ll have to move it out," said Grandfather. "He must be caught somewhere."
He moved the sofa out into the room and peered behind it. Jeremiah"s cries came distinctly, but he was not to be seen.
"Most extraordinary," said Grandfather.
Aunt Esmerelda shook her head, as did Uncle Jonah.
"Dat cat is sho" a hoodoo," said Uncle Jonah.
"Something"s moving in the sofa," said Hortense.
All looked, and sure enough there was a slight movement from within.
"But he couldn"t get into the sofa!" said Grandmother.
Uncle Jonah and Fergus turned the sofa over on its back.