Page:The Naval Officer (1829), vol. 1.djvu/236

 to reach, one boy climbed on the back of the other, and effected two purposes, by reeving one end of the line, and bringing it down to the cables again. 'They next unrolled the shirt, and, to my surprise, took out the boatswain's kitten, about three months old; its fore paws were tied behind its back, its hind feet were tied together, and a fishing lead attached to them: a piece of white rag was tied over its head as a cap.

It was now pretty evident what the fate of poor puss was likely to be, and why the lead was made fast to her feet. The rope yarn was tied round her neck; they each shook one of her paws, and pretended to cry. One of the urchins held in his hand a fife, into which he poured as much flour as it would hold, out of the handkerchief, the other held the end of the rope-yarn: every ceremony was gone through that they could think of.

"Are you reay?" said the executioner, or he that held the line.