I do n't fancy she 'll leave cats to starve another time . '' `` Was the First Mate one of the forsaken ? '' asked Anne , making advances to him which were responded to graciously , if condescendingly . `` Yes . I found HIM one bitter cold day in winter , caught in the branches of a tree by his durn-fool ribbon collar . He was almost starving . If you could have seen his eyes , Mistress Blythe ! He was nothing but a kitten , and he 'd got his living somehow since he 'd been left until he got hung up . When I loosed him he gave my hand a pitiful swipe with his little red tongue . He was n't the able seaman you see now . He was meek as Moses . That was nine years ago . His life has been long in the land for a cat . He 's a good old pal , the First Mate is . '' `` I should have expected you to have a dog , '' said Gilbert . Captain Jim shook his head . `` I had a dog once . I thought so much of him that when he died I could n't bear the thought of getting another in his place . He was a FRIEND -- you understand , Mistress Blythe ? Matey 's only a pal .
I 'm fond of XXXXX -- all the fonder on account of the spice of devilment that 's in him -- like there is in all cats .
Anne Blythe First Gilbert Jim Matey Moses cats left pal