Page 24 - The Adventures of Puss in Boots, Jr.

"That I will," answered Jack, "as soon as I have the opportunity." He had hardly finished speaking when the
heavy tread of the giant was heard. Jack jumped back into the oven, while the giant's wife commenced talking
to Puss, Jr., as if nothing whatever had happened.

"Why did you leave me?" roared the giant, turning fiercely to Puss.

"Why did you fall asleep?" asked Puss. "Were my tales not of sufficient interest to keep you awake?"

"They were," replied the giant, somewhat taken aback by the answer he received. "I guess I have the habit of
falling asleep after supper. It's mighty difficult to break a habit."

"It is, indeed," said Puss. "I feel sleepy myself. Will you allow me not to break my habit of going to bed
early?"

The giant laughed long and loud. "Show him his room, mother," he said, turning to his wife. So Puss said
good night and followed her up-stairs, having made up his mind to meet Jack at midnight.

PUSS AND JACK MAKE A BOLD RESCUE

It was midnight in the giant's house. Puss Jr., heard the great clock strike twelve. Softly he tiptoed down the
stairs, holding his boots in one paw and his staff and cap in the other. When he reached the great living-room
he peeped cautiously in.

There sat the giant in the big arm-chair, fast asleep, the poor little hen that laid the golden eggs lying on the
table, not daring to move.

"How dare he break his word?" said Puss to himself. "He promised if I told him stories last night that he
would not make the little hen lay her daily golden egg. Now he has gone and broken his promise."

The little hen moved uneasily and looked appealingly at Puss.

"What can I do?" he said to himself. Suddenly a bright idea came into his head, and, turning toward the
kitchen, he opened the door very softly and peered in. To his great delight he saw Jack sound asleep in the big
rocking-chair that the giant's wife sat in during the few moments of the day in which she was not hard at
work. Puss, Jr., carefully set his boots down near the door and walked over to Jack. Fearing he might let out a
cry of surprise upon seeing him, Puss paused.

"How shall I waken him without startling him?" he asked himself. It was indeed a problem. Should Jack give
a scream the giant would wake and rush in. Then all would be lost. It was a trying moment for Puss, Jr.

Suddenly an owl hooted outside. Jack slowly opened his eyes.

"'S-sh!" cautioned Puss, quietly, "be careful!"

"Don't worry," replied Jack in a whisper. "I've no desire to make the acquaintance of the giant. He wouldn't
care for my stories. He'd just eat me up."

"That he would," said Puss. "He's no good, either. He broke his promise to me last night," and then Puss told
Jack how the giant had said he would let the little hen off for once if Puss would tell some of his adventures.

"And I spent all last evening telling him stories till I was tired out," concluded Puss, "and now he has kept that
poor little hen by his side all night long. She's in the great living-room on the table, not daring to move. And