Chapters (21)
- Cubierta
- The Hundred and One Dalmatians
- The Happy Couples
- The Puppies Arrive
- Perdita
- Cruella de Vil Pays Two Calls
- Hark, Hark, the Dogs Do Bark!
- To the Rescue!
- At the Old Inn
- Cross Country
- Hot Buttered Toast
- What They Saw from the Folly
- In the Enemys Camp
- Sudden Danger
- The Little Blue Cart
- Christmas Eve
- Miracle Needed
- The White Cat’s Revenge
- Who Are These Strange Black Dogs?
- The Hundred and Oneth Dalmatian
- Autora
I don’t, said Missis bravely. For if I wore a coat, how should I know how cold the puppies were? They have no coats. Oh, Pongo, how can they make the journey from Suffolk in such wintry weather? Suppose it snows?
They may not have to make the journey yet, said Pongo.
Missis stared in astonishment. But we must get them back quickly or the dog thieves will sell them.
Nothing will happen to them yet, said Pongo. And now he knew it was time to tell his wife the truth. Let’s rest a moment, he said, and led Missis into the shelter of a doorway. Then he went on gently.
Dear Missis, our puppies were not stolen by ordinary dog thieves. Try not to be too frightened. Remember we are going to rescue them. Our puppies were stolen by Cruella de Vil’s orders so that she can have their skins made into a fur coat. Oh, Missis, be brave!
Missis had collapsed. She lay on the doorstep, panting, her eyes full of horror.
But it will be all right, dear Missis! They will be safe for months yet. They are much too small to be to be used for a fur coat yet.
Missis shuddered. Then she struggled to her feet.
I will go back! she cried. I will go back and tear Cruella De Vil to pieces.
That would do no good at all, said Pongo firmly. We must rescue the puppies first and think of our revenge later. On to Suffolk!
On to Suffolk, then! said Missis, staggering along on shaky legs. But we shall come back, Cruella de Vil!
Soon Missis began to feel better, for Pongo made her see that puppies whose skins were wanted for a fur coat would be well fed and well taken care of, and kept together. Ordinary dog thieves might have sold them already, and to different people. She asked him many questions, and he told of his early suspicions how he had suddenly recalled the evening they had first seen Cruella and sat under the piano in the red drawing room.
She said we would make enchanting fur coats, Missis.
For spring wear, over a black suit, said Missis, remembering. And she did take a lot of interest in the puppies.
And she kept Nanny Cook talking while they were stolen, said Pongo. But I wasn’t quite sure until this evening, at the Twilight Barking. You didn’t hear as much as I did, Missis. Our puppies are at Hell Hall, the ancestral home of the de Vils.
And he knew, though he kept this from Missis, that the S. O. S. on the old bone meant Save Our Skins.