Then she felt a pang of pity. What mother had any of them now? She smiled at them all and they wrinkled their little noses in a return smile. Then she looked beyond then, to the larger pups. Some of the half-grown girls reminded her of herself at their age so slim, so silly. They knew how to wash themselves but there were many things they didn’t know, many ways in which they needed a mother’s advice. And suddenly all the puppies were her puppies; she was their mother just as Pongo had felt he was their father. And indeed the younger ones creeping closer and closer to her were now so mingled with her own that she could scarcely tell where her little family ended and her larger family began.

Drowsiness spread throughout the warm red room. Even the Baddun brothers dozed. They did not much like the programme that was on the television and wanted to be fresh for their very favourite programme, which was due later. Even Missis slept a little, knowing that Pongo would keep watch. At last only three pairs of eyes were open. Pongo was wide awake, thinking, thinking. Lucky was wide awake, for he thought of himself as a sentry, who must not sleep on duty. And the Cadpig was wide awake, watching her lovely, lovely television.

Suddenly there was a thunder of thumps on the front door. The sleeping pups awoke in alarm. The Baddun brothers lumbered to their feet and stumbled towards the door. But before they got there it had been flung open.

Outside, against the moonlit sky stood a figure in a long white cloak.

It was Cruella de Vil.

Sudden Danger

FOR a few seconds she stared into the dimly lit room. Then she shouted, Saul! Jasper! Turn off that television! And turn on the light!

We can’t turn on the light because we’ve no electric bulbs left,€ said Saul Baddun. When the telly finishes, we go to bed.

And if we turn the telly off, there’ll be no light at all,€ said Jasper Baddun.

Well, turn the sound off, anyway,€ said Cruella, angrily.

Jasper did as he was told, and the little figures moving on the screen were suddenly voiceless. The Cadpig yapped indignantly. Missis, who was crouching low in the midst of her family, instantly hushed her. Pongo, also crouched low, got ready to spring at Cruella if she attacked any pup. But she seemed scarcely to notice any of them. Those near her shrank back as she strode into the room.

I’ve got a job for you, my lads,€ she said to the Badduns. The pups must be killed tonight, every single one of them.

The Badduns gaped at her. But they’re not big enough to be made into fur coats yet,€ said Saul.