then the merchant sailed on , but no sooner had he reached the high seas than he saw the cat sitting at the top of the main - mast . and immediately after another storm and tempest arose , far worse than the first one , and he drifted and drifted , till he came to a land where he had never yet been . again the merchant went to a tavern , and here , too , the table was covered with switches ; but they were much larger and longer than at the place where he had first been . and they were much needed ; for there were a good many more mice , and they were twice the size of those he had first seen .
what will the merchant do because of the mice at the tavern ?
sell the cat .
sell them the cat he found .