Tapsi, Mildred's cat, is to be banished to the kitchen, as she is supposed to be a disgrace to the Witch Academy. Mildred can't let that happen. Secretly, she takes the cat with her on the trip to Algernon, she hides the animal on a boat that lies on the bank of the river. But Mrs. Harschmann has her eyes and ears all over the place again and sets off on a search.