by Hugh Lofting
Then the animals packed up; and after they had turned off the water sothe pipes wouldn’t freeze, and put up the shutters, they closed thehouse and gave the key to the old horse who lived in the stable. Andwhen they had seen that there was plenty of hay in the loft to last thehorse through the Winter, they carried all their luggage down to theseashore and got on to the boat.
The Cat’s-meat-Man was there to see them off; and he brought a largesuet-pudding as a present for the Doctor because, he said he had beentold, you couldn’t get suet-puddings in foreign parts.
As soon as they were on the ship, Gub-Gub, the pig, asked where thebeds were, for it was four o’clock in the afternoon and he wanted hisnap. So Polynesia took him downstairs into the inside of the ship andshowed him the beds, set all on top of one another like book-shelvesagainst a wall.
“Why, that isn’t a bed!” cried Gub-Gub. “That’s a shelf!”
“Beds are always like that on ships,” said the parrot. “It isn’t ashelf. Climb up into it and go to sleep. That’s what you call ‘a bunk.’”
“And the voyage began”]
“I don’t think I’ll go to bed yet,” said Gub-Gub. “I’m too excited. Iwant to go upstairs again and see them start.”
“Well, this is your first trip,” said Polynesia. “You will get used tothe life after a while.” And she went back up the stairs of the ship,humming this song to herself,
I’ve seen the Black Sea and the Red Sea; I rounded the Isle of Wight; I discovered the Yellow River, And the Orange too—by night. Now Greenland drops behind again, And I sail the ocean Blue. I’m tired of all these colors, Jane, So I’m coming back to you.
They were just going to start on their journey, when the Doctor said hewould have to go back and ask the sailor the way to Africa.
But the swallow said she had been to that country many times and wouldshow them how to get there.
So the Doctor told Chee-Chee to pull up the anchor and the voyagebegan.
_THE FIFTH CHAPTER_
THE GREAT JOURNEY
NOW for six whole weeks they went sailing on and on, over the rollingsea, following the swallow who flew before the ship to show them theway. At night she carried a tiny lantern, so they should not miss herin the dark; and the people on the other ships that passed said thatthe light must be a shooting star.
As they sailed further and further into the South, it got warmer andwarmer. Polynesia, Chee-Chee and the crocodile enjoyed the hot sun noend. They ran about laughing and looking over the side of the ship tosee if they could see Africa yet.
But the pig and the dog and the owl, Too-Too, could do nothing in suchweather, but sat at the end of the ship in the shade of a big barrel,with their tongues hanging out, drinking lemonade.
Dab-Dab, the duck, used to keep herself cool by jumping into the seaand swimming behind the ship. And every once in a while, when the topof her head got too hot, she would dive under the ship and come upon the other side. In this way, too, she used to catch herrings onTuesdays and Fridays—when everybody on the boat ate fish to make thebeef last longer.
When they got near to the Equator they saw some flying-fishes comingtowards them. And the fishes asked the parrot if this was DoctorDolittle’s ship. When she told them it was, they said they were glad,because the monkeys in Africa were getting worried that he would nevercome. Polynesia asked them how many miles they had yet to go; and theflying-fishes said it was only fifty-five miles now to the coast ofAfrica.
And another time a whole school of porpoises came dancing through thewaves; and they too asked Polynesia if this was the ship of the famousdoctor. And when they heard that it was, they asked the parrot if theDoctor wanted anything for his journey.
And Polynesia said, “Yes. We have run short of onions.”
“There is an island not far from here,” said the porpoises, “where thewild onions grow tall and strong. Keep straight on—we will get some andcatch up to you.”
So the porpoises dashed away through the sea. And very soon the parrotsaw them again, coming up behind, dragging the onions through the wavesin big nets made of seaweed.
The next evening, as the sun was going down, the Doctor said,
“Get me the telescope, Chee-Chee. Our journey is nearly ended. Verysoon we should be able to see the shores of Africa.”
And about half an hour later, sure enough, they thought they could seesomething in front that might be land. But it began to get darker anddarker and they couldn’t be sure.
Then a great storm came up, with thunder and lightning. The windhowled; the rain came down in torrents; and the waves got so high theysplashed right over the boat.
Presently there was a big BANG! The ship stopped and rolled over on itsside.
“What’s happened?” asked the Doctor, coming up from downstairs.
“I’m not sure,” said the parrot; “but I think we’re ship-wrecked. Tellthe duck to get out and see.”
So Dab-Dab dived right down under the waves. And when she came up shesaid they had struck a rock; there was a big hole in the bottom of theship; the water was coming in; and they were sinking fast.
“We must have run into Africa,” said the Doctor. “Dear me, dearme!—Well—we must all swim to land.”
But Chee-Chee and Gub-Gub did not know how to swim.
“Get the rope!” said Polynesia. “I told you it would come in handy.Where’s that duck? Come here, Dab-Dab. Take this end of the rope, flyto the shore and tie it on to a palm-tree; and we’ll hold the otherend on the ship here. Then those that can’t swim must climb along therope till they reach the land. That’s what you call a ‘life-line.’”
“‘We must have run into Africa’”]
So they all got safely to the shore—some swimming, some flying; andthose that climbed along the rope brought the Doctor’s trunk andhand-bag with them.
But the ship was no good any more—with the big hole in the bottom; andpresently the rough sea beat it to pieces on the rocks and the timbersfloated away.
Then they all took shelter in a nice dry cave they found, high up inthe cliffs, till the storm was over.
When the sun came out next morning they went down to the sandy beach todry themselves.
“Dear old Africa!” sighed Polynesia. “It’s good to get back. Justthink—it’ll be a hundred and sixty-nine years to-morrow since I washere! And it hasn’t changed a bit!—Same old palm-trees; same old redearth; same old black ants! There’s no place like home!”
And the others noticed she had tears in her eyes—she was so pleased tosee her country once again.
Then the Doctor missed his high hat; for it had been blown into the seaduring the storm. So Dab-Dab went out to look for it. And presently shesaw it, a long way off, floating on the water like a toy-boat.
When she flew down to get it, she found one of the white mice, veryfrightened, sitting inside it.
“What are you doing here?” asked the duck. “You were told to staybehind in Puddleby.”
“I didn’t want to be left behind,” said the mouse. “I wanted to seewhat Africa was like—I have relatives there. So I hid in the baggageand was brought on to the ship with the hard-tack. When the ship sankI was terribly frightened—because I cannot swim far. I swam as long asI could, but I soon got all exhausted and thought I was going to sink.And then, just at that moment, the old man’s hat came floating by; andI got into it because I did not want to be drowned.”
So the duck took up the hat with the mouse in it and brought it to theDoctor on the shore. And they all gathered round to have a look.
“That’s what you call a ‘stowaway,’” said the parrot.
Presently, when they were looking for a place in the trunk where thewhite mouse could travel comfortably, the monkey, Chee-Chee, suddenlysaid,
“Sh! I hear footsteps in the jungle!”
They all stopped talking and listened. And soon a black man came downout of the woods and asked them what they were doing there.
<
br /> “‘I got into it because I did not want to be drowned’”]
“My name is John Dolittle—M.D.,” said the Doctor. “I have been asked tocome to Africa to cure the monkeys who are sick.”
“You must all come before the King,” said the black man.
“What king?” asked the Doctor, who didn’t want to waste any time.
“The King of the Jolliginki,” the man answered. “All these lands belongto him; and all strangers must be brought before him. Follow me.”
So they gathered up their baggage and went off, following the manthrough the jungle.
_THE SIXTH CHAPTER_
POLYNESIA AND THE KING
WHEN they had gone a little way through the thick forest, they came toa wide, clear space; and they saw the King’s palace which was made ofmud.
This was where the King lived with his Queen, Ermintrude, and theirson, Prince Bumpo. The Prince was away fishing for salmon in the river.But the King and Queen were sitting under an umbrella before the palacedoor. And Queen Ermintrude was asleep.
When the Doctor had come up to the palace the King asked him hisbusiness; and the Doctor told him why he had come to Africa.
“You may not travel through my lands,” said the King. “Many years ago awhite man came to these shores; and I was very kind to him. But afterhe had dug holes in the ground to get the gold, and killed all theelephants to get their ivory tusks, he went away secretly in his ship—without so much as saying ‘Thank you.’ Never again shall a white mantravel through the lands of Jolliginki.”
“And Queen Ermintrude was asleep”]
Then the King turned to some of the black men who were standing nearand said, “Take away this medicine-man—with all his animals, and lockthem up in my strongest prison.”
So six of the black men led the Doctor and all his pets away and shutthem up in a stone dungeon. The dungeon had only one little window,high up in the wall, with bars in it; and the door was strong and thick.
Then they all grew very sad; and Gub-Gub, the pig, began to cry. ButChee-Chee said he would spank him if he didn’t stop that horriblenoise; and he kept quiet.
“Are we all here?” asked the Doctor, after he had got used to the dimlight.
“Yes, I think so,” said the duck and started to count them.
“Where’s Polynesia?” asked the crocodile. “She isn’t here.”
“Are you sure?” said the Doctor. “Look again. Polynesia! Polynesia!Where are you?”
“I suppose she escaped,” grumbled the crocodile. “Well, that’s justlike her!—Sneaked off into the jungle as soon as her friends got intotrouble.”
“I’m not that kind of a bird,” said the parrot, climbing out of thepocket in the tail of the Doctor’s coat. “You see, I’m small enoughto get through the bars of that window; and I was afraid they wouldput me in a cage instead. So while the King was busy talking, I hid inthe Doctor’s pocket—and here I am! That’s what you call a ‘ruse,’” shesaid, smoothing down her feathers with her beak.
“Good Gracious!” cried the Doctor. “You’re lucky I didn’t sit on you.”
“Now listen,” said Polynesia, “to-night, as soon as it gets dark, Iam going to creep through the bars of that window and fly over to thepalace. And then—you’ll see—I’ll soon find a way to make the King letus all out of prison.”
“Oh, what can _you_ do?” said Gub-Gub, turning up his nose andbeginning to cry again. “You’re only a bird!”
“Quite true,” said the parrot. “But do not forget that although I amonly a bird, _I can talk like a man_—and I know these darkies.”
So that night, when the moon was shining through the palm-trees andall the King’s men were asleep, the parrot slipped out through thebars of the prison and flew across to the palace. The pantry window hadbeen broken by a tennis ball the week before; and Polynesia popped inthrough the hole in the glass.
She heard Prince Bumpo snoring in his bedroom at the back of thepalace. Then she tip-toed up the stairs till she came to the King’sbedroom. She opened the door gently and peeped in.
The Queen was away at a dance that night at her cousin’s; but the Kingwas in bed fast asleep.
Polynesia crept in, very softly, and got under the bed.
Then she coughed—just the way Doctor Dolittle used to cough. Polynesiacould mimic any one.
The King opened his eyes and said sleepily: “Is that you, Ermintrude?”(He thought it was the Queen come back from the dance.)
Then the parrot coughed again—loud, like a man. And the King sat up,wide awake, and said, “Who’s that?”
“I am Doctor Dolittle,” said the parrot—just the way the Doctor wouldhave said it.
“What are you doing in my bedroom?” cried the King. “How dare you getout of prison! Where are you?—I don’t see you.”
“‘Who’s that?’”]
But the parrot just laughed—a long, deep* jolly laugh, like theDoctor’s.
“Stop laughing and come here at once, so I can see you,” said the King.
“Foolish King!” answered Polynesia. “Have you forgotten that youare talking to John Dolittle, M.D.—the most wonderful man on earth?Of course you cannot see me. I have made myself invisible. There isnothing I cannot do. Now listen: I have come here to-night to warnyou. If you don’t let me and my animals travel through your kingdom,I will make you and all your people sick like the monkeys. For I canmake people well: and I can make people ill—just by raising my littlefinger. Send your soldiers at once to open the dungeon door, or youshall have mumps before the morning sun has risen on the hills ofJolliginki.”
Then the King began to tremble and was very much afraid.
“Doctor,” he cried, “it shall be as you say. Do not raise your littlefinger, please!” And he jumped out of bed and ran to tell the soldiersto open the prison door.
As soon as he was gone, Polynesia crept downstairs and left the palaceby the pantry window.
But the Queen, who was just letting herself in at the backdoor with alatch-key, saw the parrot getting out through the broken glass. Andwhen the King came back to bed she told him what she had seen.
Then the King understood that he had been tricked, and he wasdreadfully angry. He hurried back to the prison at once.
But he was too late. The door stood open. The dungeon was empty. TheDoctor and all his animals were gone.
_THE SEVENTH CHAPTER_
THE BRIDGE OF APES
QUEEN ERMINTRUDE had never in her life seen her husband so terrible ashe got that night. He gnashed his teeth with rage. He called everybodya fool. He threw his tooth-brush at the palace cat. He rushed round inhis night-shirt and woke up all his army and sent them into the jungleto catch the Doctor. Then he made all his servants go too—his cooks andhis gardeners and his barber and Prince Bumpo’s tutor—even the Queen,who was tired from dancing in a pair of tight shoes, was packed off tohelp the soldiers in their search.
All this time the Doctor and his animals were running through theforest towards the Land of the Monkeys as fast as they could go.
Gub-Gub, with his short legs, soon got tired; and the Doctor had tocarry him—which made it pretty hard when they had the trunk and thehand-bag with them as well.
The King of the Jolliginki thought it would be easy for his army tofind them, because the Doctor was in a strange land and would not knowhis way. But he was wrong; because the monkey, Chee-Chee, knew all thepaths through the jungle—better even than the King’s men did. And heled the Doctor and his pets to the very thickest part of the forest—aplace where no man had ever been before—and hid them all in a bighollow tree between high rocks.
“We had better wait here,” said Chee-Chee, “till the soldiers have goneback to bed. Then we can go on into the Land of the Monkeys.”
So there they stayed the whole night through.
They often heard the King’s men searching and talking in the jungleround about. But they were quite safe, for no one knew of thathiding-place but Chee-Chee�
��not even the other monkeys.
At last, when daylight began to come through the thick leaves overhead,they heard Queen Ermintrude saying in a very tired voice that it wasno use looking any more—that they might as well go back and get somesleep.
As soon as the soldiers had all gone home, Chee-Chee brought the Doctorand his animals out of the hiding-place and they set off for the Landof the Monkeys.
It was a long, long way; and they often got very tired—especiallyGub-Gub. But when he cried they gave him milk out of the cocoanuts,which he was very fond of.
They always had plenty to eat and drink; because Chee-Chee andPolynesia knew all the different kinds of fruits and vegetables thatgrow in the jungle, and where to find them—like dates and figs andground-nuts and ginger and yams. They used to make their lemonade outof the juice of wild oranges, sweetened with honey which they got fromthe bees’ nests in hollow trees. No matter what it was they asked for,Chee-Chee and Polynesia always seemed to be able to get it for them—orsomething like it. They even got the Doctor some tobacco one day, whenhe had finished what he had brought with him and wanted to smoke.
At night they slept in tents made of palm-leaves, on thick, soft bedsof dried grass. And after a while they got used to walking such a lotand did not get so tired and enjoyed the life of travel very much.
But they were always glad when the night came and they stopped fortheir resting-time. Then the Doctor used to make a little fire ofsticks; and after they had had their supper, they would sit round itin a ring, listening to Polynesia singing songs about the sea, or toChee-Chee telling stories of the jungle.
