The Story of Doctor Dolittle

ddle

mal La

Money T

age from

reat Jo

sia and t

Bridge o

eader of t

onkeys'

est Anima

Black P

cine and

ils and Blu

Rats' Wa

arbary D

oo, the L

Ocean G

Smel

he Ro

sherman's

me Aga

STRA

called Puddle

tisp

A

r came to see

see as wel

to his house on t

sit in chair

d the Doctor, 'go

the Doctor was a

there was tw

e voyag

have run i

cause I did not wa

Ermintrude

's th

ves and swinging out of

le was the l

ys who were still well

asts, to wait on a l

Grand Gori

d the duck. 'How does

ng the fairy-st

d waving till the s

0

ely the pirate

1

that rats always le

1

here, B

2

believe there's s

3

d piece of

5

e cried. 'I'

6

sed the Doct

7

sat in a cha

7

round the garden l

7

OF DOCTO

STOR

R DOL

IRST

DD

hildren-there was a doctor; and his name was Dolittle-John Dolittle,

walked down the street in his high hat everyone would say, "There goes the Doctor!-He's a clever man." And the dogs and the c

large and had a wide lawn and stone seats and weeping-willows hanging over. His sister,

piano, a squirrel in the linen closet and a hedgehog in the cellar. He had a cow with a calf too, and an old lame horse-twenty-five years of age-and chickens, and pig

with rheumatism came to see the Doctor, she sat on the hedgehog who was sleeping on the sofa and never came to see hi

r came to see

arah Dolittle, cam

l of hedgehogs and mice! That's the fourth personage these animals have driven away. Squire Jenkins and the Parson say they wouldn't come near your

better than the 'best pe

said his sister, and w

ast he had no one left-except the Cat's-meat-Man, who didn't mind any kind of animals. But the Cat's-meat-Man wasn't very

s, long ago; and if the Doctor hadn't had some money saved

f course it cost a lot to feed them. And the

But the money he got for that too began to go, so he sold the br

"There goes John Dolittle, M.D.! There was a time when he was the best known doctor in t

till ran up and followed him through the tow

COND C

L LAN

g in his kitchen talking with the Cat's-meat-M

ople's doctor, and be an animal-d

oking out at the rain and singing a sailor-song to

But my wife, Theodosia, she's a scholar, she is. And she read your book to me. Well, it's wonderful-that's all can be said-wonderful. You might have been a cat yourself. You know the way they think. And listen: you can make a

uickly. "You mustn't do tha

rence to. But as you say, maybe it ain't quite fair on the animals. But they'll get sick anyway, because the old women always giv

the parrot flew off the window

silly people up-if they haven't brains enough to see you're the best doctor in the

aid John Dolittle, putting the flower-pots

hem are any good at all. Now listen, Doctor, and I'll t

rots can talk,"

ird-language," said Polynesia proudly. "If I say, 'Polly wants a

ied the Doctor. "Wh

e porridge hot yet?

d the Doctor. "You never ta

a, dusting some cracker-crumbs off her left wi

ame back with the butcher's book and a pencil. "Now don't go too fast-and I'll write it down. Thi

own and could talk to one another. And all that afternoon, while it was raining,

ame in, the parrot said to the Do

he were scratching hi

eyebrows. "They talk with their ears, with their feet, with their tails-with everything. Sometime

mean?" aske

?'" Polynesia answered. "He is asking you a question. D

e of the animals so well that he could talk to them himself and understand

ome an animal-doctor, old ladies began to bring him their pet pugs and poodles who h

and the poor thing was terribly glad to f

acles. I am going blind in one eye. There's no reason why horses shouldn't wear glasses, the same as people. But that stupid man over the hill never even

said the Doctor. "I'l

se-"only green. They'll keep the sun out of my

he Doctor. "Green o

ls don't complain. As a matter of fact it takes a much cleverer man to be a really good animal-doctor than it does to be a good people's doctor. My farmer's boy thinks he knows all abo

put it?" ask

e," said the horse. "He only tried

l!" said t

make much fuss. But it was bad enough to have that vet giving me the wrong medicine. And

he boy much?" a

n the right place. The vet's looking afte

eek," said the Doctor. "Come i

see as wel

n spectacles; and the plow-horse stopped going

animals wearing glasses in the country round P

as they found that he could talk their language, they told him where the

to his house on t

. And whenever any creatures got sick-not only horses and cows and dogs-but all the little things of the fields, like harvest-mice and water-voles, badgers

ont door, "COWS" over the side door, and "SHEEP" on the kitchen door. Each kind of animal had a separate door-even the mic

ld the animals in foreign lands of the wonderful doctor of Puddleby-on-the-Marsh, who could understand their talk and help them in their troubles. In this way he bec

sia sat in the window-as she nearly always did-looking out at th

?" asked the Doctor, l

d the parrot; and she went

re you t

first man to talk like us. Oh, sometimes people annoy me dreadfully-such airs they put on-talking about 'the dumb animals.' Dumb!-Huh! Why I knew a macaw once who could say 'Good morning!' in seven different ways without once opening his mouth. He could talk every language-and Greek. An old professor with a gray beard bought him. But h

w old are you really? I know that parrots and

three or a hundred and eighty-two. But I know that when I first came here from Africa, Ki

HIRD

ONEY T

ke money again; and his sister, Sar

ey had to stay at the Doctor's house for a week. And when th

sit in chair

tor and his house so much. And he never had the heart to refuse them when they aske

y away from the Italian, gave the man a shilling and told him to go. The organ-grinder got awfully angry and said that he wanted to keep the monkey. But the Doctor told him that if he didn't go away he would punch him on the nose. John Dolittle was a stron

e his tooth better. But when the crocodile saw what a nice house it was-with all the different places for the different kinds of animals-he too wanted to live with the Doctor. He asked couldn't he sleep in the fish-pond at t

that he would not eat the lambs and sick calves they brought to be cured. So the Doctor went to the crocodile and told him he must go ba

or's sister came

animals to you-just as we were beginning to be well off again. Now we shall be ruined entirely. Thi

or," said the Doctor

sister. "It's a nasty thing to find unde

't like the circus; and I haven't the money to send him back to Africa where he comes f

rah. "He eats the linoleum. If you don't send hi

married. It can't be helped." And he took

gs and went off; and the Doctor was

d the Doctor, 'go

nd the house to look after, and no one to do the mending, and no money coming in to pay th

be much better off if it had never been invented.

the Doctor was a

e kitchen-fire they began talking it over among themselves in whispers. And the owl, Too-Too, who was good at arithmeti

ourselves. At least we can do that much. After all, it is for

oors; the duck was to dust and make the beds; the owl, Too-Too, was to keep the accounts, and the pig was t

y soon got used to it; and they used to think it great fun to watch Jip, the dog, sweeping his tail over the floor with a rag tied onto it fo

ll right for a while; but witho

l outside the garden-gate and sold radishes and r

and still the Doctor wouldn't worry. When the parrot came to him and

are plenty of vegetables left in the garden. The Winter is still a long way off. Don't fuss. That was the t

from the forest outside the town, so they could have a big fire in the kitchen, most of the vegetables

URTH C

GE FROM

ng round the warm fire in the kitchen, and the Doctor was reading aloud to them out

s that noi

nd of some one running. Then the door flew open and

terrible sickness among the monkeys out there. They are all catching it-and they are dyin

the Doctor, taking off his spec

e-Chee. "She is outsi

tor. "She must be perished with the cold

although she was a little afraid at first, she soon got warm

finished th

er weather. But I'm afraid we haven't money enough t

p and got it off the to

ng in it-not on

was twopence left

u spent it on a rattle for that b

rhaps if I go down to the seaside I shall be able to borrow a boat that will take us to Africa. I knew

there was tw

ea-shore. And when he came back he told the animals it

very glad and began to sing, because they were going

, like the dormice and the water-voles and the bats, they will have to go back and live in the fields where they were born till we come h

ages before, began telling the Doctor all the th

he said-"'hard tack' they call it. And y

ill have its own anc

it's very important. You can't stop if you h

for?" asked

every half-hour and then you know what time it is. And bri

ey were going to get the money fro

get to Africa where we don't have to have any! I'll go and ask the grocer if h

ocer. And presently he came back

closed the house and gave the key to the old horse who lived in the stable. And when they had seen that there was plenty of ha

arge suet-pudding as a present for the Doctor because, he said h

clock in the afternoon and he wanted his nap. So Polynesia took him downstairs into the inside of

bed!" cried Gub-Gub

parrot. "It isn't a shelf. Climb up into it a

id Gub-Gub. "I'm too excited. I want t

e voyag

ll get used to the life after a while." And she went bac

Black Sea an

the Isle

ed the Yel

range too

nd drops be

il the o

all these c

oming ba

ney, when the Doctor said he would have to

n to that country many times and

Chee to pull up the anch

IFTH

REAT

w before the ship to show them the way. At night she carried a tiny lantern, so they should not miss her

ynesia, Chee-Chee and the crocodile enjoyed the hot sun no end. They ran about l

in such weather, but sat at the end of the ship in the shade of

while, when the top of her head got too hot, she would dive under the ship and come up on the other side. In this way,

le's ship. When she told them it was, they said they were glad, because the monkeys in Africa were getting worried that he would never come.

ey too asked Polynesia if this was the ship of the famous doctor. And when they hea

, "Yes. We have ru

oises, "where the wild onions grow tall and strong. K

on the parrot saw them again, coming up behind, dragging

the sun was going d

urney is nearly ended. Very soon we shou

ey could see something in front that might be land. But it

The wind howled; the rain came down in torrents; and t

BANG! The ship stopped a

ked the Doctor, comin

"but I think we're ship-wrecked.

she said they had struck a rock; there was a big hole in the botto

aid the Doctor. "Dear me, dear me

Gub-Gub did not

is end of the rope, fly to the shore and tie it on to a palm-tree; and we'll hold the other end on the ship here.

have run i

some flying; and those that climbed along the rop

in the bottom; and presently the rough sea beat it

e dry cave they found, high up in t

rning they went down to the s

dred and sixty-nine years to-morrow since I was here! And it hasn't changed a bit!-Sam

ears in her eyes-she was so plea

sea during the storm. So Dab-Dab went out to look for it. And presen

e found one of the white mice, v

sked the duck. "You were tol

o the ship with the hard-tack. When the ship sank I was terribly frightened-because I cannot swim far. I swam as long as I could, but I soon got all exhauste

it and brought it to the Doctor on the shore

call a 'stowaway,

the trunk where the white mouse could travel co

footsteps in

soon a black man came down out of the woods

cause I did not wa

e Doctor. "I have been asked to come to

before the King,"

e Doctor, who didn't

d. "All these lands belong to him; and all st

ggage and went off, followin

IXTH

IA AND

k forest, they came to a wide, clear space; and

po. The Prince was away fishing for salmon in the river. But the King and Queen wer

the King asked him his business; and the

m. But after he had dug holes in the ground to get the gold, and killed all the elephants to get their ivory tusks, he went away

Ermintrude

anding near and said, "Take away this medicine-man-with a

them up in a stone dungeon. The dungeon had only one little window, hi

gan to cry. But Chee-Chee said he would spank him if

the Doctor, after he had

said the duck and s

" asked the crocodi

ctor. "Look again. Polynesi

"Well, that's just like her!-Sneaked off into the

ough to get through the bars of that window; and I was afraid they would put me in a cage instead. So while the King was busy talki

the Doctor. "You're luc

to creep through the bars of that window and fly over to the palace. And th

, turning up his nose and beginning

forget that although I am only a bird, I ca

e parrot slipped out through the bars of the prison and flew across to the palace. The pantry window h

the palace. Then she tip-toed up the stairs till she came to

hat night at her cousin's; but

, very softly, and

Doctor Dolittle used to cough.

: "Is that you, Ermintrude?" (He thought i

, like a man. And the King sat up,

d the parrot-just the way t

ed the King. "How dare you get out of p

's th

hed-a long, deep* jolly

here at once, so I can

g I cannot do. Now listen: I have come here to-night to warn you. 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 can make peo

n to tremble and w

se your little finger, please!" And he jumped out of be

sia crept downstairs and left

h a latch-key, saw the parrot getting out through the broken glass

en tricked, and he was dreadfully angry

open. The dungeon was empty. The D

VENTH

IDGE O

the palace cat. He rushed round in his night-shirt and woke up all his army and sent them into the jungle to catch the Doctor. Then he made all his servants go too-his cooks an

re running through the forest towards the L

Doctor had to carry him-which made it pretty hard when

But he was wrong; because the monkey, Chee-Chee, knew all the paths through the jungle-better even than the King's men did. And he led the Doctor an

till the soldiers have gone back to bed. The

tayed the whole

jungle round about. But they were quite safe, for no one knew

they heard Queen Ermintrude saying in a very tired voice that it was no

brought the Doctor and his animals out of the hidin

d-especially Gub-Gub. But when he cried they gave him

nuts and ginger and yams. They used to make their lemonade out of the juice of wild oranges, sweetened with honey which they got from the bees' nests in hollow trees. No matter what it was they asked for, C

s of dried grass. And after a while they got used to walking such a

used to make a little fire of sticks; and after they had had their supper, they would sit round it in a

is grandmother had told him-tales of long, long, long ago, before Noah and the Flood,-of the days when men dressed in bear-skins and lived in holes in the rock and ate their mutton raw, because they did not know what cooking was-having never seen a fire. And he told them of the Great Mammoth

he jungle till they caught him. So all this time, while the Doctor and his animals were going along towards the Land of the Monkeys, thinking themselves qu

the tree-tops. And when he came down he said they were now qu

sitting in the trees by the edge of a swamp, looking and waiting for them. And when they saw the famous doctor really

bigger ones even carried Gub-Gub who had got tired again. Then two of them rus

d the noise of the monkeys cheering; and they at last

wly, and he saw the Captain of the army sneaking through th

heir lives; and the King's men, coming after them, b

ves and swinging out of

g and fell down in the mud, and the Captain

d as he sprang forward to take hold of the Doctor, one of his ears ca

self up, and on they went again, runni

t! We haven't

p cliff with a river flowing below. This was the end of the Kingdom of Joll

own over the edge of the s

we ever going

close now-Look at them! I am afraid we are going to

the pig dropped him on the ground

ute to do it. They've got the Captain loose, and he's

g to make a bridge out of, and he gazed around

all ready for him-made of living monkeys! For while his back was turned, the monkeys

the Doctor, "Walk over! W

ow bridge at that dizzy height above the river.

as he was getting to the other side, the King'

were too late. The Doctor and all his animals were safe in the Lan

turned to the D

the jungle waiting to see the monkeys do that trick. But we never let a white man

tor felt ve

le was the l

GHTH C

DER OF

thousands of monkeys sick-gorillas, orang-outangs, chimpanzees, dog-faced

he got Chee-Chee and his cousin to build him a little house of grass. The ne

jungles and the valleys and the hills to the little house of grass, w

ys who were still well

one, with a lot of beds in it; and he

rsing. So he sent messages to the other animals, like the lions and

reature. And when he came to the Doctor's big

Do you dare to ask me-ME, the King of Beasts, to wait on a lot

terrible, the Doctor tried h

as though it needed brushing-badly. Now listen, and I'll tell you something: the day may come when the lions get sick. And if you don't

asts, to wait on a l

aid the Leader, turning up his nose. And he stalked away i

telopes-although they were too shy and timid to be rude to the Doctor like the lion-th

ondering where he could get help enough to tak

o his den, saw his wife, the Queen Lioness, com

"I don't know what to do with him. He

nervousness-for she was a good mot

s children-two very cunning little cubs, lying o

st what he had said to the Doctor. And she got

e any kind of sickness, and how kind he is-the only man in the whole world who can talk the language of the animals! And now, now-when we have a sick baby o

with you-and those stupid leopards and antelopes. Then do everything the Doctor tells you. Work like niggers! And perha

oor, where another mother-lion l

ctor and said, "I happened to be passing this

. "I haven't. And I'm

n-just to oblige you-so long as I don't have to wash the creatures. And I have told all the other hunting animals to come and do their share. The leopards should be here any minute now.... Oh, and by

es and the zebras-all the animals of the forests and the mountains and the plains-came to help him

nd of a week the big house full of beds were half empty. An

was so tired he went to bed and slept

INTH

NKEYS'

verybody away till he woke up. Then John Dolittle to

t he was going to stay with them forever. And that night a

Chimpanzee ros

is going away? Is he n

them could

d Gorilla got

new house and a bigger bed, and promise him plenty of monkey-servants to work

Grand Gori

ers whispered, "Sh! Look! Chee-Chee, t

said to the

k the Doctor to stay. He owes money in Puddl

s asked him, "

u could get nothing without money; you could do nothing witho

But can you not even eat

hem that even he, when he was with the organ-gri

nd said, "Cousin, surely these Men be strange creatures! Who

hee-Ch

s; and we said we would pay him when we came back. And we borrowed a boat from a sailor; but it was broken on the rocks when we reached the

or a while, sitting quite still u

ggest Baboon g

ill we have given him a fine present to take with him, so that

onkey who was sitting up

nk tha

reat noise, "Yes, yes. Let us give him

im. And one said, "Fifty bags of cocoanuts!" And another-"A hundred bunches of bana

hings would be too heavy to carry so far

imal. You may be sure he will be kind to it. Give him

asked him, "What

d of the White Men, where animals were put in cages for people to come

young ones-stupid and easily amu

e that they should give the Doctor-one the White Men had

an iguana o

"Yes, there is one

sked, "Have t

y organ-grinder took me five years ago, they

ed, "Have they

hite Man has ever seen a pushm

ENTH

ST ANIMA

to catch. The black men get most of their animals by sneaking up behind them while they are not looking. But you could not do this with the pushmi-pullyu-because, no matter which way you came towards him, he was always facing you. And besides, only one half of him slept at a time. The other head was always awake-and watching. This

they had gone a good many miles, one of them found peculiar footprints near the

e way and they saw a place where the grass was hig

them coming; and he tried hard to break through the ring of monkeys. But he couldn't do it. W

h Doctor Dolittle and be put on s

is heads hard and s

d him that the Doctor was a very kind man but hadn't any money; and people would pay to see a two-heade

ow shy I am-I hate being stared

days they tried

id he would come with them and see wh

lyu. And when they came to where the Doctor's li

packing the trun

took the animal inside an

asked John Dolittle, gazi

the duck. "How does

e as though it had an

the African jungles, the only two-headed beast in the world! Take him hom

nt any money,"

h and scrape to pay the butcher's bill in Puddleby? And how are you going to

d the duck. 'How does

make him one,"

make one with?-And besides, what are we going to live on? We shall be poorer than ever

the Doctor. "It certainly would make a nice new kind of pet.

rusted. "You have been so kind to the animals here-and the monkeys tell me that I am the only one who wil

id the Doctor. "Excuse me, surely you are

les and the Asiatic Chamois-on my mother's side. My fa

ook out of the trunk which Dab-Dab was packing and began

u only talk with one of your mouths

h for eating-mostly. In that way I can talk while I am eating

a grand party for the Doctor, and all the animals of the jungle came. And they h

nished eating, the Do

I am very sad at leaving your beautiful country. Because I have things to do in the Land of the White Men, I must go. After I have gone, remember never to let

long time and said to one another, "Let it be remembered always among our people that

f seven horses in his hairy arms, rolled a gr

all time shall

ough the forest with their families, still point down at it from the branches and whisper to their children,

go back to the seashore. And all the monkeys went with him as far as t

EVENTH

LACK

river they stoppe

those thousands of monkeys wanted

or and his pets were goin

inki. If the King should hear us, he will send his soldiers to catch us ag

boat to go home in.... Oh well, perhaps we'll find one lying about on the be

cocoanuts. And while he was away, the Doctor and the rest of the animals, who did not know the jungle-paths so we

ooked out from the top branches to try and see the Doctor's high hat; he waved and shouted; he

y move at all, and the Doctor had to take out his pocket-knife and cut his way along. They stumbled into wet, boggy places; they got all tangled up in thick convolvulus-runners; t

s torn and their faces covered with mud, they walked right into the King's ba

ithout anybody seeing her, and hid herself. The

not escape. Take them all back to prison and put double locks on the doo

and locked up. And the Doctor was told that in th

all very

ack to Puddleby. That poor sailor will think I've stolen his ship

locked. There seemed no chance of gett

g in the tree in the palace-garden. She

meant that somebody had been making trouble, and she was thinking out some way to put things righ

still looking for the Doctor. When Chee-Chee saw her, h

men and locked up again," whispered Polynesia. "We lost our way

d he began to scold the parrot for letting them ge

d I was kept so busy catching him and bringing him back, that I turned to the left, instead of the right, when we reac

r his arm. He came strolling down the gravel-walk, humming a sad song, till he reached a stone seat right under the tree

a watched him, keeping

ng the fairy-st

son laid the book down

nce!" said he, with a dream

n a small, high voice like

t turn thee into a wh

ed up off the seat a

ught the sweet music of a fairy's silve

ee her, "thou sayest winged words of truth. For 'tis I, Tripsitinka, th

Bumpo, clasping his hands in jo

hty deeds has he performed. Yet thy kingly father leaves him languishing long and lingering hours. Go to him, brave Bumpo, secretly, when the sun

Prince. "A thousand th

gain with a smile upon his fa

ELFTH

NE AND

uld see her, Polynesia then slipped out at the

-smells that came from the palace-kitchen. She told the pig to bring the Doctor to the window

to-night to see you. And you've got to find some way to turn him white. But be sure to make him

man white. You speak as though he were a dress to be re-dyed. It's not so simp

on white. Think of a way-think hard. You've got plenty of medicines left in the bag. He'll

went over to his medicine-bag, murmuring something about "liberated chlorine

o came secretly to the Docto

ok said I should. 'Tis true indeed that she awoke. But when she saw my face she cried out, 'Oh, he's black!' And she ran away and wouldn't marry me-but went to sleep again somewhere else. So I came back, full of sadness, to my father's kingd

bottles in his medicine-bag, "supposing I made your hair a ni

g else will satisfy me. I

ce," said the Doctor-"one of the hardest things a magic

l wear shining armor and gauntlets of steel, li

e white all over?

ould like my eyes blue too, but I su

two or three times. You have a strong skin-yes? Well that's all right. Now come over here by the light-Oh, but before I do anything, you must first go down to the beach and get a ship ready, with

nd went away to get a sh

sked Dab-Dab to bring a basin. Then he mixed a lot of med

n and put his face in

first on one leg and then on the other, looking at all the bottles he had used for the mixture, and reading

ut of the basin, breathing very hard. A

hite as snow, and his eyes, which had

began dancing around the prison. But the Doctor asked him not to make so much noise about

nly one in the Kingdom of Jolliginki, and he wanted to look at him

ith all his animals ran as fast as they could down to the seashore; while Bumpo leaned against the wall of the

w Polynesia and Chee-Chee waiting f

didn't like to leave the mirror with him. But then again, he might stay white-I had never used that mixture before. To tell the truth, I was surprised, myself, that it worked so well. But I

ow we were just joking wi

her tail angrily. "We never did them any harm. Serve him ri

had us locked up-it wasn't Bumpo's fault.... I wonder if I ought to go back and apologize-Oh, we

d Dab-Dab. "He looked better the way he was, I thought. But he'

tor-"romantic, of course-but a good heart.

t likely he kissed some farmer's fat wife who was taking a snooze under an apple-tree. Can

o, went on to the ship with the Doctor. But Chee-Chee, Polynesia and the crocodile

the side across the water. And then he remembered that t

n the moonlight; and he began to wonder if they would

spering noise, high in the air, coming through the night.

to them-a sound like the Autumn wind blowing through the leaves

pointing and his tail

of them-flying

nd thousands of little birds. Soon the whole sky seemed full of them, and still more kept coming-more and more. There were so many that f

de-no sound but this great rustling of feathers which grew greater now than ever. When they began to settle on the sands, along the ropes of the ship-anywhere and everywhere except the trees-the Doctor

t moonlight John

are the swallows going back. Swallows, I thank you for waiting for us. It is very thoughtful of you. N

d waving till the s

nesia and the crocodile, grew terribly sad. For never in their lives had they kn

n and again, they still stood there upon the rocks, cry

RTEENTH

S AND BL

his coast is the seashore of the Great Desert. It is a wild, lonely pla

they caught a boat like this at sea, they would steal everything on it; and after they had taken the people off they would sink the ship and sail back to Barbary singing songs and feeling proud of

e; a nice fresh wind was blowing the boat along, and everybody was happy. Presently Dab-Dab

ab. "I have a feeling it isn't a friendly ship.

ng a nap in the sun, began t

he mumbled-"underdone roast

at's the matter with the dog? Is he sm

Dab-Dab. "All dogs can

ed the Doctor. "There is no ro

roast beef must be on tha

" said the Doctor. "He coul

ld," said Dab-Da

growl again and his lip curled up an

a fight-six bad scoundrels fighting against one brave man. I want to help him. Woof-

can count its three big sails-all red. Whoever it is

and their ship is very swift. They

Doctor, "so we can go faster and get away from them. R

airs and dragged up ev

ely the pirate

ch the wind, the boat did not go nearly as fast as the

Might as well try to win a race in a soup-tureen as hope to get away from them in this old barge. Look how

the swallows that pirates were coming after the

ong rope and make them into a lot of thin strings as quickly as he could. Then the ends of these strings were tied on t

nt when there are a great lot of them together. And there, tied to the Doctor's ship, were a th

o hold his hat on with both hands; for he felt as though the ship i

, for when they looked back at the pirates' ship, they could see that it was grow

RTEENTH

ATS'

d short of breath. Then they sent a message down to the Doctor to say that they would have to take a rest soon; and that t

ey had spoken of. It had a very beautiful,

tor said he would get off on to the island to look for water-because there was none left to drink

g up from downstairs and leaving the ship as well. Jip started to run after them, be

d timidly along the rail, watching the dog out of the corner of his eye. And after he had

that all ships have rats i

octor sai

that rats always l

e Doctor-"so I

it were something disgraceful. But you can't blame us, can you? A

that rats always le

natural. I quite understand.... Was there

rn you before we go. This is a bad ship you have here. It isn't safe. The sides aren't strong

ou know?" ask

went and asked my aunt how she felt-you remember her?-the long, piebald rat, rather skinny, who came to see you in Puddleby last Spring with jaundice? Well-and she said her tail was tingling like everything! Then we knew, for sure, that this boat was going to sink

me. Very considerate of you-very! Give my regards to your aunt. I reme

carrying pails and saucepans, to look for water o

Doctor, as he was climbing up the mountainside. "It s

lands," said Dab-Dab. "Don't

stopped a

d. "How stupid of me! I wonder if t

d led him to a beautiful spring of cool, clear water where the canaries used to take their bath; a

ss so much better than the dried apples he had been eating on the ship. And

nd were lying on their backs while the canaries sang for them, t

wnstairs looking for things to steal. They have left their own ship with nobody on it. If you hurry and com

dea," said the D

r at once, said Good-by to the ca

tanding in the water; and-just as the swallows had said-there was nobody on it; a

ls to walk very softly and they

1

1

TEENTH

RBARY

d not caught a cold in his head while eating the d

very, very carefully out of the bay, Gub-Gub suddenly sneezed so loud that t

ailed the other boat right across the entrance to the ba

himself "Ben Ali, The Dragon") shook his fi

ilor to beat Ben Ali, the Barbary Dragon. I want that duck you've got-and the pig too. We'll have pork-chops and ro

made ready to fly to save her life. But

the rats said it would be at the bottom of the sea before to-morrow-night-and the

he Doctor. "Well, I'll do my best....

ly six of them. Let them come on. I'd love to tell that collie next door, when

here, B

the Doctor. "No, that would never do. I

n to sail the ship nearer, laughing with glee, and saying

his horns for a fight by rubbing them on the mast of the ship; while Jip kept s

pirates; they stopped laughing and cracking jokes; t

g down at his feet,

htning!-Men, the

they saw that the boat was indeed getting lower and

oat were sinking we shoul

d across from

there to leave! They left two hours ag

he men did not

o cling to the rails and the masts and the ropes and anything to keep from sliding off. Then the sea rushed roaring in through all the windows and the doors. And at

me and tried to get on to the boat where the Doctor was. But Jip kept snap

hey all cried o

us get on to the ship before they eat

ver the bay, the backs of big fishe

he ship, and poking his nose out o

little, the famo

tor Dolittle. "

t-especially Ben Ali. If they are annoying you, we will gladl

necessary to eat them. Don't let any of them reach the shore until I tell you-just keep the

f and chased Ben Ali

you have killed many people. These good sharks here have just offered to eat you up for me-and 'twould indeed be

oking down sideways at the big shark w

you must stop stealing; you must never sink anothe

then?" asked Ben Al

d and be bird-seed-farmers," the Doctor answer

anger, "Grow bird-seed!" he groane

t ships and good men to the bottom of the sea. For the rest of your life you must be a pe

-seed!" Then he looked down into the water agai

said sadly. "W

tell me. And be very sure that I will find a way to punish you. For though I may not be able to sail a ship as well as you, so long as the birds and the beasts and the

to the big shark, and w

them swim safe

TEENTH

, THE L

he Doctor and his pets set off once more on their jou

w boat was like inside; while the Doctor leant on the rail at the back of the ship with a

on-and what his garden would look like when he got back to Puddleb

there are all sorts of good things to eat and drink-special things; the larder-well, it's just like a shop, that's all. You never saw anything like it in your life-Just think-they kept five different kinds of sardines, those men! Come and look...

ng to guess what was inside. The Doctor turned the handle but it wouldn't open. Then they all started to hunt for the key. They looked under the mat; they

cco from Jamaica; carved ivory boxes full of Russian tea; an old violin with a string broken and a picture on the back; a set of big chess-men, carved out of coral and amber; a walking-stick which had a sword inside

rough the key-hole. But something had been stood aga

wondering what they should do,

believe there's

ll a moment. Then

believe there's s

ken, Too-Too. I do

e owl. "Sh!-There it is a

the Doctor. "What k

one putting his hand in

d at all," said the Doctor. "Yo

everything makes some noise-if your ears are only sharp enough to catch it. Bats can hear a mole walking in his tunnel under the earth-a

ise me. That's very interesting.... Liste

at all. Maybe it's a woman. Lift me up and let

owl up and held him close

oment Too

ll hand and a small face. It might be a woman-No. Now he p

es do that," s

idgety pig keep still. Now all hold your breath a moment so I can listen well. This is very difficult, wha

and listened again

up into the Doct

lubber or sniffle, lest we should find out that he is crying. But

rop of water falling off the c

"A drop of water falling off the ceiling

py, we've got to get in and see what's the matter wi

1

1

ENTEENT

CEAN

e Doctor soon chopped a hole in the

ng at all, it was so dark i

inst the walls, fastened at the bottom so they wouldn't tumble with the rolling of the ship; and above the barrels, pewter jugs of all sizes h

pirates' rum-room!"

id Gub-Gub. "The sm

all those animals staring in through the hole in the broken door. But as soon as h

f the pirates, ar

and laughed long and loud, the little bo

said-"not like a pirate. Could

said the Doctor. "Whe

t sailing a ship in all weathers. But he said he didn't want to be a pirate, because killing people and stealing was no work for a good fisherman to do. Then the leader, Ben Ali, got very angry and gnashed his teeth, and said they would throw my uncle into the sea if he didn't do as the

le boy began

er. Maybe your uncle is quite safe all the time. You don't know that he was drowned, do you? And that's something. Pe

sity. And when they had gone into the ship's dining-room and were h

the boy's uncle was

octor, taking a second

ng noises you are making with

n duck-language," the Doctor answere

the boy. "Are all these other animals your pets, to

him see we're talking about him-he gets so dreadfully embarrassed.

hip. When I heard some one chopping on the door, I didn't know who it could be. I was

hard," said the Doctor. "Now wha

attooed on his arm. He was a strong man, a kind uncle and the best sailor in the S

op'?" whispered Gub-

ship the man had," said Ji

that all? I thought it

the animals in the dining-room, and went

ancing and jumping through the

n the rail of his ship, they came

d seen anything of a man with red ha

er of The Saucy Sally

or. "That's the man.

r we saw it lying on the bottom of the sea. But ther

terribly afraid that the pirates threw his uncle into the sea. Would you be

a Decapods. We hear all the salt-water news. The shell-fish call us 'The Ocean Gossips.' No-tell the little bo

d the pushmi-pullyu took the little boy on his back and gave him a ride round the dining-room table; whi

1

1

HTEENTH

EL

Doctor-"that is the next thing-now that

e up to him agai

e better than an eagle. When they are miles high in the air th

ne of the swallows o

e-Vulture, and a White-tailed Sea Eagle. Twice as high as the boy they were, each one of them. And they stood on the rail of the ship, like round-sho

said he felt as though those terrible eyes were looking

tor said to

chor marked on his arm. Would you be so kind as to see i

ch. And all they answered

t we will do our bes

igher and higher still. Then, when the Doctor could only just see them, they parted company and started going off all

voice. "What a height! I wonder they don

me. And when they came b

les said to

in street of Gibraltar we saw three red hairs lying on a wheelbarrow before a baker's door. But they were not the hairs of a man-they were the hairs out of a fur-coat. N

ir big wings and flew back to their

at. The lad isn't old enough to be knocking around the world by himself. Boys aren't like ducklings-they have to be taken care of t

would soon think of some way. Do you remember how she got us al

ou, they can't do it-and they have the cheek to come back and say that nobody else could do it. They're just conceited-like that collie in Puddleby. And I don't think a wh

Maybe the fisherman's hair has turned white, worrying about the boy; and that was why the eagles didn't find him. You don't know everything. Yo

d piece of

now, you stupid piece of warm bacon! I haven'

t to the Doc

in his pockets that belonged t

re on a piece of string around his neck because it was too big for his f

the ring

if he has anything else t

a great, big red handkerchief an

boy pulled it o

nuff. Don't you smell it? His un

y again; and he said, "Yes.

ling milk from a kitten. Tell the boy I'll find his uncle for him in les

id the Doctor. "You can'

ff," said Jip as he climbed the stairs. "If the man had a hard smell, li

have a smell?" a

on a dark night by the smell of the hot water he had used to shave with-for the poor fellow had no soap.... Now then, let us see which way the wind is blowing. Wind is very important

the ship and smelt the wind; an

aves; rubber burning; lace-curtains being washed-No, my mistake, lac

ose different things in this

ones. Any mongrel could smell those with a cold in the head. Wait now, and I'll tell

d his nose straight up in the air and

ardly seemed to be breathing at all. When at last he began to spea

ain-stream; the lead roof of a dove-cote-or perhaps a granary-with the mid-day sun on it; black kid gloves lying in a bureau-drawer of walnu

ips?" aske

atever. And no snuff-plenty of pipes and cigarettes, and a few cig

e a fake, Jip. Who ever heard of finding a man in the middl

n the nose in a minute! You needn't think that just because the Doctor won

t! Life's too short. Tell me, Jip, where d

t of them," said Jip-"The

t for my new book. I wonder if you could train me to smell as well as that.... But no-perhaps I'm better

," said

ETEENTH

E

n beds; and they saw that the sun was shining bri

half an hour. Then he came to

e said. "We must wait till t

three o'clock that afternoon, the d

cry again, saying that no one seemed to be able to fin

I'll find his uncle even though he be in China-s

riday morning, early-just as it was getting light. A fine rainy mist l

e cried. 'I'

s nose in the air. Then he got most frightfully e

isten! I've got it! The wind's from the West and it smells o

t of bed and went to the

I point it, you turn the ship the same way. The man cannot be far off-with t

d and pointing the way for the Doctor to steer; while all the animals and the

getting worried and wanted to speak to him. So Dab-Dab went and fe

ving. We must make the s

he is starving?"

nd to smell it too. But he hasn't even fresh water to drink. All he is taking is snuff-in large pinches. We are getting nearer to him all t

to ask the swallows to pull the ship, the same a

ame down and once more harn

e speed. It went so fast that the fishes in the sea had to ju

up looking at Jip and turned to watch the sea in front, to

hip went rushing on, over the same flat, fl

silent, anxious and miserable. The little boy again

, the owl, Too-Too, who was perched on the tip of the mast, su

way out there where the sky and the water meet. See the s

p call

t is where the man i

ge-as large as a big field. No trees grew on it, no grass-nothing.

could a man be seen. All the animals screwed up their eyes and looked

hey spy-not even a gull, nor a s

r any sound. But the only noise they heard was the gentle

re!-HULLOA!" till their voices were hoarse.

boy burst into

my uncle any more! What shall

alled to

n no further. He must be there, I tell you! Sail th

he could and let down the anchor. Then he

nd down he went, back and forth-zig-zagging, twisting, doubling and turning. And everywhere

n the Doctor came running up to him, he found the dog

uietly. "No wonder those silly eagles could

or tunnel, running a long way under the ground. Then he struck a match an

out; and he had to strike ano

and the Doctor found himself in a

, his head resting on his arms, lay

beside him. The Doctor stooped and picked it up. It was

NTIETH

SHERMA

gently, the Docto

n. And the man thought it was Ben Ali coming ba

he man was tremendously glad, and said he was sorry he had fought the Doctor. He had not hurt him

him there, when he wouldn't promise to become a pirate; and how he used to sl

hen h

d nothing to eat or drin

said Jip. "What

ut through the passage into the daylight; and the Doc

the swallows up above started whistling at the top of their voices-thousands and millions of them-to show that they too were glad that the boy's brave uncle had be

look conceited. When Dab-Dab came to him and said, "Jip, I had

akes a dog to find a man, you know. B

e his home was. And when he had told him, the Docto

of, they saw a little fishing-town at the foot of a rocky

sister) came running down to the shore to meet them, laughing and crying at the same time. Sh

led and blushed like a school-girl. And she tried to

said. "I don't hold by it. Let her go an

sed the Doct

y. They begged him to spend a few days with them. So John Dolittle and his ani

t down to the beach and pointed at the great ship

gh hat, who's staying up at Mrs. Trevelyan's, he took the ship away from The Barbary Dragon-and made him into a farmer. Who'd ha

kept asking him out to teas and luncheons and dinners and parties; all the ladies sent him

the Doct

lly been most kind. I shall always remember it

ot of other people in grand clothes with him. And the Mayor stopped before the house where the

ets to make the people stop talking, the Docto

to present to the man who rid the seas of the Dragon of Barbar

er packet, and opening it, he handed to the Doctor a p

ut of his pocket a stil

is th

he other side of the village in a stable-yard, where all the dogs of the c

e was a dog-collar made of solid gold! And a great murmur of wonder went up from the vil

letters were these words: "JIP-

he little boy had thanked the Doctor and his dog over and over and over again, the great, swift ship with the red sai

AST C

E A

s had opened into flower; and the June sun was shining on the pleas

ng at all the country-fairs. And there, with the acrobats on one side of them and the Punch-and-Judy show on the other, they wou

ctor sat in a chair in front taking the sixpences and smiling on the people as they went in; and Dab-Dab was

ell them the strange creature, saying they would pay a tremendous l

shut up in a cage. He shall be free al

eat things they had seen and done in foreign lands. It was very interesting at first, being sort of part of a circu

sat in a cha

to the little wagon and paid th

at very soon the Doctor was ab

ull bloom, he came back to Puddleby a rich man,

their nests under the eaves of his roof and had young ones. And Dab-Dab was glad, too, to get back to the

g round the garden like a crazy thing, looking for the bones he had buried long ago, and chasing the rats out of th

round the garden l

lent him the boat, and he bought two new ship

e journey to Africa. And he bought another piano and put the whi

sser-shelf, he still had a lot of money left; and he had to

rrible nuisance. But it's

was toasting muffins fo

en-window, the Doctor and his animals would sit round the big, warm

d in the palm-trees before they went to bed under

-over there, in the Land of the White M

ould squeak out

-I guess he will

ld grunt up at them from t

he will-Go

riber'

at end of sentence (

osing quote added t