Part Six

I NEW POPSIPETEL 314 II THOUGHTS OF HOME 322 III THE RED MAN’S SCIENCE 328 IV THE SEA-SERPENT 332 V THE SHELLFISH RIDDLE SOLVED AT LAST 340 VI THE LAST CABINET MEETING 346 VII THE DOCTOR’S DECISION 350

ILLUSTRATIONS

The Popsipetel Picture-History of King Jong Thinkalot (in colors) Frontispiece PAGE “I would sit on the river-wall with my feet dangling over the water” 5 “And in her right foot she carried a lighted candle!” 22 “‘Being a good noticer is terribly important’” 53 A traveler arrives 77 “On the bed sat the Hermit” 101 “Sat scowling down upon the amazed and gaping jury” 115 “‘What else can I think?’” 133 “‘Boy, where’s the skipper?’” 147 “In these lower levels we came upon the shadowy shapes of dead ships” (in colors) 162 “The Doctor started chatting in Spanish to the bed-maker” 175 “Did acrobatics on the beast’s horns” 189 “‘He talks English!’” 201 “I was alone in the ocean!” 226 “It was a great moment” 257 The Terrible Three 279 “Working away with their noses against the end of the island” 293 “The Whispering Rocks” 295 “Had to chase his butterflies with a crown upon his head” 317 “‘Tiptoe incognito,’ whispered Bumpo” 353

THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOLITTLE

THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOLITTLE

PROLOGUE

ALL that I have written so far about Doctor Dolittle I heard long after it happened from those who had known him—indeed a great deal of it took place before I was born. But I now come to set down that part of the great man’s life which I myself saw and took part in.

Many years ago the Doctor gave me permission to do this. But we were both of us so busy then voyaging around the world, having adventures and filling note-books full of natural history that I never seemed to get time to sit down and write of our doings.

Now of course, when I am quite an old man, my memory isn’t so good any more. But whenever I am in doubt and have to hesitate and think, I always ask Polynesia, the parrot.

That wonderful bird (she is now nearly two hundred and fifty years old) sits on the top of my desk, usually humming sailor songs to herself, while I write this book. And, as every one who ever met her knows, Polynesia’s memory is the most marvelous memory in the world. If there is any happening I am not quite sure of, she is always able to put me right, to tell me exactly how it took place, who was there and everything about it. In fact sometimes I almost think I ought to say that this book was written by Polynesia instead of me.

Very well then, I will begin. And first of all I must tell you something about myself and how I came to meet the Doctor.