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anchor and the voyage began。
THE FIFTH CHAPTER
THE GREAT JOURNEY
NOW for six whole weeks they went sailing on and on； over
the rolling sea； following the swallow who flew before the
ship to show them the way。 At night she carried a tiny
lantern； so they should not miss her in the dark；
and the people on the other ships that passed
said that the light must be a shooting star。
As they sailed further and further into the
South； it got warmer and warmer。 Polynesia；
Chee…Chee and the crocodile enjoyed the hot
sun no end。 They ran about laughing and looking
over the side of the ship to see if they could
see Africa yet。
But the pig and the dog and the owl； Too…
Too； could do nothing in such weather； 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 sea and swimming behind
the ship。 And every once in a 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； too； she used to catch herrings on
Tuesdays and Fridayswhen everybody on the
boat ate fish to make the beef last longer。
When they got near to the Equator they saw
some flying…fishes coming towards them。 And
the fishes asked the parrot if this was Doctor
Dolittle'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。 Polynesia asked them how many miles
they had yet to go； and the flying…fishes said
it was only fifty…five miles now to the coast of
Africa。
And another time a whole school of porpoises
came dancing through the waves； and they too
asked Polynesia if this was the ship of the fa…
mous doctor。 And when they heard that it was；
they asked the parrot if the Doctor 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 the wild onions grow tall
and strong。 Keep straight onwe will get
some and catch up to you。〃
So the porpoises dashed away through the
sea。 And very soon the parrot saw them again；
coming up behind； dragging the onions through
the waves in 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。 Very soon we should
be able to see the shores of Africa。〃
And about half an hour later； sure enough；
they thought they could see something in front
that might be land。 But it began to get darker
and darker and they couldn't be sure。
Then a great storm came up； with thunder
and lightning。 The wind howled； the rain
came down in torrents； and the waves got so
high they splashed right over the boat。
Presently there was a big BANG！ The ship
stopped and rolled over on its side。
〃What's happened？〃 asked the Doctor；
coming up from downstairs。
〃I'm not sure；〃 said the parrot； 〃but I think
we're ship…wrecked。 Tell the duck to get out
and see。〃
So Dab…Dab dived right down under the
waves。 And when she came up she said they
had struck a rock； there was a big hole in the
bottom of the ship； the water was coming in；
and they were sinking fast。
〃We must have run into Africa；〃 said the
Doctor。 〃Dear me； dear me！Wellwe 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； fly to the shore and tie it on to a palm…
tree； and we'll hold the other end on the ship
here。 Then those that can't swim must climb
along the rope till they reach the land。 That's
what you call a ‘life…line。'〃
So they all got safely to the shoresome
swimming； some flying； and those that climbed
along the rope brought the Doctor's trunk and
handbag with them。
But the ship was no good any morewith the
big hole in the bottom； and presently the rough
sea beat it to pieces on the rocks and the timbers
floated away。
Then they all took shelter in a nice dry cave
they found； high up in the cliffs； till the storm
was over。
When the sun came out next morning they
went down to the sandy beach to dry themselves。
〃Dear old Africa！〃 sighed Polynesia。 〃It's
good to get back。 Just thinkit'll be a
hundred and sixty…nine years to…morrow since I was
here！ And it hasn't changed a bit！ Same old
palm…trees； same old red earth； same old black
ants！ There's no place like home！〃
And the others noticed she had tears in her eyes
she was so pleased to see her country once again。
Then the Doctor missed his high hat； for it
had been blown into the sea during the storm。
So Dab…Dab went out to look for it。 And presently
she saw 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； very frightened； sitting
inside it。
〃What are you doing here？〃 asked the duck。
〃You were told to stay behind in Puddleby。〃
〃I didn't want to be left behind；〃 said the
mouse。 〃I wanted to see what Africa was like
I have relatives there。 So I hid in the baggage
and was brought on to the ship with the
hard…tack。 When the ship sank I was terribly
frightenedbecause I cannot swim far。 I
swam as long as I 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； and I 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 the Doctor 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 the white mouse could travel
comfortably； the monkey； Chee…Chee； suddenly said；
〃Sh！ I hear footsteps in the jungle！〃
They all stopped talking and listened。 And
soon a black man came down out of the woods
and asked them what they were doing there。
〃My name is John DolittleM。 D。；〃 said the
Doctor。 〃I have been asked to come 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 belong to him； and all
strangers must be brought before him。 Follow me。〃
So they gathered up their baggage and went
off； following the man through the jungle。
THE SIXTH CHAPTER
POLYNESIA AND THE KING
WHEN they had gone a little way through
the thick forest they came to a wide； clear
space； and they