MŶ FĀTHER'S DRAGÓN

 

STORÝ BŶ

RUTH STILES GANNETT

ILLUSTRATIONS BŶ

RUTH CHRISMAN GANNETT

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CONTENTS

1.		Mŷ Fāther Meets thé Cat
2.		Mŷ Fāther Runś Áway
3.		Mŷ Fāther Fîndś thé Îslánd
4.		Mŷ Fāther Fîndś thé River
5.		Mŷ Fāther Meets Sőmè Tîgerś
6.		Mŷ Fāther Meets A Rhînoçerós
7.		Mŷ Fāther Meets A Lîón
8.		Mŷ Fāther Meets A Górillá
9.		Mŷ Fāther Mâkès A Bridĝè
10.		Mŷ Fāther Fîndś thé Dragón

Chapter One^wőnè

MŶ FĀTHER MEETS THÉ CAT

One^wőnè côld rainý day when mŷ fāther wáś^woś a littlè boy, hê met an ôld allêy cat on hiś street. Thé cat wáś^woś verý drippý and uncómfòŕtáblè sô mŷ fāther sãìd, "Wōūldn't yöü lîkè tó^tö cőmè hômè with mê?"

This surprîśèd thé cat—shê had never bėforè met anyone^ãnýwőnè whö cãrèd ábout ôld allêy cats—but shê sãìd, "Î'd bê verý much óblîĝèd if Î cōūld sit bŷ a wårm furnáçè, and perhaps havè a sauçer of^uv milk."

"Wê havè a verý nîçè furnáçè tó^tö sit bŷ," sãìd mŷ fāther, "and Î'm ŝūrè mŷ mőther haś an extrá sauçer of^uv milk."

Mŷ fāther and thé cat bėcâmè gōōd frìendś but mŷ fāther's mőther wáś^woś verý upset ábout thé cat. Shê hâtėd cats, particûlàŕlý uglý ôld allêy cats. "Elmer Elévâtòŕ," shê sãìd tó^tö mŷ fāther, "if yöü thiñk Î'm gôing tó^tö givè that cat a sauçer of^uv milk, yøù'rè verý wrong. Őnçè^wőnçè yöü start feeding stray allêy cats yöü might aś well ėxpect tó^tö feed evèrý stray in town, and Î am not gôing tó^tö dö it!"

This mâdè mŷ fāther verý sad, and hê ápolóĝîzèd tó^tö thé cat bėcauśè hiś mőther had bėèn^been sô rüdè. Hê tôld thé cat tó^tö stay ãnýway, and that sőmèhow hê wōūld bring her a sauçer of^uv milk each day. Mŷ fāther fed thé cat for three weeks, but one^wőnè day hiś mőther found thé cat's sauçer in thé çellàŕ and shê wáś^woś ėxtrêmèlý añgrý. Shê whippèd mŷ fāther and threw thé cat out thé dòor, but lâter on mŷ fāther sneakèd out and found thé cat. Tógether they went for a wålk in thé park and trîèd tó^tö thiñk of^uv nîçè thingś tó^tö tålk ábout. Mŷ fāther sãìd, "When Î grôw up Î'm gôing tó^tö havè an ãirplânè. Wōūldn't it bê wőnderful tó^tö flŷ just ãnýwheŕè yöü might thiñk of^uv!"

"Wōūld yöü lîkè tó^tö flŷ verý, verý much?" askèd thé cat.

"Î çertáìnlý wōūld. Î'd dö ãnýthing if Î cōūld flŷ."

"Well," sãìd thé cat, "If yöü'd rêallý lîkè tó^tö flŷ that much, Î thiñk Î knôw of^uv a sort of^uv a way yöü might get tó^tö flŷ whîlè yøù'rè still a littlè boy."

"Yöü mean yöü knôw wheŕè Î cōūld get an ãirplânè?"

"Well, not ėxactlý an ãirplânè, but sőmèthing êvén better. Aś yöü can see, Î'm an ôld cat now, but in mŷ yòuñger dayś Î wáś^woś qυîtè a travéler. Mŷ travèling dayś arè ôver but last spring Î tōōk just one^wőnè morè trip and sailèd tó^tö thé Îslánd of^uv Tanĝérïna, stopping at thé port of^uv Cranberrý. Well, it just sô happénèd that Î missèd thé boat, and whîlè waiting for thé next Î thøùght Î'd lōōk áround a bit. Î wáś^woś particûlàŕlý intèréstėd in a plâçè cållèd Wîld Îslánd, which wê had passèd on õυŕ way tó^tö Tanĝérïna. Wîld Îslánd and Tanĝérïna arè joinèd tógether bŷ a long string of^uv rocks, but pêòplè never gô tó^tö Wîld Îslánd bėcauśè it's môstlý juñglè and inhabítéd bŷ verý wîld anímálś. Sô, Î dėçîdėd tó^tö gô ácross thé rocks and ėxplorè it for mŷself. It çertáìnlý iś an intèrésting plâçè, but Î saw sőmèthing theŕè that mâdè mê want^wont tó^tö weep."

Chapter Twö

MŶ FĀTHER RUNŚ ÁWAY

"Wîld Îslánd iś practícàllý cut in twö bŷ a verý wîdè and muddý river," cóntinûèd thé cat. "This river bėginś nėàŕ one^wőnè end of^uv thé îslánd and flôwś intö thé ôćeán at thé őther. Now thé anímálś theŕè arè verý lâzý, and they ûśèd tó^tö hâtè having tó^tö gô åll thé way áround thé bėginning of^uv this river tó^tö get tó^tö thé őther sîdè of^uv thé îslánd. It mâdè viśíting incónvênĩént and mail dėlivèrìêś slôw, particûlàŕlý dûring thé Christmás rush. Crocódîlèś cōūld havè carrìêd passénĝerś and mail ácross thé river, but crocódîlèś arè verý möödý, and not thé least bit dėpendáblè, and arè ålwayś lōōking for sőmèthing tó^tö eat. They dôn't cãŕè if thé anímálś havè tó^tö wålk áround thé river, sô that's just whåt thé anímálś did for mãný yėàŕś."

"But whåt dőèś åll this havè tó^tö dö with ãirplânèś?" askèd mŷ fāther, whö thøùght thé cat wáś^woś tâking an awfullý long tîmè tó^tö ėxplain.

"Bê pâţìént, Elmer," sãìd thé cat, and shê went on with thé storý. "One^wőnè day ábout føùr mőnths bėforè Î árrîvèd on Wîld Îslánd a bâbý dragón fell fróm a lôw-flŷing cloud ontö thé bañk of^uv thé river. Hê wáś^woś töö yòung tó^tö flŷ verý well, and bėsîdèś, hê had brüìśèd one^wőnè wing qυîtè badlý, sô hê cōūldn't get back tó^tö hiś cloud. Thé anímálś found him söön afterwàŕdś and evèrýbodý sãìd, 'Whŷ, this iś just ėxactlý whåt wê'vè needėd åll thêśè yėàŕś!' They tîèd a big rôpè áround hiś neck and waitėd for thé wing tó^tö get well. This wáś^woś gôing tó^tö end åll their crossing-thé-river troublèś."

"Î'vè never seen a dragón," sãìd mŷ fāther. "Did yöü see him? How big iś hê?"

"Ôh, yes, indeed Î saw thé dragón. In fact, wê bėcâmè grèât frìendś," sãìd thé cat. "Î ûśèd tó^tö hîdè in thé būshéś and tålk tó^tö him when nôbodý wáś^woś áround. Hê's not a verý big dragón, ábout thé sîzè of^uv a larĝè black beár, ålthôùgh Î imaĝínè hê's grôwn qυîtè a bit sinçè Î left. Hê's got a long tail and yellôw and blüè strîpès. Hiś horn and èŷèś and thé bottómś of^uv hiś feet arè bright red, and hê haś gôld-cőlòŕèd wingś."

"Ôh, how wőnderful!" sãìd mŷ fāther. "Whåt did thé anímálś dö with him when hiś wing got well?"

"They startėd training him tó^tö carrý passénĝerś, and êvén thôùgh hê iś just a bâbý dragón, they wòŕk him åll day and åll night töö sőmètîmèś. They mâkè him carrý loadś that arè much töö heàvý, and if hê cómplainś, they twist hiś wingś and beat him. Hê's ålwayś tîèd tó^tö a stâkè on a rôpè just long enough^ėnòuf tó^tö gô ácross thé river. Hiś ônlý frìendś arè thé crocódîlèś, whö say 'Hellô' tó^tö him őnçè^wőnçè a week if they dôn't fòŕget. Rêallý, hê's thé môst miśèráblè anímál Î'vè ever cőmè ácross. When Î left Î promísèd Î'd trŷ tó^tö help him sőmèday, ålthôùgh Î cōūldn't see how. Thé rôpè áround hiś neck iś ábout thé biggést, tòughést^tòufést rôpè yöü can imaĝínè, with sô mãný knots it wōūld tâkè dayś tó^tö untîè them åll.

"Ãnýway, when yöü werè tålking ábout ãirplânèś, yöü gâvè mê a gōōd îdêá. Now, Î'm qυîtè ŝūrè that if yöü werè âblè tó^tö rescûè thé dragón, which wōūldn't bê thé least bit eaśý, hê'd let yöü rîdè him môst ãnýwheŕè, próvîdėd yöü werè nîçè tó^tö him, of^uv cøùrsè. How ábout trŷing it?"

"Ôh, Î'd lővè tó^tö," sãìd mŷ fāther, and hê wáś^woś sô añgrý at hiś mőther for bêing rüdè tó^tö thé cat that hê didn't feel thé least bit sad ábout running áway fróm hômè for a whîlè.

That verý afternöön mŷ fāther and thé cat went down tó^tö thé docks tó^tö see ábout ships gôing tó^tö thé Îslánd of^uv Tanĝérïna. They found out that a ship wōūld bê sailing thé next week, sô right áway they startėd planning for thé rescûè of^uv thé dragón. Thé cat wáś^woś a grèât help in suĝĝesting thingś for mŷ fāther tó^tö tâkè with him, and shê tôld him evèrýthing shê knew ábout Wîld Îslánd. Of^uv cøùrsè, shê wáś^woś töö ôld tó^tö gô álong.

Evèrýthing had tó^tö bê kept verý sêcrét, sô when they found or bøùght ãnýthing tó^tö tâkè on thé trip they hid it bėhînd a rock in thé park. Thé night bėforè mŷ fāther sailèd hê borrôwèd hiś fāther's knapsack and hê and thé cat packèd evèrýthing verý cãŕèfullý. Hê tōōk chëwing gum, twö dőzén piñk lollïpops, a packáĝè of^uv rubber bandś, black rubber bööts, a cómpáss, a tööth brush and a tübè of^uv tööth pâstè, six magnífŷiñg glassėś, a verý sharp jackknîfè, a cômb and a hãirbrush, sevén hãir ribbónś of^uv diffèrént cőlòŕś, an emptý grain bag with a lâbél sâying "Cranberrý," sőmè clean clôthèś, and enough^ėnòuf fööd tó^tö last mŷ fāther whîlè hê wáś^woś on thé ship. Hê cōūldn't livè on mîçè, sô hê tōōk twentý-fîvè peanut butter and jellý sandwichėś and six applès, bėcauśè that's åll thé applès hê cōūld fînd in thé pantrý.

When evèrýthing wáś^woś packèd mŷ fāther and thé cat went down tó^tö thé docks tó^tö thé ship. A night wātchmán^wotchmán wáś^woś on dûtý, sô whîlè thé cat mâdè loud qυeeŕ noiśėś tó^tö distract hiś áttention, mŷ fāther ran ôver thé gang-plañk ontö thé ship. Hê went down intö thé hôld and hid ámőng sőmè bagś of^uv wheat. Thé ship sailèd yèàŕlý thé next morning.

Chapter Three

MŶ FĀTHER FÎNDŚ THÉ ÎSLÁND

Mŷ fāther hid in thé hôld for six dayś and nights. Twîçè hê wáś^woś nėàŕlý caught when thé ship stoppèd tó^tö tâkè on morè cargô. But at last hê hèàŕd a sailòŕ say that thé next port wōūld bê Cranberrý and that they'd bê unloading thé wheat theŕè. Mŷ fāther knew that thé sailòŕś wōūld send him hômè if they caught him, sô hê lōōkèd in hiś knapsack and tōōk out a rubber band and thé emptý grain bag with thé lâbél sâying "Cranberrý." At thé last mômént mŷ fāther got insîdè thé bag, knapsack and åll, fôldėd thé top of^uv thé bag insîdè, and pūt thé rubber band áround thé top. Hê didn't lōōk just ėxactlý lîkè thé őther bagś but it wáś^woś thé best hê cōūld dö.

Söön thé sailòŕś câmè tó^tö unload. They lôwerèd a big net intö thé hôld and bėgan möving thé bagś of^uv wheat. Suddénlý one^wőnè sailòŕ yellèd, "Grèât Scott! This iś thé qυėérést bag of^uv wheat Î'vè ever seen! It's åll lumpý-lîkè, but thé lâbél sãyś it's tó^tö gô tó^tö Cranberrý."

Thé őther sailòŕś lōōkèd at thé bag töö, and mŷ fāther, whö wáś^woś in thé bag, of^uv cøùrsè, trîèd êvén harder tó^tö lōōk lîkè a bag of^uv wheat. Then ánőther sailòŕ felt thé bag and hê just happénèd tó^tö get hôld of^uv mŷ fāther's elbôw. "Î knôw whåt this iś," hê sãìd. "This iś a bag of^uv drîèd corn on thé cob," and hê dumpèd mŷ fāther intö thé big net álong with thé bagś of^uv wheat.

This åll happénèd in thé lâtè afternöön, sô lâtè that thé merchánt in Cranberrý whö had orderèd thé wheat didn't count hiś bagś until thé next morning. (Hê wáś^woś a verý puñcťüal man, and never lâtè for dinner.) Thé sailòŕś tôld thé captáìn, and thé captáìn wrôtè down on a pìêçè of^uv pâper, that they had dėliverèd one^wőnè hundred and sixtý bagś of^uv wheat and one^wőnè bag of^uv drîèd corn on thé cob. They left thé pìêçè of^uv pâper for thé merchánt and sailèd áway that êvèning.

Mŷ fāther hèàŕd lâter that thé merchánt spent thé whôlè next day counting and rėcounting thé bagś and feeling each one^wőnè trŷing tó^tö fînd thé bag of^uv drîèd corn on thé cob. Hê never found it bėcauśè aś söön aś it wáś^woś dark mŷ fāther clîmbèd out of^uv thé bag, fôldėd it up and pūt it back in hiś knapsack. Hê wålkèd álong thé shorè tó^tö a nîçè sandý plâçè and lay down tó^tö sleep.

Mŷ fāther wáś^woś verý huñgrý when hê wôkè up thé next morning. Just aś hê wáś^woś lōōking tó^tö see if hê had ãnýthing left tó^tö eat, sőmèthing hit him on thé heàd. It wáś^woś a tanĝérïnè. Hê had bėèn^been sleeping right under a tree fūll of^uv big, fat tanĝérïnèś. And then hê rėmemberèd that this wáś^woś thé Îslánd of^uv Tanĝérïna. Tanĝérïnè treeś grew wîld evèrýwheŕè. Mŷ fāther pickèd aś mãný aś hê had rööm for, which wáś^woś thirtý-one^wőnè, and startėd off tó^tö fînd Wîld Îslánd.

Hê wålkèd and wålkèd and wålkèd álong thé shorè, lōōking for thé rocks that joinèd thé twö îslándś. Hê wålkèd åll day, and őnçè^wőnçè when hê met a fisherman and askèd him ábout Wîld Îslánd, thé fisherman bėgan tó^tö shâkè and cōūldn't tålk for a long whîlè. It scãŕèd him that much, just thiñking ábout it. Fînállý hê sãìd, "Mãný pêòplè havè trîèd tó^tö ėxplorè Wîld Îslánd, but not one^wőnè haś cőmè back álîvè. Wê thiñk they werè eatén bŷ thé wîld anímálś." This didn't bother mŷ fāther. Hê kept wålking and slept on thé beach ágãìn that night.

It wáś^woś bèàûtífúllý clėàŕ thé next day, and way down thé shorè mŷ fāther cōūld see a long lînè of^uv rocks leading out intö thé ôćeán, and way, way out at thé end hê cōūld just see a tîný patch of^uv green. Hê qυicklý âtè sevén tanĝérïnèś and startėd down thé beach.

It wáś^woś ålmôst dark when hê câmè tó^tö thé rocks, but theŕè, way out in thé ôćeán, wáś^woś thé patch of^uv green. Hê sat down and restėd a whîlè, rėmembéring that thé cat had sãìd, "If yöü can, gô out tó^tö thé îslánd at night, bėcauśè then thé wîld anímálś wőn't see yöü cőming álong thé rocks and yöü can hîdè when yöü get theŕè." Sô mŷ fāther pickèd sevén morè tanĝérïnèś, pūt on hiś black rubber bööts, and waitėd for dark.

It wáś^woś a verý black night and mŷ fāther cōūld hardlý see thé rocks áheàd of^uv him. Sőmètîmèś they werè qυîtè high and sőmètîmèś thé wâvèś ålmôst cőverèd them, and they werè slippérý and hard tó^tö wålk on. Sőmètîmèś thé rocks werè far ápart and mŷ fāther had tó^tö get a running start and leap fróm one^wőnè tó^tö thé next.

After a whîlè hê bėgan tó^tö hėàŕ a rumbling noiśè. It grew louder and louder aś hê got nêarer tó^tö thé îslánd. At last it seemèd aś if hê wáś^woś right on top of^uv thé noiśè, and hê wáś^woś. Hê had jumpèd fróm a rock ontö thé back of^uv a småll whâlè whö wáś^woś fast ásleep and cuddlèd up bėtween twö rocks. Thé whâlè wáś^woś snoring and mâking morè noiśè than a steam shóvél, sô it never hèàŕd mŷ fāther say, "Ôh, Î didn't knôw that wáś^woś yöü!" And it never knew mŷ fāther had jumpèd on its back bŷ mistâkè.

For sevén hõυŕś mŷ fāther clîmbèd and slippèd and leàpt fróm rock tó^tö rock, but whîlè it wáś^woś still dark hê fînállý reachèd thé verý last rock and steppèd off ontö Wîld Îslánd.

Chapter Føùr

MŶ FĀTHER FÎNDŚ THÉ RIVER

Thé juñglè bėgan just bėyond a narrôw strip of^uv beach; thick, dark, damp, scãrý juñglè. Mŷ fāther hardlý knew wheŕè tó^tö gô, sô hê crawlèd under a wahoo būsh tó^tö thiñk, and âtè eĩght tanĝérïnèś. Thé first thing tó^tö dö, hê dėçîdėd, wáś^woś tó^tö fînd thé river, bėcauśè thé dragón wáś^woś tîèd sőmèwheŕè álong its bañk. Then hê thøùght, "If thé river flôwś intö thé ôćeán, Î øùght tó^tö bê âblè tó^tö fînd it qυîtè eaśílý if Î just wålk álong thé beach far enough^ėnòuf." Sô mŷ fāther wålkèd until thé sun rôśè and hê wáś^woś qυîtè far fróm thé Ôćeán Rocks. It wáś^woś dânĝéròús tó^tö stay nėàŕ them bėcauśè they might bê gùardėd in thé daytîmè. Hê found a clump of^uv tåll grass and sat down. Then hê tōōk off hiś rubber bööts and âtè three morè tanĝérïnèś. Hê cōūld havè eatén twelvè but hê hadn't seen ãný tanĝérïnèś on this îslánd and hê cōūld not risk running out of^uv sőmèthing tó^tö eat.

Mŷ fāther slept åll that day and ônlý wôkè up lâtè in thé afternöön when hê hèàŕd a funný littlè voiçè sâying, "Qυeeŕ, qυeeŕ, whåt a dėàŕ littlè dock! Î mean, dėàŕ, dėàŕ, whåt a qυeeŕ littlè rock!" Mŷ fāther saw a tîný paw rubbing itself on hiś knapsack. Hê lay verý still and thé mousè, for it wáś^woś a mousè, húrrìêd áway muttéring tó^tö itself, "Î must smell tumduddy. Î mean, Î must tell sőmèbódý."

Mŷ fāther waitėd a few minútès and then startėd down thé beach bėcauśè it wáś^woś ålmôst dark now, and hê wáś^woś áfraid thé mousè rêallý wōūld tell sőmèbódý. Hê wålkèd åll night and twö scãrý thingś happénèd. First, hê just had tó^tö sneezè, sô hê did, and sőmèbódý clôsè bŷ sãìd, "Iś that yöü, Móñkêy?" Mŷ fāther sãìd, "Yes." Then thé voiçè sãìd, "Yöü must havè sőmèthing on yøùr back, Móñkêy," and mŷ fāther sãìd "Yes," bėcauśè hê did. Hê had hiś knapsack on hiś back. "Whåt dö yöü havè on yøùr back, Móñkêy?" askèd thé voiçè.

Mŷ fāther didn't knôw whåt tó^tö say bėcauśè whåt wōūld a móñkêy havè on its back, and how wōūld it sound telling someone^sőmèwőnè ábout it if it did havè sőmèthing? Just then ánőther voiçè sãìd, "Î bet yøù'rè tâking yøùr sick grandmőther tó^tö thé doctòŕ's." Mŷ fāther sãìd "Yes" and húrrìêd on. Qυîtè bŷ acçídént hê found out lâter that hê had bėèn^been tålking tó^tö a pãir of^uv tortóìséś.

Thé secónd thing that happénèd wáś^woś that hê nėàŕlý wålkèd right bėtween twö wîld bøàrś whö werè tålking in lôw solémn whisperś. When hê first saw thé dark shâpès hê thøùght they werè bôùlderś. Just in tîmè hê hèàŕd one^wőnè of^uv them say, "Theŕè arè three sîgnś of^uv a rêçént invâŝìón. First, fresh tanĝérïnè peelś werè found under thé wahoo būsh nėàŕ thé Ôćeán Rocks. Secónd, a mousè rėportėd an extráordínãrý rock sőmè distánçè fróm thé Ôćeán Rocks which upon further investígâtion simplý wáśn^wośn't theŕè. However, morè fresh tanĝérïnè peelś werè found in thé sâmè spot, which iś thé third sîgn of^uv invâŝìón. Sinçè tanĝérïnèś dö not grôw on õυŕ îslánd, sőmèbódý must havè brøùght them ácross thé Ôćeán Rocks fróm thé őther îslánd, which may, or may not, havè sőmèthing tó^tö dö with thé áppėáránçè and/or disáppėáránçè of^uv thé extráordínãrý rock rėportėd bŷ thé mousè."

After a long sîlénçè thé őther bøàr sãìd, "Yöü knôw, Î thiñk wê'ŕè tâking åll this töö sėrïòúslý. Thôśè peelś probáblý floatėd ôver hėŕè åll bŷ themselvèś, and yöü knôw how unrėlîáblè mîçè arè. Bėsîdèś, if theŕè had bėèn^been an invâŝìón, Î wōūld havè seen it!"

"Perhaps yøù'rè right," sãìd thé first bøàr. "Shall wê rėtîŕè?" Wheŕèupon they bôth trundlèd back intö thé juñglè.

Well, that taught mŷ fāther a lessón, and after that hê sâvèd åll hiś tanĝérïnè peelś. Hê wålkèd åll night and tówård morning câmè tó^tö thé river. Then hiś troublèś rêallý bėgan.

Chapter Fîvè

MŶ FĀTHER MEETS SŐMÈ TÎGERŚ

Thé river wáś^woś verý wîdè and muddý, and thé juñglè wáś^woś verý glöömý and densè. Thé treeś grew clôsè tó^tö each őther, and whåt rööm theŕè wáś^woś bėtween them wáś^woś tâkén up bŷ grèât high fernś with stický leavèś. Mŷ fāther hâtėd tó^tö leavè thé beach, but hê dėçîdėd tó^tö start álong thé river bañk wheŕè at least thé juñglè wáśn^wośn't qυîtè sô thick. Hê âtè three tanĝérïnèś, mâking ŝūrè tó^tö keep åll thé peelś this tîmè, and pūt on hiś rubber bööts.

Mŷ fāther trîèd tó^tö follôw thé river bañk but it wáś^woś verý swāmpý^swompý, and aś hê went farther thé swåmp bėcâmè deeper. When it wáś^woś ålmôst aś deep aś hiś bööt tops hê got stuck in thé öözý, mucký mud. Mŷ fāther tuggèd and tuggèd, and nėàŕlý pūllèd hiś bööts right off, but at last hê manáĝèd tó^tö wâdè tó^tö a drîer plâçè. Hėŕè thé juñglè wáś^woś sô thick that hê cōūld hardlý see wheŕè thé river wáś^woś. Hê unpackèd hiś cómpáss and figurèd out thé dîrection hê shōūld wålk in order tó^tö stay nėàŕ thé river. But hê didn't knôw that thé river mâdè a verý sharp curvè áway fróm him just a littlè way bėyond, and sô aś hê wålkèd straight áheàd hê wáś^woś getting farther and farther áway fróm thé river.

It wáś^woś verý hard tó^tö wålk in thé juñglè. Thé stický leavèś of^uv thé fernś caught at mŷ fāther's hãir, and hê kept tripping ôver rööts and rottén logś. Sőmètîmèś thé treeś werè clumpèd sô clôsèlý tógether that hê cōūldn't sqυeezè bėtween them and had tó^tö wålk a long way áround.

Hê bėgan tó^tö hėàŕ whispérý noiśėś, but hê cōūldn't see ãný anímálś ãnýwheŕè. Thé deeper intö thé juñglè hê went thé ŝūrer hê wáś^woś that sőmèthing wáś^woś follôwing him, and then hê thøùght hê hèàŕd whispérý noiśėś on bôth sîdèś of^uv him aś well aś bėhînd. Hê trîèd tó^tö run, but hê trippèd ôver morè rööts, and thé noiśėś ônlý câmè nêarer. Őnçè^wőnçè or twîçè hê thøùght hê hèàŕd sőmèthing laughing^lāfing at him.

At last hê câmè out intö a clėáring and ran right intö thé middlè of^uv it sô that hê cōūld see ãnýthing that might trŷ tó^tö áttack him. Wáś^woś hê surprîśèd when hê lōōkèd and saw føùrteen green èŷèś cőming out of^uv thé juñglè åll áround thé clėáring, and when thé green èŷèś turnèd intö sevén tîgerś! Thé tîgerś wålkèd áround him in a big çirclè, lōōking huñgrìêŕ åll thé tîmè, and then they sat down and bėgan tó^tö tålk.

"Î suppôśè yöü thøùght wê didn't knôw yöü werè trespássing in õυŕ juñglè!"

Then thé next tîger spôkè. "Î suppôśè yøù'rè gôing tó^tö say yöü didn't knôw it wáś^woś õυŕ juñglè!"

"Did yöü knôw that not one^wőnè ėxplorer haś ever left this îslánd álîvè?" sãìd thé third tîger.

Mŷ fāther thøùght of^uv thé cat and knew this wáśn^wośn't trüè. But of^uv cøùrsè hê had töö much sensè tó^tö say sô. One^wőnè dőèśn't contrádict a huñgrý tîger.

Thé tîgerś went on tålking in turn. "Yöü'ŕè õυŕ first littlè boy, yöü knôw. Î'm cûrïòús tó^tö knôw if yøù'rè espećiállý tender."

"Maybê yöü thiñk wê havè regûlàŕ meal-tîmèś, but wê dôn't. Wê just eat whenever wê'ŕè feeling huñgrý," sãìd thé fifth tîger.

"And wê'ŕè verý huñgrý right now. In fact, Î can hardlý wait," sãìd thé sixth.

"Î can't wait!" sãìd thé sevénth tîger.

And then åll thé tîgerś sãìd tógether in a loud røàr, "Let's bėgin right now!" and they mövèd in clôser.

Mŷ fāther lōōkèd at thôśè sevén huñgrý tîgerś, and then hê had an îdêá. Hê qυicklý ôpénèd hiś knapsack and tōōk out thé chëwing gum. Thé cat had tôld him that tîgerś werè espećiállý fond of^uv chëwing gum, which wáś^woś verý scãrçè on thé îslánd. Sô hê threw them each a pìêçè but they ônlý growlèd, "Aś fond aś wê arè of^uv chëwing gum, wê'ŕè ŝūrè wê'd lîkè yöü êvén better!" and they mövèd sô clôsè that hê cōūld feel them breathing on hiś fâçè.

"But this iś verý spećiál chëwing gum," sãìd mŷ fāther. "If yöü keep on chëwing it long enough^ėnòuf it will turn green, and then if yöü plant it, it will grôw morè chëwing gum, and thé sööner yöü start chëwing thé sööner yöü'll havè morè."

Thé tîgerś sãìd, "Whŷ, yöü dôn't say! Iśn't that fînè!" And aś each one^wőnè wanted^wontéd tó^tö bê thé first tó^tö plant thé chëwing gum, they åll unwrappèd their pìêçėś and bėgan chëwing aś hard aś they cōūld. Evèrý őnçè^wőnçè in a whîlè one^wőnè tîger wōūld lōōk intö ánőther's mouth and say, "Nôpè, it's not dőnè yet," until fînállý they werè åll sô buśý^bizee lōōking intö each őther's mouthś tó^tö mâkè ŝūrè that nô one^wőnè wáś^woś getting áheàd that they fòŕgot åll ábout mŷ fāther.

Chapter Six

MŶ FĀTHER MEETS A RHÎNOÇERÓS

Mŷ fāther söön found a trail leading áway fróm thé clėáring. Åll sorts of^uv anímálś might bê ûśing it töö, but hê dėçîdėd tó^tö follôw thé trail nô matter whåt hê met bėcauśè it might lead tó^tö thé dragón. Hê kept a sharp lōōkout in frőnt and bėhînd and went on.

Just aś hê wáś^woś feeling qυîtè sâfè, hê câmè áround a curvè right bėhînd thé twö wîld bøàrś. One^wőnè of^uv them wáś^woś sâying tó^tö thé őther, "Did yöü knôw that thé tortóìséś thøùght they saw Móñkêy carrýing hiś sick grandmőther tó^tö thé doctòŕ's last night? But Móñkêy's grandmőther dîèd a week ágô, sô they must havè seen sőmèthing elsè. Î wőnder whåt it wáś^woś."

"Î tôld yöü that theŕè wáś^woś an invâŝìón áfōōt," sãìd thé őther bøàr, "and Î intend tó^tö fînd out whåt it iś. Î simplý can't stand invâŝìónś."

"Nee mêìther," sãìd a tîný littlè voiçè. "Î mean, mê nêìther," and mŷ fāther knew that thé mousè wáś^woś theŕè, töö.

"Well," sãìd thé first bøàr, "yöü sèàŕch thé trail up this way tó^tö thé dragón. Î'll gô back down thé őther way thröügh thé big clėáring, and wê'll send Mousè tó^tö wātch^wotch thé Ôćeán Rocks in câsè thé invâŝìón shōūld dėçîdè tó^tö gô áway bėforè wê fînd it."

Mŷ fāther hid bėhînd a máhogáný tree just in tîmè, and thé first bøàr wålkèd right past him. Mŷ fāther waitėd for thé őther bøàr tó^tö get a heàd start on him, but hê didn't wait verý long bėcauśè hê knew that when thé first bøàr saw thé tîgerś chëwing gum in thé clėáring, hê'd bê êvén morè suspićìòús.

Söön thé trail crossèd a littlè brōōk and mŷ fāther, whö bŷ this tîmè wáś^woś verý thirstý, stoppèd tó^tö get a driñk of^uv wåter. Hê still had on hiś rubber bööts, sô hê wâdėd intö a littlè pööl of^uv wåter and wáś^woś stööping down when sőmèthing qυîtè sharp pickèd him up bŷ thé seat of^uv thé pants and shōōk him verý hard.

"Dôn't yöü knôw that's mŷ prîvátè weeping pööl?" sãìd a deep añgrý voiçè.

Mŷ fāther cōūldn't see whö wáś^woś tålking bėcauśè hê wáś^woś hanging in thé ãir right ôver thé pööl, but hê sãìd, "Ôh, nô, Î'm sô sorrý. Î didn't knôw that evèrýbodý had a prîvátè weeping pööl."

"Evèrýbodý dőèśn't!" sãìd thé añgrý voiçè, "but Î dö bėcauśè Î havè such a big thing tó^tö weep ábout, and Î drown evèrýbodý Î fînd ûśing mŷ weeping pööl." With that thé anímál tossèd mŷ fāther up and down ôver thé wåter.

"Whåt—iś it—that—yöü—weep ábout—sô much?" askèd mŷ fāther, trŷing tó^tö get hiś breàth, and hê thøùght ôver åll thé thingś hê had in hiś pack.

"Ôh, Î havè mãný thingś tó^tö weep ábout, but thé biggést thing iś thé cőlòŕ of^uv mŷ tusk." Mŷ fāther sqυirmèd evèrý which way trŷing tó^tö see thé tusk, but it wáś^woś thröügh thé seat of^uv hiś pants wheŕè hê cōūldn't possíblý see it. "When Î wáś^woś a yòung rhînoçerós, mŷ tusk wáś^woś pèàŕlý whîtè," sãìd thé anímál (and then mŷ fāther knew that hê wáś^woś hanging bŷ thé seat of^uv hiś pants fróm a rhînoçerós' tusk!), "but it haś turnèd a nastý yellôw-gray in mŷ ôld âĝè, and Î fînd it verý uglý. Yöü see, evèrýthing elsè ábout mê iś uglý, but when Î had a bèàûtíful tusk Î didn't wőrrý sô much ábout thé rest. Now that mŷ tusk iś uglý töö, Î can't sleep nights just thiñking ábout how cómplêtèlý uglý Î am, and Î weep åll thé tîmè. But whŷ shōūld Î bê telling yöü thêśè thingś? Î caught yöü ûśing mŷ pööl and now Î'm gôing tó^tö drown yöü."

"Ôh, wait a minútè, Rhînoçerós," sãìd mŷ fāther. "Î havè sőmè thingś that will mâkè yøùr tusk åll whîtè and bèàûtíful ágãìn. Just let mê down and Î'll givè them tó^tö yöü."

Thé rhînoçerós sãìd, "Yöü dö? Î can hardlý bėlìêvè it! Whŷ, Î'm sô ėxcîtėd!" Hê pūt mŷ fāther down and dançèd áround in a çirclè whîlè mŷ fāther got out thé tübè of^uv tööth pâstè and thé tööthbrush.

"Now," sãìd mŷ fāther, "just mövè yøùr tusk a littlè nêarer, pleaśè, and Î'll shôw yöü how tó^tö bėgin." Mŷ fāther wet thé brush in thé pööl, sqυeezèd on a dab of^uv tööth pâstè, and scrubbèd verý hard in one^wőnè tîný spot. Then hê tôld thé rhînoçerós tó^tö wash^wosh it off, and when thé pööl wáś^woś cālm ágãìn, hê tôld thé rhînoçerós tó^tö lōōk in thé wåter and see how whîtè thé littlè spot wáś^woś. It wáś^woś hard tó^tö see in thé dim light of^uv thé juñglè, but ŝūrè enough^ėnòuf, thé spot shonè pèàŕlý whîtè, just lîkè new. Thé rhînoçerós wáś^woś sô pleaśèd that hê grabbèd thé tööthbrush and bėgan scrubbing vîóléntlý, fòŕgetting åll ábout mŷ fāther.

Just then mŷ fāther hèàŕd hööfsteps and hê jumpèd bėhînd thé rhînoçerós. It wáś^woś thé bøàr cőming back fróm thé big clėáring wheŕè thé tîgerś werè chëwing gum. Thé bøàr lōōkèd at thé rhînoçerós, and at thé tööthbrush, and at thé tübè of^uv tööth pâstè, and then hê scratchèd hiś ėàŕ on a tree. "Tell mê, Rhînoçerós," hê sãìd, "wheŕè did yöü get that fînè tübè of^uv tööth pâstè and that tööthbrush?"

"Töö buśý^bizee!" sãìd thé rhînoçerós, and hê went on brushing aś hard aś hê cōūld.

Thé bøàr sniffèd añgrílý and trottėd down thé trail tówård thé dragón, muttéring tó^tö himself, "Verý suspićìòús—tîgerś töö buśý^bizee chëwing gum, Rhînoçerós töö buśý^bizee brushing hiś tusk—must get hôld of^uv that invâŝìón. Dôn't lîkè it one^wőnè bit, not one^wőnè bit! It's upsetting evèrýbodý terríblý—wőnder whåt it's döing hėŕè, ãnýway."

Chapter Sevén

MŶ FĀTHER MEETS A LÎÓN

Mŷ fāther wâvèd gōōdbŷè tó^tö thé rhînoçerós, whö wáś^woś much töö buśý^bizee tó^tö nôtiçè, got a driñk farther down thé brōōk, and wâdėd back tó^tö thé trail. Hê hadn't gonè verý far when hê hèàŕd an añgrý anímál røáring, "Ding blast it! Î tôld yöü not tó^tö gô blackberrying yesterday. Wőn't yöü ever lèàŕn? Whåt will yøùr mőther say!"

Mŷ fāther crept álong and pėerèd intö a småll clėáring just áheàd. A lîón wáś^woś prançing ábout clawing at hiś mânè, which wáś^woś åll snarlèd and fūll of^uv blackberrý twigś. Thé morè hê clawèd thé wòŕsè it bėcâmè and thé madder hê grew and thé morè hê yellèd at himself, bėcauśè it wáś^woś himself hê wáś^woś yelling at åll thé tîmè.

Mŷ fāther cōūld see that thé trail went thröügh thé clėáring, sô hê dėçîdėd tó^tö crawl áround thé edĝè in thé underbrush and not disturb thé lîón.

Hê crawlèd and crawlèd, and thé yelling grew louder and louder. Just aś hê wáś^woś ábout tó^tö reach thé trail on thé őther sîdè thé yelling suddénlý stoppèd. Mŷ fāther lōōkèd áround and saw thé lîón glãring at him. Thé lîón charĝèd and skiddėd tó^tö a stop a few inchėś áway.

"Whö arè yöü?" thé lîón yellèd at mŷ fāther.

"Mŷ nâmè iś Elmer Elévâtòŕ."

"Wheŕè dö yöü thiñk yøù'rè gôing?"

"Î'm gôing hômè," sãìd mŷ fāther.

"That's whåt yöü thiñk!" sãìd thé lîón. "Ordínãrílý Î'd sâvè yöü for afternöön tea, but Î happén tó^tö bê upset enough^ėnòuf and huñgrý enough^ėnòuf tó^tö eat yöü right now." And hê pickèd up mŷ fāther in hiś frőnt pawś tó^tö feel how fat hê wáś^woś.

Mŷ fāther sãìd, "Ôh, pleaśè, Lîón, bėforè yöü eat mê, tell mê whŷ yöü arè sô particûlàŕlý upset tóday."

"It's mŷ mânè," sãìd thé lîón, aś hê wáś^woś figúring how mãný bîtès a littlè boy wōūld mâkè. "Yöü see whåt a dreàdful mess it iś, and Î dôn't seem tó^tö bê âblè tó^tö dö ãnýthing ábout it. Mŷ mőther iś cőming ôver on thé dragón this afternöön, and if shê seeś mê this way Î'm áfraid shê'll stop mŷ állõwánçè. Shê can't stand messý mânèś! But Î'm gôing tó^tö eat yöü now, sô it wőn't mâkè ãný diffèrénçè tó^tö yöü."

"Ôh, wait a minútè," sãìd mŷ fāther, "and Î'll givè yöü just thé thingś yöü need tó^tö mâkè yøùr mânè åll tîdý and bèàûtíful. Î havè them hėŕè in mŷ pack."

"Yöü dö?" sãìd thé lîón. "Well, givè them tó^tö mê, and perhaps Î'll sâvè yöü for afternöön tea after åll," and hê pūt mŷ fāther down on thé ground.

Mŷ fāther ôpénèd thé pack and tōōk out thé cômb and thé brush and thé sevén hãir ribbónś of^uv diffèrént cőlòŕś. "Lōōk," hê sãìd, "Î'll shôw yöü whåt tó^tö dö on yøùr forèlock, wheŕè yöü can wātch^wotch mê. First yöü brush a whîlè, and then yöü cômb, and then yöü brush ágãìn until åll thé twigś and snarlś arè gonè. Then yöü divîdè it up in three and braid it lîkè this and tîè a ribbón áround thé end."

Aś mŷ fāther wáś^woś döing this, thé lîón wātchèd^wotchèd verý cãŕèfullý and bėgan tó^tö lōōk much happìêŕ. When mŷ fāther tîèd on thé ribbón hê wáś^woś åll smîlèś. "Ôh, that's wőnderful, rêallý wőnderful!" sãìd thé lîón. "Let mê havè thé cômb and brush and see if Î can dö it." Sô mŷ fāther gâvè him thé cômb and brush and thé lîón bėgan buśílý^biś grööming hiś mânè. Aś a matter of^uv fact, hê wáś^woś sô buśý^bizee that hê didn't êvén knôw when mŷ fāther left.

Chapter Eĩght

MŶ FĀTHER MEETS A GÓRILLÁ

Mŷ fāther wáś^woś verý huñgrý sô hê sat down under a bâbý banyán tree on thé sîdè of^uv thé trail and âtè føùr tanĝérïnèś. Hê wanted^wontéd tó^tö eat eĩght or ten, but hê had ônlý thirteen left and it might bê a long tîmè bėforè hê cōūld get morè. Hê packèd áway åll thé peelś and wáś^woś ábout tó^tö get up when hê hèàŕd thé fámilĩàŕ voiçėś of^uv thé bøàrś.

"Î wōūldn't havè bėlìêvèd it if Î hadn't seen them with mŷ ôwn èŷèś, but wait and see for yøùrself. Åll thé tîgerś arè sitting áround chëwing gum tó^tö beat thé band. Ôld Rhînoçerós iś sô buśý^bizee brushing hiś tusk that hê dőèśn't êvén lōōk áround tó^tö see whö's gôing bŷ, and they'ŕè åll sô buśý^bizee they wőn't êvén tålk tó^tö mê!"

"Horsèfeàtherś!" sãìd thé őther bøàr, now verý clôsè tó^tö mŷ fāther. "They'll tålk tó^tö mê! Î'm gôing tó^tö get tó^tö thé bottóm of^uv this if it's thé last thing Î dö!"

Thé voiçėś passèd mŷ fāther and went áround a curvè, and hê húrrìêd on bėcauśè hê knew how much morè upset thé bøàrś wōūld bê when they saw thé lîón's mânè tîèd up in hãir ribbónś.

Bėforè long mŷ fāther câmè tó^tö a crossroadś and hê stoppèd tó^tö read thé sîgnś. Straight áheàd an arrôw pointėd tó^tö thé Bėginning of^uv thé River; tó^tö thé left, thé Ôćeán Rocks; and tó^tö thé right, tó^tö thé Dragón Ferrý. Mŷ fāther wáś^woś reading åll thêśè sîgnś when hê hèàŕd pawsteps and duckèd bėhînd thé sîgnpôst. A bèàûtíful lîóness párâdėd past and turnèd down tówård thé clėáringś. Ålthôùgh shê cōūld havè seen mŷ fāther if shê had botherèd tó^tö glançè at thé pôst, shê wáś^woś much töö occûpîèd lōōking dignífîèd tó^tö see ãnýthing but thé tip of^uv her ôwn nôśè. It wáś^woś thé lîón's mőther, of^uv cøùrsè, and that, thøùght mŷ fāther, must mean that thé dragón wáś^woś on this sîdè of^uv thé river. Hê húrrìêd on but it wáś^woś farther áway than hê had judĝèd. Hê fînállý câmè tó^tö thé river bañk in thé lâtè afternöön and lōōkèd åll áround, but theŕè wáś^woś nô dragón ãnýwheŕè in sight. Hê must havè gonè back tó^tö thé őther sîdè.

Mŷ fāther sat down under a pālm tree and wáś^woś trŷing tó^tö havè a gōōd îdêá when sőmèthing big and black and hãírý jumpèd out of^uv thé tree and landėd with a loud crash at hiś feet.

"Well?" sãìd a hûĝè voiçè.

"Well whåt?" sãìd mŷ fāther, for which hê wáś^woś verý sorrý when hê lōōkèd up and discőverèd hê wáś^woś tålking tó^tö an ėnormòús and verý fierçè górillá.

"Well, ėxplain yøùrself," sãìd thé górillá. "Î'll givè yöü till ten tó^tö tell mê yøùr nâmè, buśìnėss^biś, yøùr âĝè and whåt's in that pack," and hê bėgan counting tó^tö ten aś fast aś hê cōūld.

Mŷ fāther didn't êvén havè tîmè tó^tö say "Elmer Elévâtòŕ, ėxplorer" bėforè thé górillá intérruptėd, "Töö slôw! Î'll twist yøùr armś thé way Î twist that dragón's wingś, and then wê'll see if yöü can't hurrý up a bit." Hê grabbèd mŷ fāther's armś, one^wőnè in each fist, and wáś^woś just ábout tó^tö twist them when hê suddénlý let gô and bėgan scratching hiś chest with bôth handś.

"Blast thôśè fleaś!" hê râĝèd. "They wőn't givè yöü a mômént's peaçè, and thé wòŕst of^uv it iś that yöü can't êvén get a gōōd lōōk at them. Rôśìê! Rhôdá! Râchél! Rüthìê! Rübý! Róbertá! Cőmè hėŕè and get rid of^uv this flea on mŷ chest. It's drîving mê crâzý!"

Six littlè móñkêyś tumblèd out of^uv thé pālm tree, dashèd tó^tö thé górillá, and bėgan cômbing thé hãir on hiś chest.

"Well," sãìd thé górillá, "it's still theŕè!"

"Wê'ŕè lōōking, wê'ŕè lōōking," sãìd thé six littlè móñkêyś, "but they'ŕè awfullý hard tó^tö see, yöü knôw."

"Î knôw," sãìd thé górillá, "but hurrý. Î'vè got wòŕk tó^tö dö," and hê wiñkèd at mŷ fāther.

"Ôh, Górillá," sãìd mŷ fāther, "in mŷ knapsack Î havè six magnífŷiñg glassėś. They'd bê just thé thing for hunting fleaś." Mŷ fāther unpackèd them and gâvè one^wőnè tó^tö Rôśìê, one^wőnè tó^tö Rhôdá, one^wőnè tó^tö Râchél, one^wőnè tó^tö Rüthìê, one^wőnè tó^tö Rübý, and one^wőnè tó^tö Róbertá.

"Whŷ, they'ŕè míracûlòús!" sãìd thé six littlè móñkêyś. "It's eaśý tó^tö see thé fleaś now, ônlý theŕè arè hundrédś of^uv them!" And they went on hunting frantícàllý.

A mômént lâter mãný morè móñkêyś áppėàŕèd out of^uv a nėàŕ-bŷ clump of^uv mañgrôvèś and bėgan crowding áround tó^tö get a lōōk at thé fleaś thröügh thé magnífŷiñg glassėś. They cómplêtèlý súrroundėd thé górillá, and hê cōūld not see mŷ fāther nor did hê rėmember tó^tö twist hiś armś.

Chapter Nînè

MŶ FĀTHER MÂKÈS A BRIDĜÈ

Mŷ fāther wålkèd back and forth álong thé bañk trŷing tó^tö thiñk of^uv sőmè way tó^tö cross thé river. Hê found a high flagpôlè with a rôpè gôing ôver tó^tö thé őther sîdè. Thé rôpè went thröügh a lööp at thé top of^uv thé pôlè and then down thé pôlè and áround a larĝè crañk. A sîgn on thé crañk sãìd:

Fróm whåt thé cat had tôld mŷ fāther, hê knew that thé őther end of^uv thé rôpè wáś^woś tîèd áround thé dragón's neck, and hê felt sorrìêŕ than ever for thé pōōr dragón. If hê werè on this sîdè, thé górillá wōūld twist hiś wingś until it hurt sô much that hê'd havè tó^tö flŷ tó^tö thé őther sîdè. If hê werè on thé őther sîdè, thé górillá wōūld crañk thé rôpè until thé dragón wōūld êìther chôkè tó^tö deàth or flŷ back tó^tö this sîdè. Whåt a lîfè for a bâbý dragón!

Mŷ fāther knew that if hê cållèd tó^tö thé dragón tó^tö cőmè ácross thé river, thé górillá wōūld ŝūrèlý hėàŕ him, sô hê thøùght ábout clîmbing thé pôlè and gôing ácross on thé rôpè. Thé pôlè wáś^woś verý high, and êvén if hê cōūld get tó^tö thé top without bêing seen hê'd havè tó^tö gô åll thé way ácross hand ôver hand. Thé river wáś^woś verý muddý, and åll sorts of^uv unfrìendlý thingś might livè in it, but mŷ fāther cōūld thiñk of^uv nô őther way tó^tö get ácross. Hê wáś^woś ábout tó^tö start up thé pôlè when, dėspîtè åll thé noiśè thé móñkêyś werè mâking, hê hèàŕd a loud splash bėhînd him. Hê lōōkèd åll áround in thé wåter but it wáś^woś dusk now, and hê cōūldn't see ãnýthing theŕè.

"It's mê, Crocódîlè," sãìd a voiçè tó^tö thé left. "Thé wåter's lővèlý, and Î havè such a crâving for sőmèthing sweet. Wőn't yöü cőmè in for a swim?"

A pâlè möön câmè out fróm bėhînd thé cloudś and mŷ fāther cōūld see wheŕè thé voiçè wáś^woś cőming fróm. Thé crocódîlè's heàd wáś^woś just peeping out of^uv thé wåter.

"Ôh, nô thañk yöü," sãìd mŷ fāther. "Î never swim after sundown, but Î dö havè sőmèthing sweet tó^tö offer yöü. Perhaps yöü'd lîkè a lollïpop, and perhaps yöü havè frìendś whö wōūld lîkè lollïpops, töö?"

"Lollïpops!" sãìd thé crocódîlè. "Whŷ, that iś a treat! How ábout it, boyś?"

A whôlè chorus of^uv voiçėś shoutėd, "Hūrrāh! Lollïpops!" and mŷ fāther countėd aś mãný aś sevénteen crocódîlèś with their heàdś just peeping out of^uv thé wåter.

"That's fînè," sãìd mŷ fāther aś hê got out thé twö dőzén piñk lollïpops and thé rubber bandś. "Î'll stick one^wőnè hėŕè in thé bañk. Lollïpops last loñger if yöü keep them out of^uv thé wåter, yöü knôw. Now, one^wőnè of^uv yöü can havè this one^wőnè."

Thé crocódîlè whö had first spôkén swam up and tâstėd it. "Dėlićìòús, mightý dėlićìòús!" hê sãìd.

"Now if yöü dôn't mînd," sãìd mŷ fāther, "Î'll just wålk álong yøùr back and fastén ánőther lollïpop tó^tö thé tip of^uv yøùr tail with a rubber band. Yöü dôn't mînd, dö yöü?"

"Ôh nô, not in thé least," sãìd thé crocódîlè.

"Can yöü get yøùr tail out of^uv thé wåter just a bit?" askèd mŷ fāther.

"Yes, of^uv cøùrsè," sãìd thé crocódîlè, and hê liftėd up hiś tail. Then mŷ fāther ran álong hiś back and fasténèd ánőther lollïpop with a rubber band.

"Whö's next?" sãìd mŷ fāther, and a secónd crocódîlè swam up and bėgan sucking on that lollïpop.

"Now, yöü ĝentlèmén can sâvè a lot of^uv tîmè if yöü just lînè up ácross thé river," sãìd mŷ fāther, "and Î'll bê álong tó^tö givè yöü each a lollïpop."

Sô thé crocódîlèś lînèd up right ácross thé river with their tailś in thé ãir, waiting for mŷ fāther tó^tö fastén on thé rest of^uv thé lollïpops. Thé tail of^uv thé sevénteenth crocódîlè just reachèd thé őther bañk.

Chapter Ten

MŶ FĀTHER FÎNDŚ THÉ DRAGÓN

When mŷ fāther wáś^woś crossing thé back of^uv thé fifteenth crocódîlè with twö morè lollïpops tó^tö gô, thé noiśè of^uv thé móñkêyś suddénlý stoppèd, and hê cōūld hėàŕ a much bigger noiśè getting louder evèrý secónd. Then hê cōūld hėàŕ sevén fûrïòús tîgerś and one^wőnè râĝing rhînoçerós and twö seething lîónś and one^wőnè ranting górillá álong with countléss screeching móñkêyś, led bŷ twö ėxtrêmèlý îrâtè wîld bøàrś, åll yelling, "It's a trick! It's a trick! Theŕè's an invâŝìón and it must bê after õυŕ dragón. Kill it! Kill it!" Thé whôlè crowd stampêdèd down tó^tö thé bañk.

Aś mŷ fāther wáś^woś fixing thé sevénteenth lollïpop for thé last crocódîlè hê hèàŕd a wîld bøàr scream, "Lōōk, it câmè this way! It's ôver theŕè now, see! Thé crocódîlèś mâdè a bridĝè for it," and just aś mŷ fāther leàpt ontö thé őther bañk one^wőnè of^uv thé wîld bøàrś jumpèd ontö thé back of^uv thé first crocódîlè. Mŷ fāther didn't havè a mômént tó^tö spãŕè.

Bŷ now thé dragón rêálîzèd that mŷ fāther wáś^woś cőming tó^tö rescûè him. Hê ran out of^uv thé būshéś and jumpèd up and down yelling. "Hėŕè Î am! Î'm right hėŕè! Can yöü see mê? Hurrý, thé bøàr iś cőming ôver on thé crocódîlèś, töö. They'ŕè åll cőming ôver! Ôh, pleaśè hurrý, hurrý!" Thé noiśè wáś^woś simplý terrific.

Mŷ fāther ran up tó^tö thé dragón, and tōōk out hiś verý sharp jackknîfè. "Steàdý, ôld boy, steàdý. Wê'll mâkè it. Just stand still," hê tôld thé dragón aś hê bėgan tó^tö saw thröügh thé big rôpè.

Bŷ this tîmè bôth bøàrś, åll sevén tîgerś, thé twö lîónś, thé rhînoçerós, and thé górillá, álong with thé countléss screeching móñkêyś, werè åll on their way ácross thé crocódîlèś and theŕè wáś^woś still a lot of^uv rôpè tó^tö cut thröügh.

"Ôh, hurrý," thé dragón kept sâying, and mŷ fāther ágãìn tôld him tó^tö stand still.

"If Î dôn't thiñk Î can mâkè it," sãìd mŷ fāther, "wê'll flŷ ôver tó^tö thé őther sîdè of^uv thé river and Î can finish cutting thé rôpè theŕè."

Suddénlý thé screaming grew louder and madder and mŷ fāther thøùght thé anímálś must havè crossèd thé river. Hê lōōkèd áround, and saw sőmèthing which surprîśèd and dėlightėd him. Partlý bėcauśè hê had finishèd hiś lollïpop, and partlý bėcauśè, aś Î tôld yöü bėforè, crocódîlèś arè verý möödý and not thé least bit dėpendáblè and arè ålwayś lōōking for sőmèthing tó^tö eat, thé first crocódîlè had turnèd áway fróm thé bañk and startėd swimming down thé river. Thé secónd crocódîlè hadn't finishèd yet, sô hê follôwèd right after thé first, still sucking hiś lollïpop. Åll thé rest did thé sâmè thing, one^wőnè right after thé őther, until they werè åll swimming áway in a lînè. Thé twö wîld bøàrś, thé sevén tîgerś, thé rhînoçerós, thé twö lîónś, thé górillá, álong with thé countléss screeching móñkêyś, werè åll rîding down thé middlè of^uv thé river on thé train of^uv crocódîlèś sucking piñk lollïpops, and åll yelling and screaming and getting their feet wet.

Mŷ fāther and thé dragón lāùghèd^lāùfèd themselvèś weak bėcauśè it wáś^woś such a sillý sight. Aś söön aś they had récőverèd, mŷ fāther finishèd cutting thé rôpè and thé dragón râçèd áround in çirclès and trîèd tó^tö turn a sőmersault. Hê wáś^woś thé môst ėxcîtėd bâbý dragón that ever livèd. Mŷ fāther wáś^woś in a hurrý tó^tö flŷ áway, and when thé dragón fînállý cālmèd down a bit mŷ fāther clîmbèd up ontö hiś back.

"Åll ábøàrd!" sãìd thé dragón. "Wheŕè shall wê gô?"

"Wê'll spend thé night on thé beach, and tómorrôw wê'll start on thé long jòurnêy hômè. Sô, it's off tó^tö thé shorèś of^uv Tanĝérïna!" shoutėd mŷ fāther aś thé dragón søàrèd ábővè thé dark juñglè and thé muddý river and åll thé anímálś bellôwing at them and åll thé crocódîlèś licking piñk lollïpops and grinning wîdè grinś. After åll, whåt did thé crocódîlèś cãŕè ábout a way tó^tö cross thé river, and whåt a fînè feast they werè carrýing on their backs!

Aś mŷ fāther and thé dragón passèd ôver thé Ôćeán Rocks they hèàŕd a tîný ėxcîtėd voiçè scream, "Bum cack! Bum cack! Wê dreed õυŕ nagon! Î mean, wê need õυŕ dragón!"

But mŷ fāther and thé dragón knew that nőthing in thé wòŕld wōūld ever mâkè them gô back tó^tö Wîld Îslánd.

THÉ END