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brave Popsipetels。〃
When we reached the village we found it in a great state of excitement。
Everywhere men were seen putting their bows in order； sharpening spears；
grinding battle…axes and making arrows by the hundred。 Women were
raising a high fence of bamboo poles all round the village。 Scouts and
messengers kept coming and going； bringing news of the movements of
the enemy。 While high up in the trees and hills about the village we could
see look…outs watching the mountains to the southward。
Long Arrow brought another Indian； short but enormously broad； and
introduced him to the Doctor as Big Teeth； the chief warrior of the
Popsipetels。
The Doctor volunteered to go and see the enemy and try to argue the
matter out peacefully with them instead of fighting； for war； he said； was
at best a stupid wasteful business。 But the two shook their heads。 Such a
plan was hopeless； they said。 In the last war when they had sent a
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
messenger to do peaceful arguing； the enemy had merely hit him with an
ax。
While the Doctor was asking Big Teeth how he meant to defend the
village against attack； a cry of alarm was raised by the look…outs。
〃They're coming！The Bag…jagderags…swarming down the mountains
in thousands！〃
〃Well；〃 said the Doctor； 〃it's all in the day's work； I suppose。 I don't
believe in war； but if the village is attacked we must help defend it。〃
And he picked up a club from the ground and tried the heft of it
against a stone。
〃This；〃 he said； 〃seems like a pretty good tool to me。〃 And he walked
to the bamboo fence and took his place among the other waiting fighters。
Then we all got hold of some kind of weapon with which to help our
friends； the gallant Popsipetels： I borrowed a bow and a quiver full of
arrows； Jip was content to rely upon his old； but still strong teeth； Chee…
Chee took a bag of rocks and climbed a palm where he could throw them
down upon the enemies' heads； and Bumpo marched after the Doctor to
the fence armed with a young tree in one hand and a door…post in the other。
When the enemy drew near enough to be seen from where we stood
we all gasped with astonishment。 The hillsides were actually covered with
them thousands upon thousands。 They made our small army within the
village look like a mere handful。
〃Saints alive！〃 muttered Polynesia； 〃our little lot will stand no chance
against that swarm。 This will never do。 I'm going off to get some help。〃
Where she was going and what kind of help she meant to get； I had no
idea。 She just disappeared from my side。 But Jip； who had heard her；
poked his nose between the bamboo bars of the fence to get a better view
of the enemy and said；
〃Likely enough she's gone after the Black Parrots。 Let's hope she finds
them in time。 Just look at those ugly ruffians climbing down the rocks
millions of 'em！ This fight's going to keep us all hopping。〃
And Jip was right。 Before a quarter of an hour had gone by our village
was completely surrounded by one huge mob of yelling； raging Bag…
jagderags。
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I now come again to a part in the story of our voyages where things
happened so quickly； one upon the other； that looking backwards I see the
picture only in a confused kind of way。 I know that if it had not been for
the Terrible Three as they came afterwards to be fondly called in
Popsipetel history Long Arrow； Bumpo and the Doctor； the war would
have been soon over and the whole island would have belonged to the
worthless Bag…jagderags。 But the Englishman； the African and the Indian
were a regiment in themselves； and between them they made that village a
dangerous place for any man to try to enter。
The bamboo fencing which had been hastily set up around the town
was not a very strong affair； and right from the start it gave way in one
place after another as the enemy thronged and crowded against it。 Then
the Doctor； Long Arrow and Bumpo would hurry to the weak spot； a
terrific hand…to…hand fight would take place and the enemy be thrown out。
But almost instantly a cry of alarm would come from some other part of
the village…wall； and the Three would have to rush off and do the same
thing all over again。
The Popsipetels were themselves no mean fighters； but the strength
and weight of those three men of different lands and colors； standing close
together； swinging their enormous war…clubs； was really a sight for the
wonder and admiration of any one；
Many weeks later when I was passing an Indian camp…fire at night I
heard this song being sung。 It has since become one of the traditional
folksongs of the Popsipetels。
THE SONG OF THE TERRIBLE THREE
Oh hear ye the Song of the Terrible Three And the fight that they
fought by the edge of the sea。 Down from the mountains； the rocks and the
crags； Swarming like wasps； came the Bag…jagderags。
Surrounding our village； our walls they broke down。 Oh； sad was the
plight of our men and our town！ But Heaven determined our land to set
free And sent us the help of the Terrible Three。 One was a Blackhe was
dark as the night； One was a Red…skin； a mountain of height； But the chief
was a White Man； round like a bee； And all in a row stood the Terrible
Three。
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Shoulder to shoulder； they hammered and hit。 Like demons of fury
they kicked and they bit。 Like a wall of destruction they stood in a row；
Flattening enemies； six at a blow。
Oh； strong was the Red…skin fierce was the Black。 Bag…jagderags
trembled and tried to turn back。 But 'twas of the White Man they shouted；
〃Beware！ He throws men in handfuls； straight up in the air！〃
Long shall they frighten bad children at night With tales of the Red
and the Black and the White。 And long shall we sing of the Terrible Three
And the fight that they fought by the edge of the sea。
THE SIXTH CHAPTER
GENERAL POLYNESIA
BUT alas！ even the Three； mighty though they were； could not last
f