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lookout。〃
He thought a momentthen went on in a quieter； sadder voice：
〃I would like to continue my voyages and my natural history work；
and I would like to go back to Puddlebyas much as any of you。 This is
March； and the crocuses will be showing in the lawn。 。 。 。 But that which I
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
feared has come true： I cannot close my eyes to what might happen if I
should leave these people and run away。 They would probably go back to
their old habits and customs： wars； superstitions； devil…worship and what
not； and many of the new things we have taught them might be put to
improper use and make their condition； then； worse by far than that in
which we found them。 。 。 。 They like me； they trust me； they have come to
look to me for help in all their problems and troubles。 And no man wants
to do unfair things to them who trust him。 。 。 。 And then again； I like
THEM。 They are； as it were； my childrenI never had any children of my
ownand I am terribly interested in how they will grow up。 Don't you see
what I mean？How can I possibly run away and leave them in the
lurch？ 。 。 。 No。 I have thought it over a good deal and tried to decide what
was best。 And I am afraid that the work I took up when I assumed the
crown I must stick to。 I'm afraid I've got to stay。〃
〃For goodfor your whole life？〃 asked Bumpo in a low voice。
For some moments the Doctor； frowning； made no answer。
〃I don't know；〃 he said at last〃Anyhow for the present there is
certainly no hope of my leaving。 It wouldn't be right。〃
The sad silence that followed was broken finally by a knock upon the
door。
With a patient sigh the Doctor got up and put on his crown and cloak
again。
〃Come in；〃 he called； sitting down in his chair once more。
The door opened and a footmanone of the hundred and forty…three
who were always on night dutystood bowing in the entrance。
〃Oh； Kindly One；〃 said he； 〃there is a traveler at the palace…gate who
would have speech with Your Majesty。〃
〃Another baby's been born； I'll bet a shilling；〃 muttered Polynesia。
〃Did you ask the traveler's name？〃 enquired the Doctor。
〃Yes； Your Majesty；〃 said the footman。 〃It is Long Arrow； the son of
Golden Arrow。〃
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
THE THIRD CHAPTER
THE RED MAN'S SCIENCE
LONG ARROW！〃 cried the Doctor。 〃How splendid！ Show him in
show him in at once。〃
〃I'm so glad；〃 he continued； turning to us as soon as the footman had
gone。 〃I've missed Long Arrow terribly。 He's an awfully good man to have
around even if he doesn't talk much。 Let me see： it's five months now
since he went off to Brazil。 I'm so glad he's back safe。 He does take such
tremendous chances with that canoe of hisclever as he is。 It's no joke；
crossing a hundred miles of open sea in a twelve…foot canoe。 I wouldn't
care to try it。〃
Another knock； and when the door swung open in answer to the
Doctor's call； there stood our big friend on the threshold； a smile upon his
strong； bronzed face。 Behind him appeared two porters carrying loads
done up in Indian palm…matting。 These； when the first salutations were
over； Long Arrow ordered to lay their burdens down。
〃Behold； oh Kindly One；〃 said he； 〃I bring you； as I promised； my
collection of plants which I had hidden in a cave in the Andes。 These
treasures represent the labors of my life。〃
The packages were opened； and inside were many smaller packages
and bundles。 Carefully they were laid out in rows upon the table。
It appeared at first a large but disappointing display。 There were plants；
flowers； fruits； leaves； roots； nuts； beans； honeys； gums； bark； seeds； bees
and a few kinds of insects。
The study of plantsor botany； as it is calledwas a kind of natural
history which had never interested me very much。 I had considered it；
compared with the study of animals； a dull science。 But as Long Arrow
began taking up the various things in his collection and explaining their
qualities to us； I became more and more fascinated。 And before he had
done I was completely absorbed by the wonders of the Vegetable
Kingdom which he had brought so far。
〃These；〃 said he； taking up a little packet of big seeds； 〃are what I have
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
called 'laughing…beans。' 〃
〃What are they for？〃 asked Bumpo。
〃To cause mirth；〃 said the Indian。
Bumpo； while Long Arrow's back was turned； took three of the beans
and swallowed them。
〃Alas！〃 said the Indian when he discovered what Bumpo had done。 〃If
he wished to try the powers of these seeds he should have eaten no more
than a quarter of a one。 Let us hope that he does not die of laughter。〃
The beans' effect upon Bumpo was most extraordinary。 First he broke
into a broad smile； then he began to giggle； finally he burst into such
prolonged roars of hearty laughter that we had to carry him into the next
room and put him to bed。 The Doctor said afterwards that he probably
would have died laughing if he had not had such a strong constitution。 All
through the night he gurgled happily in his sleep。 And even when we woke
him up the next morning he rolled out of bed still chuckling。
Returning to the Reception Room； we were shown some red roots
which Long Arrow told us had the property； when made into a soup with
sugar and salt； of causing people to dance with extraordinary speed and
endurance。 He asked us to try them； but we refused； thanking him。 After
Bumpo's exhibition we were a little afraid of any more experiments for the
present。
There was no end to the curious and useful things that Long Arrow had
collected： an oil from a vine which would make hair grow in one night； an
orange as big as a pumpkin which he had raised in his own mountain…
garden in Peru； a black honey （he had brought the bees that made it too
and the seeds of the flowers they fed on） which would put y