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with our other packages； we were heavy laden when on the stroke of
twelve we opened the west door of the palace and stepped cautiously and
quietly into the moonlit garden。
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〃Tiptoe incognito；〃 whispered Bumpo as we gently closed the heavy
doors behind us。
No one had seen us leave。
At the foot of the stone steps leading from the Peacock Terrace to the
Sunken Rosary； something made me pause and look back at the
magnificent palace which we had built in this strange； far…off land where
no white men but ourselves had ever come。 Somehow I felt it in my bones
that we were leaving it to…night never to return again。 And I wondered
what other kings and ministers would dwell in its splendid halls when we
were gone。 The air was hot； and everything was deadly still but for the
gentle splashing of the tame flamingoes paddling in the lily…pond。
Suddenly the twinkling lantern of a night watchman appeared round the
corner of a cypress hedge。 Polynesia plucked at my stocking and； in an
impatient whisper； bade me hurry before our flight be discovered。
On our arrival at the beach we found the snail already feeling much
better and now able to move his tail without pain。
The porpoises （who are by nature inquisitive creatures） were still
hanging about in the offing to see if anything of interest was going to
happen。 Polynesia； the plotter； while the Doctor was occupied with his
new patient； signaled to them and drew them aside for a little private chat。
〃Now see here； my friends；〃 said she speaking low： 〃you know how
much John Dolittle has done for the animalsgiven his whole life up to
them； one might say。 Well； here is your chance to do something for him。
Listen： he got made king of this island against his will； see？ And now that
he has taken the job on； he feels that he can't leave it thinks the Indians
won't be able to get along without him and all that which is nonsense； as
you and I very well know。 All right。 Then here's the point： if this snail
were only willing to take him and us and a little baggagenot very much；
thirty or forty pieces； sayinside his shell and carry us to England； we feel
sure that the Doctor would go； because he's just crazy to mess about on the
floor of the ocean。 What's more this would be his one and only chance of
escape from the island。 Now it is highly important that the Doctor return to
his own country to carry on his proper work which means such a lot to the
animals of the world。 So what we want you to do is to tell the sea…urchin
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to tell the starfish to tell the snail to take us in his shell and carry us to
Puddleby River。 Is that plain？〃
〃Quite； quite；〃 said the porpoises。 〃And we will willingly do our very
best to persuade himfor it is； as you say； a perfect shame for the great
man to be wasting his time here when he is so much needed by the
animals。〃
〃And don't let the Doctor know what you're about；〃 said Polynesia as
they started to move off。 〃He might balk if he thought we had any hand in
it。 Get the snail to offer on his own account to take us。 See？〃
John Dolittle； unaware of anything save the work he was engaged on；
was standing knee…deep in the shallow water； helping the snail try out his
mended tail to see if it were well enough to travel on。 Bumpo and Long
Arrow； with Chee…Chee and Jip； were lolling at the foot of a palm a little
way up the beach。 Polynesia and I now went and joined them。 Half an
hour passed。 What success the porpoises had met with； we did not know；
till suddenly the Doctor left the snail's side and came splashing out to us。
quite breathless。
〃What do you think？〃 he cried； 〃while I was talking to the snail just
now he offered； of his own accord； to take us all back to England inside
his shell。 He says he has got to go on a voyage of discovery anyway； to
hunt up a new home； now that the Deep Hole is closed。 Said it wouldn't be
much out of his way to drop us at Puddleby River； if we cared to come
alongGoodness； what a chance！ I'd love to go。 To examine the floor of
the ocean all the way from Brazil to Europe！ No man ever did it before。
What a glorious trip！ Oh that I had never allowed myself to be made
king！ Now I must see the chance of a lifetime slip by。〃
He turned from us and moved down the sands again to the middle
beach； gazing wistfully； longingly out at the snail。 There was something
peculiarly sad and forlorn about him as he stood there on the lonely；
moonlit shore； the crown upon his head； his figure showing sharply black
against the glittering sea behind。
Out of the darkness at my elbow Polynesia rose and quietly moved
down to his side。
〃Now Doctor；〃 said she in a soft persuasive voice as though she were
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talking to a wayward child； 〃you know this king business is not your real
work in life。 These natives will be able to get along without younot so
well as they do with you of course but they'll managethe same as they
did before you came。 Nobody can say you haven't done your duty by them。
It was their fault： they made you king。 Why not accept the snail's offer；
and just drop everything now； and go？ The work you'll do； the information
you'll carry home； will be of far more value than what you're doing here。〃
〃Good friend；〃 said the Doctor turning to her sadly； 〃I cannot。 They
would go back to their old unsanitary ways： bad water； uncooked fish； no
drainage； enteric fever and the rest。 。 。 。 No。 I must think of their health；
their welfare。 I began life as a people's doctor： I seem to have come back
to it in the end。 I cannot desert them。 Later perhaps something will turn up。
But I cannot leave them now。〃
〃That's where you're wrong； Doctor；〃 said she。 〃Now is when you
should go。 Nothing will 'turn up。' The longer you stay； the harder it will be
to leave Go now。 Go to…night。〃
〃What； steal away without even saying good…bye to them！ Why；
Polynesia； what a thing to suggest！〃
〃A fat chance they would give you to say good…bye！〃 sno