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[Illustration: The Capture]
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The Fifth Chapter.
_How Three wait upon the Highway. And of the Adventure that befel
Peter Poodle’s Messenger. Also of how the Messenger departs in much
Joy._
[Illustration]
Now we must leave the little company, for one chapter, and tell of what
happened to that little Messenger Peter Poodle had sent on ahead to
Toyville.
It would have been as well for Peter Poodle and his happy company to
have searched a little in the bushes, before travelling further on
their journey. Had this been done, it is more than probable it would
have led to a surprising discovery.
When Mr. Poodle told Tommy and Helen that the King of Grumbletown had
ruffians and bandits lurking about, spying in the hills, he spoke what
was certainly true, but {36} he told only one half of the story. He
did not know that Red Beard had sent not only his bandits, but also his
three bold and crafty Buccaneers, who, having recently returned from
a pirate cruise, were anxious for a little fighting and plundering on
land.
Now, as oft happens in this world, a body sometimes has Luck tripping
along for his wayfellow, and sometimes it is Ill Luck that goes kicking
up the dust at his side. Ill Luck was the fellow that went travelling
with the Messenger Peter Poodle had sent to Toyville, and this is what
happened: No sooner had the three Buccaneers entered the Hills of
Troubleland than they saw coming down the road, the little Messenger.
“Oh, ho!” cried Big Bill, the captain, “here is our chance to take a
captive!” Then he ordered his men to advance, and the next minute the
messenger was captured and Big Bill had found the message to the Mayor
of Toyville.
The captain of the three Buccaneers was not much at spelling out
letters, so it took him a long while to get to the end of the message.
But finally, after reading it all, he laughed long and loudly.
“Ha, ha, ha! my hearties,” said he (which is the way a Buccaneer
captain always speaks to his men when there is something of importance
afoot). “Ha, ha, ha! Here is a fine kettle of fish for sure and
certain, and all ready to be cooked! I guess we are the fellows to
do the cooking, too! Listen, my hearties: Peter Poodle, that little
toymaker from over the hills, is going to visit Toyville. Here is a
message he sends to the Mayor, and it says he is going to bring a boy
and a girl with him. What do you think our King in Grumbletown would
say to that?” {37}
The two Buccaneers looked at Big Bill, their captain, and neither one
knew what to answer.
“I will tell you, my hearties, what our King would say. He would say,
‘We don’t want any boy and girl going to Toyville to teach the Toy
people new tricks, so Bill, you must capture them.’ That is what the
king would say. Now, what I want to ask, my hearties, is this: how are
we going to make the capture?”
The two Buccaneers again looked at Big Bill, and again neither one
could answer.
Big Bill thrust his two hands into his pockets and walked to and fro
in deep thought. Finally a bright idea came to him. “I have it now, my
hearties,” he said. “We must find a good place to hide by the roadside,
and make an ambush; then when they pass by, most likely this boy and
girl will be lagging along behind, looking at the sights, and we can
spring out and take them by surprise; after that we will carry them
captive to Grumbletown.”
The two Buccaneers looked at each other with eyes almost bulging out
of their heads. “My, oh my, Bill, but you certainly are a fine one at
making plans!” they said. Then taking hold of Big Bill’s hands the
three began to dance and skip about like crazy people.
Big Bill now unfastened the bonds of the Messenger, and bowing politely
to him, said he was very sorry they had treated him so harshly. “You
see,” said he, “there are so many ruffians and bandits lurking about
in the hills, we have to be careful whom we allow to pass. We hope
you will forgive us, and that you will accept our invitation to have
something to eat before travelling any further along the road to the
city of Toyville.” {38}
Big Bill spoke to the Messenger, just the politest that could be, for
he wanted to get rid of him without his being suspicious, and yet he
wanted to delay the delivery of the message until its arrival would be
too late for the Mayor to send anyone to meet Mr. Poodle.
The Messenger said he certainly would be glad to have something to eat
with Big Bill and his companions, and as for blaming them for handling
him so roughly, he could never think of doing that, because he knew it
must be important to have such good guards in Toyville to protect the
city from the wicked ruffians of Grumbletown.
The two Buccaneers expected Big Bill would give the Messenger a good
drubbing for speaking that way, but though their captain looked a
little glum, he did no more than order them to build a camp fire and
prepare a good dinner. After eating a hearty meal, the Messenger
thanked Big Bill for the entertainment and again took up his journey
down the road to Toyville.
Big Bill and one of his men set out to find a good place for the
ambush, the other Buccaneer was left behind at the gate to watch for
the expected visitors so he could warn Big Bill of their approach.
His laughing was the sound that Helen and Tommy heard when Mr. Poodle
expressed the hope that his little Messenger had not been captured by
bandits.
[Illustration]
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[Illustration]