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[Illustration: On to Toyville]
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The Eighth Chapter.
_How the Little Company meets with a Joyous Greeting. And how a sly
Stranger listens to the Words of the Mayor and watches the Departure._
[Illustration]
When the little Messenger from Peter Poodle arrived in Toyville, he
went at once to the residence of the Mayor.
“You have a message from Mr. Poodle,” said the Mayor, as soon as he had
shaken hands with the Messenger. “You are most welcome to our city; and
we are glad, indeed, to receive any word our good friend Mr. Poodle has
to send us.”
While the Mayor was reading the message he grew very excited. “You must
excuse me,” he said to the Messenger. “Just make yourself comfortable,
and at home. This is a very important word you have brought me, and I
must {56} assemble my councillors. Our city will be greatly honored by
a visit from such a renowned toymaker as Mr. Poodle. And, at the same
time, to have a visit from the boy and girl who are accompanying Mr.
Poodle, that, dear sir, is an occurrence of the utmost importance, and
one for which, I am sure, my councillors and the Lords and Ladies of
the realm will wish to prepare an exceptional welcome.”
[Illustration]
There was now much excitement in the council room, and soon the Heralds
were sent speeding here and there throughout the city to warn the
people of the approaching visitors. The lack of time to make plans did
not prevent their being made thoroughly. What these plans were, we
shall see presently.
As for Mr. Poodle and his little companions, when their journey had
brought them about half way down the curly road, they came to a place
where there was a little lane, or grassy opening in the trees. {57}
Mr. Poodle said: “Run down this lane and take a peep out through the
trees over the edge of the hill.”
Helen and Tommy did as Mr. Poodle had suggested and soon reached the
end of the lane, where a look-out could be had over the brow of the
hill. Never before had they seen such a wonderful sight, for below in
the valley lay as handsome a little city as was to be found in all the
world.
[Illustration: The Castle.]
In the foreground could be seen a beautiful lake, and sailing on its
crystal waters were all manner of lovely boats with pennants waving
and flags flying. Entering the lake, at its upper end, hidden here and
there by overhanging trees, was a curly, twisting river. At the lower
end of the lake there tumbled a dashing, foaming waterfall, beside
which rumbled the wheel of a quaint little mill. {58}
Mr. Poodle, who now stood back of Helen and Tommy, said that in the
quaint little mill there lived the jolly little Miller of Dee, who all
day long ground barley corn to feed the barley animals they had seen in
the pasture up on the hillside. Helen and Tommy could hear the wheel
mumbling very plainly and could even hear the mill grinding. “Look,”
said Mr. Poodle, “there is the little Miller of Dee!” And sure enough,
there he stood in the doorway, the long smock upon his back, and the
cap upon his head, powdered thickly with barley dust.
All about the edge of the lake there was a turned over marble rim, and
every little way along this rim, were pots and vases in which grew
flowering shrubs and plants, laden with beautiful blossoms. Here and
there had been built wide stairways, leading down to the very edge of
the water, and in one place there was a long pier standing on carved
and turned posts painted in pretty colors. On a gate, at the entrance
to this pier, were letters which Helen and Tommy could see, and with
much difficulty spell into words: these read—“Royal Boat Landing.”
Back of the lake the land was rolling and wavy, like little hills. On
these hills there were some fine houses, all set about with trees, and
each one having at its side, or in the front, or back, a beautiful
flower garden. There were so many of these gardens everywhere, that it
was easy to see that the people were very fond of pretty flowers and
delighted in having them about their homes.
Precisely in the center of the city was one little hill higher than all
the rest, on the tip top of which loomed a beautiful castle, circled
all about with high walls and topped with crimson towers. {59}
People could be seen hurrying to and fro in the streets. They were all
as nice looking people as one would ever wish to see; in fact they
seemed just like toys, only much bigger; as big indeed, as Helen and
Tommy. All of the houses, the boats and even the fine castle on the
hill looked like toys too, only ever and ever so much larger.
“How do you like this sight?” asked the little toymaker. Helen and
Tommy were so excited and so full of wonder that they were unable to
find a single word to put on their tongues so they could answer.
Mr. Poodle was not a bit fooled by their silence, though, for being
a very clever man, when he looked into their eyes, he could see them
brimming full of joy, so much, that it was almost bubbling out and
running over. That made it easy enough, then, for a clever man like him
to see that they thought everything just fine.
Of course Helen and Tommy could have said those words to Mr. Poodle,
only they wanted to find bigger ones. But Mr. Poodle was not even one
tiny mite provoked at their not answering his question, for he thought
it much nicer to read such a happy answer in their eyes. “Come,” said
Mr. Poodle, “it is time to be going! We have passed through the Hills
of Troubleland and entered the Vale of Joy and the Valley of Happiness;
we are now almost in Toyville.”
“Toyville! Toyville!” cried Helen and Tommy, dancing with joy. “Hurrah
for Toyville!”
Then from the roadway came the happy cry of Captain Pinkle and Captain
Poddle and all their soldiers.
“HURRAH FOR TOYVILLE!” {60}
The last of the cheer had hardly finished echoing in the hills when
there came an answering cheer from down the road, and presently,
turning a bend in the road, the little company came into a beautiful
park at the foot of the hill and found it thronged with the happy Toy
people.
The Mayor quickly stepped forward and shook hands most cordially with
Mr. Poodle. He said the Toy people were delighted and much honored in
having such a famous toymaker come to visit them. After greeting Helen
and Tommy and presenting Helen with a bouquet of beautiful roses, he
introduced them to the Lords, Nobles and fine Ladies and Gentlemen
that had come riding up on their prancing steeds, or in their handsome
coaches.
As Helen and Tommy were talking busily with their new acquaintances,
the Mayor stood a little to one side and eyed them critically. There
was a happy, pleased expression on his face, and once or twice he
nodded his head as if in profound approval of something. Then, in a low
tone, so low that hardly anyone could hear him, he said: “We certainly
acted wisely and have made a good choice; luck has come to us to-day,
and if I am not much mistaken, it means ill luck to our enemy—the King
of Grumbletown.”
Although the Mayor had mumbled these words barely above a whisper,
there were two in that gathering who heard what was said, and not only
heard the words but understood what they meant.
The first of these two was Mr. Poodle. Of course it was all right for
Mr. Poodle to hear what the Mayor said, and the twinkle that jumped
about in his eyes showed that he thought a fine surprise awaited Helen
and Tommy. {61}
[Illustration: The Police.]
The other one who heard was a tall man, wearing a broad brimmed hat
with a long plume. People called him Long Jim, but did not know him to
be the most clever courtier in all of Grumbletown and the craftiest spy
that King Redbeard had ever sent to Toyville. Not only did this man
understand what the Mayor had said, but by his sly ways he managed to
ask of Peter Poodle’s people a question here and another there, until
finally he had {62} a complete account of what had happened to the
three Buccaneers. A cunning smile then twisted up the corners of Long
Jim’s mouth, for he thought: “These people think they have made fine
plans to get ahead of the King of Grumbletown, but they have reckoned
without Long Jim. I will show them a thing or two that will knock their
plans topsy turvy.”
There was now so much noise that Coal Black and Snow White began to get
quite wild and skittish. The two noble steeds danced about and showed
their fine mettle; but Helen and Tommy sat so firmly in the saddle,
that all the people gave them a long cheer for such a fine exhibition
of riding.
The Mayor looked at this performance with wonder, and said to Mr.
Poodle that he did not think the equal of that riding could be found in
all Toyville, even among the most skilled soldiers at the barracks of
the cavalry. Then he invited the toymaker to ride in his carriage, and,
bidding Captain Ten Pin of the police to clear the way, the procession
started for the city.
One remained behind, however, and went hurrying up the road in search
of the three Buccaneers. This was the man with the big hat, the crafty
courtier, Long Jim.
[Illustration]
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[Illustration]