THE FIRST VALLEY
The rocky arch was not very thick, yet before Dot and Tot had floated
to the other side of it, shouts of merry laughter and the chattering
of many voices came to their ears. Some of the voices sounded loud
and shrill, others low and deep, but all rang with a happy tone that
aroused the children's interest at once, and made them wonder what
occasion could cause so much amusement.
Then, so suddenly that it quite startled the childish voyagers, the
boat glided from the archway into the most beautiful country one
could imagine.
It was a Valley, as the Watch-Dog had said; but it was level and
sunny and dotted with broad-leaved trees; while soft, tender grasses,
mingled with brilliant flowers, covered the ground in every
direction. There seemed to be no houses at all, yet streets were laid
out in regular order, having at their sides raised platforms in place
of houses. Each of the platforms was four feet high and fifteen feet
square on the top, and they were separated from one another by
stretches of the flower-strewn lawn. The top and sides of every
platform were padded like the mattresses of a bed, and were covered
with silks and velvets of the most gorgeous patterns, no two being of
the same combinations of colors.
On many of these raised and padded platforms, Dot and Tot saw groups
of funny-looking Clowns, all dressed in wide, baggy trousers, puffy
jackets and soft, pointed caps. Yet in their costumes was an endless
variety of colorings and combinations of colors, making the groups
look remarkably bright and pleasing.
The faces of the Clowns were painted in a fanciful way, with rings of
red and blue and yellow on their cheeks, and spots and streaks of the
same gorgeous colors over their eyes and around their chins.
When the children first came into the Valley of the Clowns, they saw
many of them leaping and tumbling and turning somersaults upon the
platforms, while others were juggling with balls, or balancing long
feathers and sticks upon their noses and chins. These feats were
greeted with shouts of laughter by other Clowns who were resting and
looking on, and these spectators also cried out their approval or
poked fun at the performers when they failed to accomplish the acts
they were attempting.
While Dot and Tot sat in their boat, looking with amazement at the
strange sights all about them, one of the Clowns chanced to look
their way, and upon seeing the children, he set up a shout and rushed
down to the shore, followed by more than a hundred of his fellows.
As they ran, the Clowns leaped over one another, turned somersaults
into the air, and walked upon their hands nearly as fast as they
could upon their feet; and so swift were all their movements that, in
less time than one could think possible, they were all crowded along
the river bank, and shouting loud greetings to the new arrivals.
Dot had to put her fingers in her ears at first, for the noise
bewildered her, and while she wondered what she should say to these
lively creatures, she noticed a richly dressed Clown standing before
the others, and making low bows to her and to Tot. As his lips seemed
to move, she took away her fingers from her ears that she might hear
what he was saying.
Everyone was talking at the same time, and at first Dot could hear
nothing plainly; but the Clown who was standing in front of his
comrades clapped his hands loudly together three times, at which the
others instantly became silent and motionless.
Then, with another bow, the leader addressed her, speaking in a sweet
and most pleasing tone of voice, "Welcome, O King and Queen of
Children, to the Valley of Clowns! We live but for your amusement; we
love your happy and smiling faces more than anything else in the
world, and this day on which you have come to visit your slaves is
the most joyful we have ever known."
Here he made another bow and threw his pointed cap high into the air,
where it whirled over and over and finally fell straight upon his
head again. There was a shout of applause at this feat, and Tot
laughed loudly and clapped his hands.
Then the leader of the Clowns again spoke, "If you will graciously
consent to land in our country, where everything we have is at your
service, we shall be delighted to amuse you to the best of our
ability."
"You are very kind," answered Dot, "and as we are tired by sitting in
the boat so long, we shall be glad to accept your invitation."
Then she pushed the boat to the shore, where a dozen Clowns seized it
and drew it far up on the grassy bank. Then Dot and Tot stepped out
upon land, and as they did so every Clown present turned a backward
somersault and shouted, "Here we are again!"
The one who had first spoken to them now came forward and shook hands
with both Dot and Tot in a very polite manner.
"My name is Flippityflop," he said, "and I am the Prince of Clowns,
ruling here under the gracious favor of her Majesty the Queen of
Merryland. I beg you will allow me to escort you to my dwelling; but
first I should like to know your names, and how you came here."
"I'm Tot Tompum," said the boy, looking up into the Clown's painted
face, "and here's Dot F'eelun. We've come in a boat, long, long ways
off. An' we don't know how to get home again."
"We are delighted to have you with us, however you came here,"
replied the Clown; "and as for your getting home again, why, that is
worry, and no one ever worries in the Valley of Clowns. You are
welcome to remain our guests as long as you please, and while you are
with us you must consider us your slaves, for Clowns have always been
the slaves of children." Then he turned to the others.
"Brothers!" he shouted. "Allow me to introduce you to our friends Dot
and Tot, of the Big Round World. We are all their slaves. Salute
them!"
Instantly every Clown stood upon his head and knocked his heels
together in the air. As they wore silver bells around their ankles,
this made a most delightful, tinkling sound, and the sight of so many
topsy-turvy Clowns was so pretty that Dot and Tot both laughed and
clapped their hands.
Then Flippityflop caught the children in his arms and seated one of
them upon each of his shoulders, after which he marched up the
street, followed by the rest of the Clowns, who sang and danced as
they came.
The Prince carried them to one of the prettiest platforms and set
them gently upon its cushioned top. Then he leaped into the air,
whirled around like a windmill and landed gracefully beside them.
"Welcome to my dwelling," he said.
"But this isn't a dwelling," exclaimed Dot. "A dwelling is a house."
"And this is a sofa!" declared Tot.
"Oh, no; it's a real house," said Flippityflop, "although it may be
different from the dwellings you are accustomed to. Let us enter."
He seized a silken strap and opened a trap-door in the top of the
platform.
"Come on!" he cried, and jumping down the hole, disappeared from
view.
Dot crept up to the trapdoor and looked down. Just beneath her was
Flippityflop, holding out his arms.
"Come on!" he said again; "I'll catch you."
Dot did not hesitate, but dropped through the opening, and the Prince
caught her safely in his arms. Tot followed a moment later, and then
the children gazed about them curiously.