Nowforsixwholeweekstheywentsailingonandon,overtherollingsea,followingtheswallowwhoflewbeforetheshiptoshowthemtheway. Atnightshecarriedatinylantern,sotheyshouldnotmissherinthedark;andthepeopleontheothershipsthatpassedsaidthatthelightmustbeashootingstar. AstheysailedfurtherandfurtherintotheSouth,itgotwarmerandwarmer. Polynesia,Chee–Cheeandthecrocodileenjoyedthehotsunnoend. TheyranaboutlaughingandlookingoverthesideoftheshiptoseeiftheycouldseeAfricayet. Butthepigandthedogandtheowl,Too–Too,coulddonothinginsuchweather,butsatattheendoftheshipintheshadeofabigbarrel,withtheirtongueshangingout,drinkinglemonade. Dab–Dab,theduck,usedtokeepherselfcoolbyjumpingintotheseaandswimmingbehindtheship. Andeveryonceinawhile,whenthetopofherheadgottoohot,shewoulddiveundertheshipandcomeupontheotherside. Inthisway,too,sheusedtocatchherringsonTuesdaysandFridays—wheneverybodyontheboatatefishtomakethebeeflastlonger. WhentheygotneartotheEquatortheysawsomeflying–fishescomingtowardsthem. AndthefishesaskedtheparrotifthiswasDoctorDolittle'sship. Whenshetoldthemitwas,theysaidtheywereglad,becausethemonkeysinAfricaweregettingworriedthathewouldnevercome. Polynesiaaskedthemhowmanymilestheyhadyettogo;andtheflying–fishessaiditwasonlyfifty–fivemilesnowtothecoastofAfrica. Andanothertimeawholeschoolofporpoisescamedancingthroughthewaves;andtheytooaskedPolynesiaifthiswastheshipofthefamousdoctor. Andwhentheyheardthatitwas,theyaskedtheparrotiftheDoctorwantedanythingforhisjourney. AndPolynesiasaid,"Yes.Wehaverunshortofonions." "Thereisanislandnotfarfromhere,"saidtheporpoises,"wherethewildonionsgrowtallandstrong.Keepstraighton—wewillgetsomeandcatchuptoyou." Sotheporpoisesdashedawaythroughthesea.Andverysoontheparrotsawthemagain,comingupbehind,draggingtheonionsthroughthewavesinbignetsmadeofseaweed. Thenextevening,asthesunwasgoingdowntheDoctorsaid, "Getmethetelescope,Chee–Chee.Ourjourneyisnearlyended.VerysoonweshouldbeabletoseetheshoresofAfrica." Andabouthalfanhourlater,sureenough,theythoughttheycouldseesomethinginfrontthatmightbeland. Butitbegantogetdarkeranddarkerandtheycouldn'tbesure. Thenagreatstormcameup,withthunderandlightning. Thewindhowled;theraincamedownintorrents;andthewavesgotsohightheysplashedrightovertheboat. PresentlytherewasabigBANG!Theshipstoppedandrolledoveronitsside. "What'shappened?"askedtheDoctor,comingupfromdownstairs. "I'mnotsure,"saidtheparrot;"butIthinkwe'reship–wrecked.Telltheducktogetoutandsee." SoDab–Dabdivedrightdownunderthewaves.Andwhenshecameupshesaidtheyhadstruckarock;therewasabigholeinthebottomoftheship;thewaterwascomingin;andtheyweresinkingfast. "WemusthaverunintoAfrica,"saidtheDoctor."Dearme,dearme!—Well—wemustallswimtoland." ButChee–CheeandGub–Gubdidnotknowhowtoswim. "Gettherope!"saidPolynesia."Itoldyouitwouldcomeinhandy.Where'sthatduck?Comehere,Dab–Dab. Takethisendoftherope,flytotheshoreandtieitontoapalm–tree;andwe'llholdtheotherendontheshiphere. Thenthosethatcan'tswimmustclimbalongtheropetilltheyreachtheland.That'swhatyoucalla'life–line.'" Sotheyallgotsafelytotheshore—someswimming,someflying;andthosethatclimbedalongtheropebroughttheDoctor'strunkandhandbagwiththem. Buttheshipwasnogoodanymore—withthebigholeinthebottom;andpresentlytheroughseabeatittopiecesontherocksandthetimbersfloatedaway. Thentheyalltookshelterinanicedrycavetheyfound,highupinthecliffs,tillthestormwasover. Whenthesuncameoutnextmorningtheywentdowntothesandybeachtodrythemselves. "DearoldAfrica!"sighedPolynesia."It'sgoodtogetback. Justthink—it'llbeahundredandsixty–nineyearsto–morrowsinceIwashere!Andithasn'tchangedabit! Sameoldpalm–trees;sameoldredearth;sameoldblackants!There'snoplacelikehome!" Andtheothersnoticedshehadtearsinhereyes—shewassopleasedtoseehercountryonceagain. ThentheDoctormissedhishighhat;forithadbeenblownintotheseaduringthestorm.SoDab–Dabwentouttolookforit. Andpresentlyshesawit,alongwayoff,floatingonthewaterlikeatoy–boat. Whensheflewdowntogetit,shefoundoneofthewhitemice,veryfrightened,sittinginsideit. "Whatareyoudoinghere?"askedtheduck."YouweretoldtostaybehindinPuddleby." "Ididn'twanttobeleftbehind,"saidthemouse. "IwantedtoseewhatAfricawaslike—Ihaverelativesthere. SoIhidinthebaggageandwasbroughtontotheshipwiththehard–tack. WhentheshipsankIwasterriblyfrightened—becauseIcannotswimfar. IswamaslongasIcould,butIsoongotallexhaustedandthoughtIwasgoingtosink. Andthen,justatthatmoment,theoldman'shatcamefloatingby;andIgotintoitbecauseIdidnotwanttobedrowned." SotheducktookupthehatwiththemouseinitandbroughtittotheDoctorontheshore.Andtheyallgatheredroundtohavealook. "That'swhatyoucalla'stowaway,'"saidtheparrot. Presently,whentheywerelookingforaplaceinthetrunkwherethewhitemousecouldtravelcomfortably,themonkey,Chee–Chee,suddenlysaid, "Sh!Ihearfootstepsinthejungle!" Theyallstoppedtalkingandlistened.Andsoonablackmancamedownoutofthewoodsandaskedthemwhattheyweredoingthere. "MynameisJohnDolittle—M.D.,"saidtheDoctor."IhavebeenaskedtocometoAfricatocurethemonkeyswhoaresick." "YoumustallcomebeforetheKing,"saidtheblackman. "Whatking?"askedtheDoctor,whodidn'twanttowasteanytime. "TheKingoftheJolliginki,"themananswered."Alltheselandsbelongtohim;andallstrangersmustbebroughtbeforehim.Followme." Sotheygathereduptheirbaggageandwentoff,followingthemanthroughthejungle. 
