The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle | Page 8

own home to get dried. Such a change, after the old
red-faced Colonel who had refused even to tell me the time! Presently
we stopped.
"Here we are," he said.
I looked up to see where we were and found myself back at the foot of
the steps leading to the little house with the big garden! My new friend
was already running up the steps and opening the gate with some keys
he took from his pocket.
"Surely," I thought, "this cannot be the great Doctor Dolittle himself!"
I suppose after hearing so much about him I had expected some one
very tall and strong and marvelous. It was hard to believe that this
funny little man with the kind smiling face could be really he. Yet here
he was, sure enough, running up the steps and opening the very gate
which I had been watching for so many days!
The dog, Jip, came rushing out and started jumping up on him and
barking with happiness. The rain was splashing down heavier than
ever.
"Are you Doctor Dolittle?" I shouted as we sped up the short
garden-path to the house.
"Yes, I'm Doctor Dolittle," said he, opening the front door with the
same bunch of keys. "Get in! Don't bother about wiping your feet.

Never mind the mud. Take it in with you. Get in out of the rain!"
I popped in, he and Jip following. Then he slammed the door to behind
us.
The storm had made it dark enough outside; but inside the house, with
the door closed, it was as black as night. Then began the most
extraordinary noise that I have ever heard. It sounded like all sorts and
kinds of animals and birds calling and squeaking and screeching at the
same time. I could hear things trundling down the stairs and hurrying
along passages. Somewhere in the dark a duck was quacking, a cock
was crowing, a dove was cooing, an owl was hooting, a lamb was
bleating and Jip was barking. I felt birds' wings fluttering and fanning
near my face. Things kept bumping into my legs and nearly upsetting
me. The whole front hall seemed to be filling up with animals. The
noise, together with the roaring of the rain, was tremendous; and I was
beginning to grow a little bit scared when I felt the Doctor take hold of
my arm and shout into my ear.
"Don't be alarmed. Don't be frightened. These are just some of my pets.
I've been away three months and they are glad to see me home again.
Stand still where you are till I strike a light. My Gracious, what a
storm!--Just listen to that thunder!"
So there I stood in the pitch-black dark, while all kinds of animals
which I couldn't see chattered and jostled around me. It was a curious
and a funny feeling. I had often wondered, when I had looked in from
the front gate, what Doctor Dolittle would be like and what the funny
little house would have inside it. But I never imagined it would be
anything like this. Yet somehow after I had felt the Doctor's hand upon
my arm I was not frightened, only confused. It all seemed like some
queer dream; and I was beginning to wonder if I was really awake,
when I heard the Doctor speaking again:
"My blessed matches are all wet. They won't strike. Have you got
any?"
"No, I'm afraid I haven't," I called back.

"Never mind," said he. "Perhaps Dab-Dab can raise us a light
somewhere."
Then the Doctor made some funny clicking noises with his tongue and
I heard some one trundle up the stairs again and start moving about in
the rooms above.
Then we waited quite a while without anything happening.
"Will the light be long in coming?" I asked. "Some animal is sitting on
my foot and my toes are going to sleep."
"No, only a minute," said the Doctor. "She'll be back in a minute."
And just then I saw the first glimmerings of a light around the landing
above. At once all the animals kept quiet.
"I thought you lived alone," I said to the Doctor. "So I do," said he. "It
is Dab-Dab who is bringing the light."
I looked up the stairs trying to make out who was coming. I could not
see around the landing but I heard the most curious footstep on the
upper flight. It sounded like some one hopping down from one step to
the other, as though he were using only one leg.
As the light came lower, it grew brighter and began to throw strange
jumping shadows on the walls.
"Ah-at last!" said the Doctor. "Good old Dab-Dab!"
And then I thought I REALLY must be dreaming. For