Dot and Tot of Merryland
Page 17
CHAPTER 17 The Animals That Wound Up
When they came to the railway track they were careful not to get runinto by the rushing tin train. They waited until the cars had passedthe spot where they stood and then quickly ran across the trackbefore the engine came around again.
The merry-go-round was turning smoothly, and the saddled animalsgalloped along in an inviting way, while the barrel-organ played somevery loud and frisky circus tunes.
"It's almost like a side show!" cried Dot enthusiastically, as sheseated herself upon a camel. Tot bestrode a dapple-gray horse, andthe Queen sat upon a lion and took hold of its mane to steadyherself.
They whirled around in a very pleasant and exhilarating manner forsome time, and Dot was laughing and enjoying herself immensely whenshe happened to notice a number of big teardrops rolling down thecheeks of the tiger that was galloping just in front of her.
"I--I think it's--it's--real mean of you," whimpered the tiger withsobs in his voice, "for you to ride on that humpbacked animal all thetime, and--and neglect a roy--royal Bengal tiger!"
"Oh, I shall be glad to make a change," she cried, and leaping offthe camel's back she sprang upon the tiger, who thereupon dried histears and smiled in a most delightful manner.
"We seldom have visitors in this Valley," he said, after he had wipedhis eyes with a handkerchief that was sticking in his bridle, "somost of the time there is no one to ride us. I don't see the good ofa merry-go-round if it isn't used."
The Queen now noticed some of the other animals looking discontented,so she and Tot changed seats also, and by the time Mr. Split came tocall them to supper they had ridden all the animals in turn, and thekeeper noticed that his merry-go-round was bathed in one whirlingsmile of gladness and content.
"It is good for my animals to have visitors," he said, happily, "itcheers them up."
Mr. Split had spread a white cloth upon the grass close to one edgeof the forest, and Dot and Tot and the Queen sat around this and ateof the delicious fruit the queer man had gathered. There were melons,grapes, bananas, oranges, plums, strawberries, and pears and all wereripe and exquisitely flavored.
By the time they finished their meal it had become twilight, and theQueen declared it would soon be dark.
"I wonder where we can sleep," said Tot. But Dot looked around andsaw that Mr. Split was fastening three big hammocks between the treesat the edge of the forest. These hammocks were lined with soft,silken cushions and looked very pleasant and cozy to the sleepychildren.
The Queen and Dot and Tot each climbed into one of the hammocks andwere covered over with silk-quilted comfortables, after which Mr.Split turned a key at the end of each hammock and set them movinggently to and fro like the rocking of a cradle.
Before she went to sleep Dot looked over the edge of her hammock andsaw that the merry-go-round and the tin train were now motionless,while all the animals seemed to have run down and were standing quitestill waiting for morning, when Mr. Split would come and wind them upagain.
* * *
The little girl was awakened next morning by a sharp clicking soundnear by, and opening her eyes she saw a tin monkey running up anddown a string fastened to a branch of the tree.
"Dear me!" she said, looking at him intently; "are you wound up soearly in the morning?"
"Yes, indeed," replied the monkey, still busily climbing his string;"Mr. Split was here some time ago. I suppose nearly everyone in theValley must be going by this time."
"I didn't know it was so late," said Dot, slipping from her hammockto the ground and feeling rather ashamed of her laziness.
Tot was already up and sitting near the railway track watching thetin train go round. The Queen now joined Dot and they called Tot tobreakfast, for Mr. Split had loaded the cloth with a variety of cool,fresh fruit and berries.
"He gathered those before he unhooked himself," said the Queen, "forthen he had two arms to carry them. But when it came to winding upthe animals he had to separate in order that he might use each handin a different place, and so get around quicker."
"Mr. Split's name suits him very well," said Dot, who was enjoyingthe fruit.
"Yes, it would be hard to call him anything else," replied the Queen.
"I suppose your own name fits you in the same way," ventured thegirl.
"Certainly it does," answered the Queen.
Dot's heart now began to beat rapidly, for she thought she would atlast discover what the Queen's name was. Tot also looked interested,and forgot his slice of melon as he listened.
"You haven't told us yet what it is," said the girl.
The little Queen laughed merrily. "Isn't it funny," she exclaimed,"that I always forget to tell you? There is no reason in the worldwhy you should not know my name."
"Then," said Tot, sharply, "tell it!"
"Well," she said, "it's--"
Just then they heard a great crash, a whirling of wheels and thescream of a whistle. Springing to their feet they saw the tin trainlying upside down near the track, with its wheels whirling aroundlike the wind, and near by was a wooden goat and cart, completelywrecked and splintered into many pieces.
They all ran down to the place, and the brave little Queen picked upthe tin train and set it upon its track. It started to run again inits usual rushing way, but Dot noticed that the cow-catcher was badlybent and that some of the paint had been knocked off.
"There has been a collision," said her Majesty, calmly. "I was afraidthat goat-cart would get into trouble if it ran so near to theengine. But it is wrecked now, beyond repair, so there is nothingmore to worry about."
As she spoke the Police Patrol and the Fire Engine both dashed up tothe spot, and one of the officers asked: "What's the trouble?"
"You are too late," said the Queen; "the trouble is all over."
"Then we may as well go back," said the officer, grumpily. "Thetrouble usually is over when we get anywhere; that's why we take ourtime about coming."
"Well," said the Queen, when the Patrol and the Fire Engine had goneback to their stables, "it is time for us to go."
They looked around for Mr. Split, but not seeing him they walkedacross the opening to the path that led through the forest to theriver. They each squeaked the Alligator when they came to him, andleft him feeling joyful and contented.
The boat was lying where they had left it, and they at once steppedin and seated themselves.
"I'm sorry not to say good-bye to Mr. Split," said Dot, as the boatglided out into the river.
"He is so busy he won't mind it," answered the Queen. "I suppose hewas in the forest winding up the animals there when we came away. Ido not think there is another man in the whole world that does somuch work as Mr. Split, and he seems to enjoy it, too."
The boat was rushing swiftly through the water, now, and soon theforest of trees was passed and our voyagers entered a deep archwaythat led to the Seventh and last Valley of Merryland.