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wind began to blow； the thunder rolled； the lightning flashed； and in a
moment the gutters of the road were flowing like a river。 There was no
place handy to take shelter； so I put my head down against the driving
wind and started to run towards home。
I hadn't gone very far when my head bumped into something soft and I
sat down suddenly on the pavement。 I looked up to see whom I had run
into。 And there in front of me； sitting on the wet pavement like myself；
was a little round man with a very kind face。 He wore a shabby high hat
and in his hand he had a small black bag。
〃I'm very sorry；〃 I said。 〃I had my head down and I didn't see you
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
coming。〃
To my great surprise； instead of getting angry at being knocked down；
the little man began to laugh。
〃You know this reminds me；〃 he said； 〃of a time once when I was in
India。 I ran full tilt into a woman in a thunderstorm。 But she was carrying
a pitcher of molasses on her head and I had treacle in my hair for weeks
afterwardsthe flies followed me everywhere。 I didn't hurt you； did 1？〃
〃No；〃 I said。 〃I'm all right。〃
〃It was just as much my fault as it was yours； you know；〃 said the little
man。 〃I had my head down toobut look here； we mustn't sit talking like
this。 You must be soaked。 I know I am。 How far have you got to go？〃
〃My home is on the other side of the town；〃 I said； as we picked
ourselves up。
〃My Goodness； but that was a wet pavement！〃 said he。 〃And I declare
it's coming down worse than ever。 Come along to my house and get dried。
A storm like this can't last。〃
He took hold of my hand and we started running back down the road
together。 As we ran I began to wonder who this funny little man could be；
and where he lived。 I was a perfect stranger to him； and yet he was taking
me to his 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。
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
〃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
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
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 l