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you're standing on it； Bumpo。 Move your feet。〃
〃Oh don't bother about your stud；〃 said Polynesia。 〃You will have to be
crowned without a collar。 They won't know the difference。〃
〃I tell you I'm not going to be crowned；〃 cried the Doctor〃not if I can
help it。 I'll make them a speech。 Perhaps that will satisfy them。〃 He turned
back to the Indians at the door。
〃My friends；〃 he said； 〃I am not worthy of this great honor you would
do me。 Little or no skill have I in the arts of kingcraft。 Assuredly among
your own brave men you will find many better fitted to lead you。 For this
compliment； this confidence and trust； I thank you。 But； I pray you； do not
think of me for such high duties which I could not possibly fulfil。〃
The old man repeated his words to the people behind him in a louder
voice。 Stolidly they shook their heads； moving not an inch。 The old man
turned back to the Doctor。
〃You are the chosen one；〃 said he。 〃They will have none but you。〃
Into the Doctor's perplexed face suddenly there came a flash of hope。
〃I'll go and see Long Arrow；〃 he whispered to me。 〃Perhaps he will
know of some way to get me out of this。〃
And asking the personages to excuse him a moment； he left them there；
standing at his door； and hurried off in the direction of Long Arrow's
house。 I followed him。
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We found our big friend lying on a grass bed outside his home； where
he had been moved that he might witness the holiday…making。
〃Long Arrow；〃 said the Doctor speaking quickly in eagle tongue so
that the bystanders should not overhear； 〃in dire peril I come to you for
help。 These men would make me their king。 If such a thing befall me； all
the great work I hoped to do must go undone； for who is there unfreer than
a king？ I pray you speak with them and persuade their kind well…meaning
hearts that what they plan to do would be unwise。〃
Long Arrow raised himself upon his elbow。 〃Oh Kindly One；〃 said he
（this seemed now to have become the usual manner of address when
speaking to the Doctor）； 〃sorely it grieves me that the first wish you ask of
me I should be unable to grant。 Alas！ I can do nothing。 These people have
so set their hearts on keeping you for king that if I tried to interfere they
would drive me from their land and likely crown you in the end in any
case。 A king you must be； if only for a while。 We must so arrange the
business of governing that you may have time to give to Nature's secrets。
Later we may be able to hit upon some plan to relieve you of the burden of
the crown。 But for now you must be king。 These people are a headstrong
tribe and they will have their way。 There is no other course。〃
Sadly the Doctor turned away from the bed and faced about。 And there
behind him stood the old man again； the crown still held in his wrinkled
hands and the royal litter waiting at his elbow。 With a deep reverence the
bearers motioned towards the seat of the chair； inviting the white man to
get in。
Once more the poor Doctor looked wildly； hopelessly about him for
some means of escape。 For a moment I thought he was going to take to his
heels and run for it。 But the crowd around us was far too thick and densely
packed for anyone to break through it。 A band of whistles and drums near
by suddenly started the music of a solemn processional march。 He turned
back pleadingly again to Long Arrow in a last appeal for help。 But the big
Indian merely shook his head and pointed； like the bearers； to the waiting
chair。
At last； almost in tears； John Dolittle stepped slowly into the litter and
sat down。 As he was hoisted on to the broad shoulders of the bearers I
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heard him still feebly muttering beneath his breath；
〃Botheration take it！I don't WANT to be a king！〃
〃Farewell！〃 called Long Arrow from his bed； 〃and may good fortune
ever stand within the shadow of your throne！〃
〃He comes！He comes！〃 murmured the crowd。 〃Away！ Away！To the
Whispering Rocks！〃
And as the procession formed up to leave the village； the crowd about
us began hurrying off in the direction of the mountains to make sure of
good seats in the giant theatre where the crowning ceremony would take
place。
THE TENTH CHAPTER
THE CORONATION OF KING JONG
IN my long lifetime I have seen many grand and inspiring things； but
never anything that impressed me half as much as the sight of the
Whispering Rocks as they looked on the day King Jong was crowned。 As
Bumpo； Chee…Chee； Polynesia； Jip and I finally reached the dizzy edge of
the great bowl and looked down inside it； it was like gazing over a never…
ending ocean of copper…colored faces； for every seat in the theatre was
filled； every man； woman and child in the island including Long Arrow
who had been carried up on his sick bed was there to see the show。
Yet not a sound； not a pin…drop； disturbed the solemn silence of the
Whispering Rocks。 It was quite creepy and sent chills running up and
down your spine。 Bumpo told me afterwards that it took his breath away
too much for him to speak； but that he hadn't known before that there were
that many people in the world。
Away down by the Table of the Throne stood a brand…new； brightly
colored totem…pole。 All the Indian families had totem…poles and kept them
set up before the doors of their houses。 The idea of a totem…pole is
something like a door…plate or a visiting card。 It represents in its carvings
the deeds and qualities of the family to which it belongs。 This one；
beautifully decorated and much higher than any other； was the Dolittle or；
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as it was to be henceforth called； the Royal Thinkalot totem。 It had nothing
but animals on it； to signify the Doctor's great knowledge of creatures。
And the animals chosen to be shown were those which to the Indians were
supposed to represent good qualities of character； such as； the deer for
speed； the ox for perseverance； the fish for discretion； and so on。 But at the
top of the totem is always placed the sign or animal by which the family is
most proud to be kno