The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle: Part Two

By Hugh Lofting

THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOLITTLE,
PART TWO
by Hugh Lofting and illustrated by Hugh Lofting

The Atlantic Monthly:
"The children in years an children in heart, to whom Hugh Lofting dedicates his biography of Animals own Doctor, will delight in every page of this demurely twinkling little book. The gravity of Hugh Lofting`s fun is one of its charms. The pictures and the print vie with each other in solemn absurdities."

New York Times:
"Once in a while a book appears that is quite different from any other. As fascinating as it is queer. It is all most whimsical, most amusing, told in that this-is-the-plain-truth manner that is the best way to tell an unbelievable tale. The pictures that move hand-in-hand with the story are just as queer, just as adorable, and are by the same hand and brain. A book to greet with delight, to cherish, and it to lend, then gone for good."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Books on Demand
• Release date: Jan 22, 2018
• ISBN: 9783746080901

Hugh Lofting

Hugh Lofting (1886-1947) was an English writer, soldier, and civil engineer. Born in Berkshire, England, Lofting was raised in a family with Irish and English parentage. Educated at Mount St Mary’s College, Lofting matriculated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he studied civil engineering between 1905 and 1906. After working for several years as a civil engineer, Lofting enlisted in the Irish Guards in order to fight in the Great War. Horrified by his experience in combat, Lofting wrote creative letters home to his wife and children that originated his legendary character Doctor Dolittle, a physician with the unique ability to speak with animals. Gravely wounded in France, Lofting returned home briefly before moving with his family to Connecticut. In 1920, he published The Story of Doctor Dolittle, the first in a series of fifteen novels and short story collections for children that have inspired numerous adaptations for theater, film, and television. In addition to these novels, Lofting published several other works for children—including picture books and poems—as well as Victory for the Slain (1942), a long antiwar poem and his only work written for adult readers.

Book preview

The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle

CONTENS

THE FIRST CHAPTER

THE SECOND CHAPTER

THE THIRD CHAPTER

THE FOURTH CHAPTER

THE FIFTH CHAPTER

THE SIXTH CHAPTER

THE SEVENTH CHAPTER

THE EIGHTH CHAPTER

THE NINTH CHAPTER

THE TENTH CHAPTER

THE ELEVENTH CHAPTER

THE TWELFTH CHAPTER

Copyright

CONTENS

THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOLITTLE

PART TWO

CONTENS

THE FIRST CHAPTER  THE CREW OF THE CURLEW

THE SECOND CHAPTER  LUKE THE HERMIT

THE THIRD CHAPTER  JIP AND THE SECRET

          THE FOURTH CHAPTER  BOB

THE FIFTH CHAPTER  MENDOZA

THE SIXTH CHAPTER  THE JUDGE'S DOG

THE SEVENTH CHAPTER  THE END OF THE MYSTERY

THE EIGHTH CHAPTER  THREE CHEERS

THE NINTH CHAPTER  THE PURPLE BIRD-OF-PARADISE

THE TENTH CHAPTER  LONG ARROW, THE SON OF GOLDEN ARROW

THE ELEVENTH CHAPTER  BLIND TRAVEL

THE TWELFTH CHAPTER  DESTINY AND DESTINATION

THE FIRST CHAPTER

THE CREW OF THE CURLEW

From that time on of course my position in the town was very different. I was no longer a poor cobbler’s son. I carried my nose in the air as I went down the High Street with Jip in his gold collar at my side; and snobbish little boys who had despised me before because I was not rich enough to go to school now pointed me out to their friends and whispered, You see him? He’s a doctor’s assistant—and only ten years old!

But their eyes would have opened still wider with wonder if they had but known that I and the dog that was with me could talk to one another.

Two days after the Doctor had been to our house to dinner he told me very sadly that he was afraid that he would have to give up trying to learn the language of the shellfish—at all events for the present.

I’m very discouraged, Stubbins, very. I’ve tried the mussels and the clams, the oysters and the whelks, cockles and scallops; seven different kinds of crabs and all the lobster family. I think I’ll leave it for the present and go at it again later on.

What will you turn to now? I asked.

Well, I rather thought of going on a voyage, Stubbins. It’s quite a time now since I’ve been away. And there is a great deal of work waiting for me abroad.

When shall we start? I asked.

Well, first I shall have to wait till the Purple Bird-of-Paradise gets here. I must see if she has any message for me from Long Arrow. She’s late. She should have been here ten days ago. I hope to goodness she’s all right.

Well, hadn’t we better be seeing about getting a boat? I said. She is sure to be here in a day or so; and there will be lots of things to do to get ready in the meantime, won’t there?

Yes, indeed, said the Doctor. Suppose we go down and see your friend Joe, the mussel-man. He will know about boats.

I’d like to come too, said Jip.

"All right, come