NOW we must leave the little company, for one chapter, and tell of what happened to that little Messenger Peter Poodle had sent on ahead to Toyville.

It would have been as well for Peter Poodle and his happy company to have searched a little in the bushes, before travelling further on their journey. Had this been done, it is more than probable it would have led to a surprising discovery.

When Mr. Poodle told Tommy and Helen that the King of Grumbletown had ruffians and bandits lurking about, spying in the hills, he spoke what was certainly true, but {36} he told only one half of the story. He did not know that Red Beard had sent not only his bandits, but also his three bold and crafty Buccaneers, who, having recently returned from a pirate cruise, were anxious for a little fighting and plundering on land.

Now, as oft happens in this world, a body sometimes has Luck tripping along for his wayfellow, and sometimes it is Ill Luck that goes kicking up the dust at his side. Ill Luck was the fellow that went travelling with the Messenger Peter Poodle had sent to Toyville, and this is what happened: No sooner had the three Buccaneers entered the Hills of Troubleland than they saw coming down the road, the little Messenger.

“Oh, ho!” cried Big Bill, the captain, “here is our chance to take a captive!” Then he ordered his men to advance, and the next minute the messenger was captured and Big Bill had found the message to the Mayor of Toyville.

The captain of the three Buccaneers was not much at spelling out letters, so it took him a long while to get to the end of the message. But finally, after reading it all, he laughed long and loudly.

“Ha, ha, ha! my hearties,” said he (which is the way a Buccaneer captain always speaks to his men when there is something of importance afoot). “Ha, ha, ha! Here is a fine kettle of fish for sure and certain, and all ready to be cooked! I guess we are the fellows to do the cooking, too! Listen, my hearties: Peter Poodle, that little toymaker from over the hills, is going to visit Toyville. Here is a message he sends to the Mayor, and it says he is going to bring a boy and a girl with him. What do you think our King in Grumbletown would say to that?” {37}

The two Buccaneers looked at Big Bill, their captain, and neither one knew what to answer.

“I will tell you, my hearties, what our King would say. He would say, ‘We don’t want any boy and girl going to Toyville to teach the Toy people new tricks, so Bill, you must capture them.’ That is what the king would say. Now, what I want to ask, my hearties, is this: how are we going to make the capture?”

The two Buccaneers again looked at Big Bill, and again neither one could answer.

Big Bill thrust his two hands into his pockets and walked to and fro in deep thought. Finally a bright idea came to him. “I have it now, my hearties,” he said. “We must find a good place to hide by the roadside, and make an ambush; then when they pass by, most likely this boy and girl will be lagging along behind, looking at the sights, and we can spring out and take them by surprise; after that we will carry them captive to Grumbletown.”

The two Buccaneers looked at each other with eyes almost bulging out of their heads. “My, oh my, Bill, but you certainly are a fine one at making plans!” they said. Then taking hold of Big Bill’s hands the three began to dance and skip about like crazy people.

Big Bill now unfastened the bonds of the Messenger, and bowing politely to him, said he was very sorry they had treated him so harshly. “You see,” said he, “there are so many ruffians and bandits lurking about in the hills, we have to be careful whom we allow to pass. We hope you will forgive us, and that you will accept our invitation to have something to eat before travelling any further along the road to the city of Toyville.” {38}

Big Bill spoke to the Messenger, just the politest that could be, for he wanted to get rid of him without his being suspicious, and yet he wanted to delay the delivery of the message until its arrival would be too late for the Mayor to send anyone to meet Mr. Poodle.

The Messenger said he certainly would be glad to have something to eat with Big Bill and his companions, and as for blaming them for handling him so roughly, he could never think of doing that, because he knew it must be important to have such good guards in Toyville to protect the city from the wicked ruffians of Grumbletown.

The two Buccaneers expected Big Bill would give the Messenger a good drubbing for speaking that way, but though their captain looked a little glum, he did no more than order them to build a camp fire and prepare a good dinner. After eating a hearty meal, the Messenger thanked Big Bill for the entertainment and again took up his journey down the road to Toyville.