There was now much excitement in the council room, and soon the Heralds were sent speeding here and there throughout the city to warn the people of the approaching visitors. The lack of time to make plans did not prevent their being made thoroughly. What these plans were, we shall see presently.

As for Mr. Poodle and his little companions, when their journey had brought them about half way down the curly road, they came to a place where there was a little lane, or grassy opening in the trees. {57}

Mr. Poodle said: “Run down this lane and take a peep out through the trees over the edge of the hill.”

Helen and Tommy did as Mr. Poodle had suggested and soon reached the end of the lane, where a look-out could be had over the brow of the hill. Never before had they seen such a wonderful sight, for below in the valley lay as handsome a little city as was to be found in all the world.

In the foreground could be seen a beautiful lake, and sailing on its crystal waters were all manner of lovely boats with pennants waving and flags flying. Entering the lake, at its upper end, hidden here and there by overhanging trees, was a curly, twisting river. At the lower end of the lake there tumbled a dashing, foaming waterfall, beside which rumbled the wheel of a quaint little mill. {58}

Mr. Poodle, who now stood back of Helen and Tommy, said that in the quaint little mill there lived the jolly little Miller of Dee, who all day long ground barley corn to feed the barley animals they had seen in the pasture up on the hillside. Helen and Tommy could hear the wheel mumbling very plainly and could even hear the mill grinding. “Look,” said Mr. Poodle, “there is the little Miller of Dee!” And sure enough, there he stood in the doorway, the long smock upon his back, and the cap upon his head, powdered thickly with barley dust.

All about the edge of the lake there was a turned over marble rim, and every little way along this rim, were pots and vases in which grew flowering shrubs and plants, laden with beautiful blossoms. Here and there had been built wide stairways, leading down to the very edge of the water, and in one place there was a long pier standing on carved and turned posts painted in pretty colors. On a gate, at the entrance to this pier, were letters which Helen and Tommy could see, and with much difficulty spell into words: these read—“Royal Boat Landing.”

Back of the lake the land was rolling and wavy, like little hills. On these hills there were some fine houses, all set about with trees, and each one having at its side, or in the front, or back, a beautiful flower garden. There were so many of these gardens everywhere, that it was easy to see that the people were very fond of pretty flowers and delighted in having them about their homes.

Precisely in the center of the city was one little hill higher than all the rest, on the tip top of which loomed a beautiful castle, circled all about with high walls and topped with crimson towers. {59}

People could be seen hurrying to and fro in the streets. They were all as nice looking people as one would ever wish to see; in fact they seemed just like toys, only much bigger; as big indeed, as Helen and Tommy. All of the houses, the boats and even the fine castle on the hill looked like toys too, only ever and ever so much larger.

“How do you like this sight?” asked the little toymaker. Helen and Tommy were so excited and so full of wonder that they were unable to find a single word to put on their tongues so they could answer.

Mr. Poodle was not a bit fooled by their silence, though, for being a very clever man, when he looked into their eyes, he could see them brimming full of joy, so much, that it was almost bubbling out and running over. That made it easy enough, then, for a clever man like him to see that they thought everything just fine.

Of course Helen and Tommy could have said those words to Mr. Poodle, only they wanted to find bigger ones. But Mr. Poodle was not even one tiny mite provoked at their not answering his question, for he thought it much nicer to read such a happy answer in their eyes. “Come,” said Mr. Poodle, “it is time to be going! We have passed through the Hills of Troubleland and entered the Vale of Joy and the Valley of Happiness; we are now almost in Toyville.”

“Toyville! Toyville!” cried Helen and Tommy, dancing with joy. “Hurrah for Toyville!”

Then from the roadway came the happy cry of Captain Pinkle and Captain Poddle and all their soldiers.

The last of the cheer had hardly finished echoing in the hills when there came an answering cheer from down the road, and presently, turning a bend in the road, the little company came into a beautiful park at the foot of the hill and found it thronged with the happy Toy people.

The Mayor quickly stepped forward and shook hands most cordially with Mr. Poodle. He said the Toy people were delighted and much honored in having such a famous toymaker come to visit them. After greeting Helen and Tommy and presenting Helen with a bouquet of beautiful roses, he introduced them to the Lords, Nobles and fine Ladies and Gentlemen that had come riding up on their prancing steeds, or in their handsome coaches.

As Helen and Tommy were talking busily with their new acquaintances, the Mayor stood a little to one side and eyed them critically. There was a happy, pleased expression on his face, and once or twice he nodded his head as if in profound approval of something. Then, in a low tone, so low that hardly anyone could hear him, he said: “We certainly acted wisely and have made a good choice; luck has come to us to-day, and if I am not much mistaken, it means ill luck to our enemy—the King of Grumbletown.”

Although the Mayor had mumbled these words barely above a whisper, there were two in that gathering who heard what was said, and not only heard the words but understood what they meant.

The first of these two was Mr. Poodle. Of course it was all right for Mr. Poodle to hear what the Mayor said, and the twinkle that jumped about in his eyes showed that he thought a fine surprise awaited Helen and Tommy. {61}

The other one who heard was a tall man, wearing a broad brimmed hat with a long plume. People called him Long Jim, but did not know him to be the most clever courtier in all of Grumbletown and the craftiest spy that King Redbeard had ever sent to Toyville. Not only did this man understand what the Mayor had said, but by his sly ways he managed to ask of Peter Poodle’s people a question here and another there, until finally he had {62} a complete account of what had happened to the three Buccaneers. A cunning smile then twisted up the corners of Long Jim’s mouth, for he thought: “These people think they have made fine plans to get ahead of the King of Grumbletown, but they have reckoned without Long Jim. I will show them a thing or two that will knock their plans topsy turvy.”

There was now so much noise that Coal Black and Snow White began to get quite wild and skittish. The two noble steeds danced about and showed their fine mettle; but Helen and Tommy sat so firmly in the saddle, that all the people gave them a long cheer for such a fine exhibition of riding.

The Mayor looked at this performance with wonder, and said to Mr. Poodle that he did not think the equal of that riding could be found in all Toyville, even among the most skilled soldiers at the barracks of the cavalry. Then he invited the toymaker to ride in his carriage, and, bidding Captain Ten Pin of the police to clear the way, the procession started for the city.