Will Bradley

“ We can’t afford to have a boy and girl ruling in Toyville. Do I speak the truth, now?”
“Aye, aye, aye!” answered the three Buccaneers.
“’Tis well,” said Red Beard. “I see you are listening, and I say, ’tis well.” As he spoke, he tapped with his knuckles the butt of a pistol that was sticking out of his belt. “No, we can’t afford to let those Toy people have a boy and girl for their King and Queen. They will teach them too much skill and too many tricks, and soon make them so clever that it will mean the end of Grumbletown. Do I speak the truth, my bonny babies?” ”

“ Poodle?” asked Tommy.
“Fun!” How Mr. Poodle did laugh when he repeated that word. “Yes, indeed, they have fun,” he said. “Of course, the older people have work to do; like flower gardens to plant; and orchards and such things to tend; but the little Toy people have more fun than I can ever find words to tell about. Why, everybody can sing and laugh and have ever and ever so much sport. Nobody in Toyville cares one single mite how much noise is made. They all think it the finest kind of fun to see the little Toy people have a good time. ”

“ The next minute, the little old dame stepped into this mouth and onto the stairs, being quickly followed by all the others. The King was the last to enter. As he did so, he turned for one look at the Castle, and saw the infuriated Red Beard and his followers entering the gardens. Then the jaws of the fish closed and the passage became sealed.
The way was now pitch dark. Overhead could be heard the tumbling waters of the fountain. A scarey sound that seemed too, but not half so scarey as the terrible wild cry of the baffled Red Beard, which could be heard even through the thick walls of marble. ”

“ Big Bill was on his feet in a moment. “We are discovered, we are discovered!” he cried. “Every man run for his life!”
Hardly were these words off his tongue, when the three were scurrying across the park and had no sooner reached the Arch of Welcome, than two of them bounded to the back of Coal Black, while Big Bill jumped into the saddle of Snow White, and away they rode like the wind. ”

“ The Mayor also jumped up on a chair. “A cheer for Toyville!” he cried; “long may it prosper! Three cheers for our brave and noble King; long may he reign!”
Everybody joined in the cheering, the sweet voices of the ladies mingling pleasantly with the strong, lusty shouts of the men.
But no time had been lost by the cheering; for all the while the attendants were busy buckling on the swords and fetching helmets and shields. ”

“ 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. ”

“ A troubled look now came into Prince Arthur’s eyes. “Will the Toy people love me when I am a real King, Mr. Poodle?” he asked; “and will they have me for their King, too? Because I like to be the King of Toyville, and I want to drive away the King of Grumbletown.”
“Toy people will always love you,” said Mr. Poodle, “because you are always very kind to them; and when you are a real King, you can ask all the children to be kind to their toys, and then, pretty soon, there won’t be any more Grumbletown, because no toys will go there.” ”

“ I have the Grumbletown King and all of his ruffians captive in the Castle. Am I not a fine soldier?”
These words were spoken so suddenly that for a moment the King failed to grasp their meaning. Then, all at once, it came to him why Rolie Polie had opened the gates, and he saw that the little guard had indeed laid a clever trap, in which, without doubt, were now captive King Red Beard and all of his Grumbletown followers.
“Hurrah!” he cried, turning and waving his sword to Mr. Poodle and the others. “Rolie Polie has captured the Grumbletown ruffians, come quickly and help hold the gate.” ”

“ Hurrah for the Miller of Dee!” cried the throng as they rushed forward; and, taking hold of the little Miller, twined a wreath of roses about his shoulders and placed him on the back of Rolie Polie’s donkey.
“To the Castle!” they cried; and off they started.
It was as much as two minutes before the little Miller could get enough breath to speak. “Why am I being taken to the Castle? Why is this wreath about my neck? And why do you cheer?” he asked.
“Listen!” cried one of the Toy people to his companions. “The Miller of Dee asks why we cheer! Why shouldn’t we cheer? ”

“ The Queen turned anxiously to the King. “Is there going to be a war?” she asked, “because I don’t want a war; battles are awfully scarey.”
“Don’t be afraid, Helen,” said King Tommy. “Nothing will harm you. It won’t take us long, with the fine army of Toyville, to drive the enemy out of the hills and back to {92} their own Grumbletown.” Then mounting a chair, and being quickly surrounded by the House Guards, he cried: “There is no time to be lost; every man will be needed among the defenders to-day; let every man buckle on his sword and follow me!” ”

“ They can’t fool Big Bill. Come, my hearties, we must get ready! Every man see to the loading and priming of his pistols! We won’t need to fire any shots; the sight of our swords and pistols will be enough to frighten them. Like as not, at the first glimpse of us, Peter Poodle and that little clown will run; then we can capture the boy and girl.”
The tramp of men and horses was now heard coming around the bend further up the road. “We must lay low,” said Big Bill, “and keep out of sight until these soldiers pass; then, we can poke out the muzzles of our pistols and be ready for the others.” ”

“ Tommy opened wide his eyes. There were confused voices in his ear; then he heard a whisper. “Be quiet, be brave; we will help you. I am Rolie Polie. Captain Hinkle Pinkle and Captain Noddle Poddle are with me. We will rescue you.”
“Can you fight? Can you save me? Why how can you save me?” asked Tommy. “You are only toys?”
“Hush!” said Rolie Polie. “Don’t speak, or they will hear you. Get on your feet and follow us.”
Tommy wasn’t long in obeying. Hinkle Pinkle and Noddle Poddle had swords drawn and led the way. Out through the back rooms they went, into the kitchen then on into the back yard. ”

“ Two funny little men were seen gathering the fruit in a great wooden tray with long handles. “Pick all you want,” they said to Tommy and Helen. “Eat all you want, too. It will not make you a bit ill, as city candy would, and for every one we pick, two grow in its place.”
The men did not have to say those words twice. Indeed, they hardly had time to say them even once, before Helen and Tommy were under the trees and stuffing their pockets bursting full; what they couldn’t put in theirs they stuffed in Rolie Polie’s, which were very big and held almost as much as a quart. ”

“ The crusty King of Grumbletown does not like the people of Toyville very well; he is always threatening to make war on them and keeps his ruffians and bandits spying around to see what is happening in Toyville. I suppose when he hears that visitors are on the road, he will be more angry than ever, for he will not want a boy and girl to go to Toyville and teach the Toy people new tricks. ”

“ If Robert the Red did have him taken away, he never can steal him again, because the King has made the wood chopper the Prince’s own special guard, and he and his good wife will now live in the Castle.”
“Robert the Red was a wicked man to steal away the Prince, wasn’t he, mamma!” said Helen. “Will the Prince be a King some day, mamma, and will he come for me and make me a Queen, like he said?”
“Listen,” said Helen’s mamma, “there is Grandpapa calling me. Good night, little Wideawake.” Then she gave Helen a hug, and turning the light low, left the room. ”

“ Poodle,” said Tommy. Then a look of trouble came into his happy face and he added; “What do you think the Toy people will do without a King and Queen when they are threatened by the ruffians of Grumbletown? Perhaps there will be an attack to-night. Do you think I should remain here and be their protector, Helen? Of course you must go home, for if you are late, your mamma will worry.” ”

“ Big Bill scowled and drew his pistol when Long Jim said this.
“A stupid old noodle head, am I? Well, that shows how much you know about pirating. Did you ever hear of a pirate capturing a ship without firing a shot across her bow? Answer that now, if you can.”
But Long Jim, when he looked into the muzzle of the pistol, didn’t care to say any more, so he jumped across to the deck of the pirate ship and left Big Bill, who was not long in capturing Helen. ”

“ While the little Miller of Dee was talking this way, Rolie Polie, now much frightened, kept creeping further into his nook behind the barley bags.
If he had not been so intent upon hiding he would have heard the Miller laugh and say that: “Perhaps the little clown was not after all much to blame, for he hadn’t had much experience at mill tending.” That was the way it was with the Toy people; they never could be cross with anybody, or, at least, they could not be cross for long. ”

“ By and by, other Toy people came that way, and the city grew and grew until it covered all the valley.”
“Will Captain Pinkle, Captain Poddle and Rolie Polie go there to live some time?” asked Tommy.
“And will my dolly go there, too, Mr. Poodle?” asked Helen.
“Yes,” said Mr. Poodle, “all the Toy people go there sometime unless they get lost by the way, somewhere in the Hills of Troubleland. You see, first of all, the Toy people came into this world to live with little boys and girls to play with them and make them happy. ”

“ Rolie Polie and one of the Royal Guards accompanied them to the hills. Every little while Red Beard looked back over his shoulder, fearing constantly that he was being followed by the Green Fish. At the foot of the hills they came upon men who were awaiting them with horses and donkeys. Among the animals, Rolie Polie found Coal Black and Snow White, who neighed with pleasure at seeing their old comrade. Rolie Polie now bade good day to Red Beard, who was yet too frightened to answer, and leading Coal Black while his companion led Snow White, took the road back to Toyville. ”

“ There was bareback riding, then came feats of tumblings, performing Jacks, funny Clowns, and every other act of which one might think.
The little man with a funny pig made Tommy and Helen laugh so much that they almost had to cry; or at least, they had to wipe tears out of their eyes. {71}
Rolie Polie watched the tricks of the clowns with much interest, and, although he laughed and applauded generously, yet it was very apparent that he thought his own tricks to be quite superior. ”

“ Know all men by these presents, that whereas the Realm of Toyville has been many years without a ruler, it is decreed that there shall be appointed and crowned, a King and Queen. Therefore, be it now known to all men, that the people will have no other to rule over them than he who across the big hills is called Tommy, and the maid who bears him company and is called Helen. ”

“ All in a pop, Tommy’s memory had come back to him; the memory that went away when he was so sick at the wood-chopper’s house in the hills.
Tommy didn’t know how his father and mother happened to be in Peter Poodle’s toy shop, and he was too happy to try and think. Then he remembered that his {158} name wasn’t Tommy. “Oh, Mr. Poodle,” he said, as he saw the little toy maker come into the room, “I am not a King any more, because my father is the King. But I am a Prince, Mr. Poodle, and my name is Arthur.” ”

“ 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. ”

“ When the Queen and her Ladies had gone to their apartments to dress in their yachting costumes, Long Jim took a careful survey of the room to see that there was nobody near, then he broke into a villainous laugh. “I have {101} fooled them now,” he said. “King Red Beard will reward me for this. I tell you, I am a clever one,—too clever for these numskulls in Toyville! When their King comes home and finds his Queen gone, won’t he tear around and be angry though! And won’t he be twice as angry when he learns she has been betrayed into the hands of the Buccaneers of Grumbletown! ”

“ Then, the Toy people, knowing there is no longer a welcome for them, in those houses, feel sad and go off to hide in a drawer somewhere, and by and by, even get up in the attic hidden away behind boxes or trunks. ”

“ It is now time for us to depart for our home over the hills. We both wish that some person worthy of your trust could occupy the throne in our absence; some one to bear the title, First Assistant King, and we would suggest for this high and responsible position, the brave and clever guard, Mr. Rolie Polie.” Then the King seated himself beside his Queen on the Golden Throne. ”

“ Tommy and Helen laughed when Mr Poodle spoke that way, and Tommy said: “Why, Mr. Poodle, toys can’t talk, they haven’t any tongues.” Then you should have heard Mr. Poodle laugh. “Prut,” he said, “didn’t you know toys don’t have to have tongues to talk? Now you listen and I will ask Master Rolie Polie to sing for you.” Master Rolie Polie was the name of a little clown. Mr. Poodle had a name for every one of his toys; he said boys and girls {13} wouldn’t like to go through the world without names, and neither did toys; and moreover, having names made them much more sociable. ”