The City Curious Part 16

[Ill.u.s.tration: NEXT HE TOOK SOME OLD CARDBOARD BOXES]

"But that's the same Djorak who is here in the prison of the sugar-canes," interrupted Smaly, who in spite of his habit of being astounded at nothing could not help showing a little astonishment.

[Ill.u.s.tration: OPENED THEM AND SHUT THEM AGAIN]

"Don't be so impatient," replied the Mother of the Crow imperturbably.

"You'll understand in a moment or two. Now I have already told you that Djorak had a very good memory. At the moment when his head was falling he remembered that he had always heard one doesn't die immediately when one's head is cut off.

"It was extremely fortunate for him that he remembered this detail.

"He hastened to pick up his head, and he jumped off the scaffold holding it under his arm."

"Dear me," said Smaly and Redy.

The Mother of the Crow continued her story imperturbably:

"When the crowd saw this man in such a peculiar condition they began to fly in all directions. An indescribable panic followed. The square rapidly emptied. Soon there was no one left saving a few people who had been knocked down. The crowd ran and ran; but the beheaded Prisoner ran harder still. Soon he was running by himself; all the townspeople had taken shelter.

"Djorak and his head had a very precise end in view in running thus. It was important both for the head and for Djorak to arrive as soon as possible at the house of a certain Magician whom he knew.

"He arrived, rushed in and banged the door behind him. The Magician, unfortunately, was out, only his young son was there, and although this youth understood perfectly how urgent it was that Djorak's head should be fastened on again as soon as possible, he could do nothing to help him.

"'Let's consult the Brindled Rabbit,' suggested the Head.

"The Brindled Rabbit being questioned played several strains on a harp of silver and crystal, then he withdrew into an old comfit-box and shut the lid down on himself.

"After a few seconds he opened the lid again, his eye became visible, and his little paw shoved a folded slip of paper through the opening.

[Ill.u.s.tration: HIS YOUNG SON WAS THERE]

"The Son of the Magician read as follows:

"1 Three.

"2 Three.

"3 Three.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE BRINDLED RABBIT]

"He at once tore up to the third story of the house. There he counted three shelves, and from the third shelf he took the third little bottle and ran downstairs again.

[Ill.u.s.tration: HIS LITTLE PAW SHOVED A FOLDED SLIP OF PAPER THROUGH THE OPENING]

"'What must he do with it?' asked the youth, of the Rabbit; but the box remained shut; there was no answer.

"'I must drink it,' replied the Head.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THEN THEY SANG A COMIC DUET]

"'But you've no stomach,' cried the Son of the Magician.

"'Put my head back on my neck,' suggested Djorak, 'then there will at least be a stomach beneath my head.'

"The Son of the Magician at once placed Djorak's head back in its proper place with one hand, while with the other he tipped the little bottle between its lips.

"The effect was immediate.

"Directly the liquor trickled down his throat Djorak felt himself as well as ever. He danced about with joy. He even played a game of leapfrog with the Son of the Magician, then they sang a comic duet, of which I cannot remember the words. The first lines went something like this:

Every one who has lost his head, Must have had a jolly bad memory.

"But Djorak had a good memory, and so he had kept his head.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Then they questioned a Black Toad]

"During their song the Brindled Rabbit crept out of his comfit-box. He could not stay in it for laughing at the comic song.

"Djorak and the Son of the Magician begged him to advise them what to do next; but the Rabbit only held its sides with laughter, and made no reply.

"Then they questioned a Black Toad who came crawling out of a pot of treacle where he lived, and began to lick himself dry with a fine, forked tongue.

"The Rabbit hopped up to him wishing to share in the treacle; but the Black Toad flew into a rage. It was a worse rage than even that of the Chief Contractor when we have not placed ourselves symmetrically," added the Mother of the Crow, remembering that Smaly and Redy had seen the Contractor in a temper.

"Then," she continued, "the Son of the Magician asked the Black Toad in what country Djorak should take refuge, making the suggestion that they should send him to a green country where the clouds were all white and the trees mauve.

[Ill.u.s.tration: AND FISH IN THE LITTLE RIVER IN THE AFTERNOON]

"The Black Toad shot forward to within an inch of the Rabbit's nose; but without advancing a step, for his legs suddenly expanded to allow him to do so.

"'I hate mauve and white,' he snapped, and shot back again.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE THIN LONG ARM OF THE HISTORIAN]

"The Rabbit replied peacefully, 'How about a rose-coloured country, where the people dance as they bake the bread?'

"'I would like that,' said Djorak.

"'I don't doubt it,' said the Brindled Rabbit.

"'Or would you like a country where they hunt b.u.t.terflies all the morning, and fish in the little river in the afternoon?' asked the Rabbit.

"'Yes, yes, that will do,' replied Djorak, who was anxious to get away.

"'He is a misanthrope,' declared the Toad, retreating towards its pot of treacle.

"'Oh, kind Toad, do tell me where I ought to go,' begged Djorak.

"'Get into this little gla.s.s tube,' replied the Toad.