Dot and Tot of Merryland Read online

  CHAPTER 6 THE FIRST VALLEY

  The rocky arch was not very thick, yet before Dot and Tot had floatedto the other side of it, shouts of merry laughter and the chatteringof many voices came to their ears. Some of the voices sounded loudand shrill, others low and deep, but all rang with a happy tone thataroused the children's interest at once, and made them wonder whatoccasion could cause so much amusement.

  Then, so suddenly that it quite startled the childish voyagers, theboat glided from the archway into the most beautiful country onecould imagine.

  It was a Valley, as the Watch-Dog had said; but it was level andsunny and dotted with broad-leaved trees; while soft, tender grasses,mingled with brilliant flowers, covered the ground in everydirection. There seemed to be no houses at all, yet streets were laidout in regular order, having at their sides raised platforms in placeof houses. Each of the platforms was four feet high and fifteen feetsquare on the top, and they were separated from one another bystretches of the flower-strewn lawn. The top and sides of everyplatform were padded like the mattresses of a bed, and were coveredwith silks and velvets of the most gorgeous patterns, no two being ofthe same combinations of colors.

  On many of these raised and padded platforms, Dot and Tot saw groupsof funny-looking Clowns, all dressed in wide, baggy trousers, puffyjackets and soft, pointed caps. Yet in their costumes was an endlessvariety of colorings and combinations of colors, making the groupslook remarkably bright and pleasing.

  The faces of the Clowns were painted in a fanciful way, with rings ofred and blue and yellow on their cheeks, and spots and streaks of thesame gorgeous colors over their eyes and around their chins.

  When the children first came into the Valley of the Clowns, they sawmany of them leaping and tumbling and turning somersaults upon theplatforms, while others were juggling with balls, or balancing longfeathers and sticks upon their noses and chins. These feats weregreeted with shouts of laughter by other Clowns who were resting andlooking on, and these spectators also cried out their approval orpoked fun at the performers when they failed to accomplish the actsthey were attempting.

  While Dot and Tot sat in their boat, looking with amazement at thestrange sights all about them, one of the Clowns chanced to looktheir way, and upon seeing the children, he set up a shout and rusheddown to the shore, followed by more than a hundred of his fellows.

  As they ran, the Clowns leaped over one another, turned somersaultsinto the air, and walked upon their hands nearly as fast as theycould upon their feet; and so swift were all their movements that, inless time than one could think possible, they were all crowded alongthe river bank, and shouting loud greetings to the new arrivals.

  Dot had to put her fingers in her ears at first, for the noisebewildered her, and while she wondered what she should say to theselively creatures, she noticed a richly dressed Clown standing beforethe others, and making low bows to her and to Tot. As his lips seemedto move, she took away her fingers from her ears that she might hearwhat he was saying.

  Everyone was talking at the same time, and at first Dot could hearnothing plainly; but the Clown who was standing in front of hiscomrades clapped his hands loudly together three times, at which theothers instantly became silent and motionless.

  Then, with another bow, the leader addressed her, speaking in a sweetand most pleasing tone of voice, "Welcome, O King and Queen ofChildren, to the Valley of Clowns! We live but for your amusement; welove your happy and smiling faces more than anything else in theworld, and this day on which you have come to visit your slaves isthe most joyful we have ever known."

  Here he made another bow and threw his pointed cap high into the air,where it whirled over and over and finally fell straight upon hishead again. There was a shout of applause at this feat, and Totlaughed loudly and clapped his hands.

  Then the leader of the Clowns again spoke, "If you will graciouslyconsent to land in our country, where everything we have is at yourservice, we shall be delighted to amuse you to the best of ourability."

  "You are very kind," answered Dot, "and as we are tired by sitting inthe boat so long, we shall be glad to accept your invitation."

  Then she pushed the boat to the shore, where a dozen Clowns seized itand drew it far up on the grassy bank. Then Dot and Tot stepped outupon land, and as they did so every Clown present turned a backwardsomersault and shouted, "Here we are again!"

  The one who had first spoken to them now came forward and shook handswith both Dot and Tot in a very polite manner.

  "My name is Flippityflop," he said, "and I am the Prince of Clowns,ruling here under the gracious favor of her Majesty the Queen ofMerryland. I beg you will allow me to escort you to my dwelling; butfirst I should like to know your names, and how you came here."

  "I'm Tot Tompum," said the boy, looking up into the Clown's paintedface, "and here's Dot F'eelun. We've come in a boat, long, long waysoff. An' we don't know how to get home again."

  "We are delighted to have you with us, however you came here,"replied the Clown; "and as for your getting home again, why, that isworry, and no one ever worries in the Valley of Clowns. You arewelcome to remain our guests as long as you please, and while you arewith us you must consider us your slaves, for Clowns have always beenthe slaves of children." Then he turned to the others.

  "Brothers!" he shouted. "Allow me to introduce you to our friends Dotand Tot, of the Big Round World. We are all their slaves. Salutethem!"

  Instantly every Clown stood upon his head and knocked his heelstogether in the air. As they wore silver bells around their ankles,this made a most delightful, tinkling sound, and the sight of so manytopsy-turvy Clowns was so pretty that Dot and Tot both laughed andclapped their hands.

  Then Flippityflop caught the children in his arms and seated one ofthem upon each of his shoulders, after which he marched up thestreet, followed by the rest of the Clowns, who sang and danced asthey came.

  The Prince carried them to one of the prettiest platforms and setthem gently upon its cushioned top. Then he leaped into the air,whirled around like a windmill and landed gracefully beside them.

  "Welcome to my dwelling," he said.

  "But this isn't a dwelling," exclaimed Dot. "A dwelling is a house."

  "And this is a sofa!" declared Tot.

  "Oh, no; it's a real house," said Flippityflop, "although it may bedifferent from the dwellings you are accustomed to. Let us enter."

  He seized a silken strap and opened a trap-door in the top of theplatform.

  "Come on!" he cried, and jumping down the hole, disappeared fromview.

  Dot crept up to the trapdoor and looked down. Just beneath her wasFlippityflop, holding out his arms.

  "Come on!" he said again; "I'll catch you."

  Dot did not hesitate, but dropped through the opening, and the Princecaught her safely in his arms. Tot followed a moment later, and thenthe children gazed about them curiously.