"How fortunate!" cried John Dolittle. "My old friend Bumpo! Well, well!—He's studying at Oxford, you know. How good of him to come all this way to call on me!" And he tumbled up the ladder to greet his visitor.
The strange black man seemed to be overcome with joy when the Doctor appeared and shook him warmly by the hand.
"News reached me," he said, "that you were a-bout to sail upon a voyage. I hastened to see you before your departure. I am sublimely ecstasied that I did not miss you."
"You very nearly did miss us," said the Doctor. "As it happened, we were delayed somewhat in getting the necessary number of men to sail our boat. If it hadn't been for that, we would have been gone three days ago."
"How many men does your ship's company yet require?" asked Bumpo.
"Only one," said the Doctor—"But it is so hard to find the right one."
"Methinks I detect something of the finger of Destination in this," said Bumpo. "How would I do?"
"Splendidly," said the Doctor. "But what about your studies? You can't very well just go off and leave your university career to take care of itself, you know."
"I need a holiday," said Bumpo. "Even had I
