-ship--Ben Ali's--the most terrible pirate
that ever sailed the Seven Seas! That old gentleman with the high hat,
who's staying up at Mrs. Trevelyan's, HE took the ship away from The
Barbary Dragon--and made him into a farmer. Who'd have thought it of
him--him so gentle--like and all!... Look at the great red sails!
Ain't she the wicked-looking ship--and fast?--My!"

All those two days and a half that the Doctor stayed at the little
fishing-town the people kept asking him out to teas and luncheons and
dinners and parties; all the ladies sent him boxes of flowers and
candies; and the village-band played tunes under his window every night.

At last the Doctor said,

"Good people, I must go home now. You have really been most kind. I
shall always remember it. But I must go home--for I have things to do."

Then, just as the Doctor was about to leave, the Mayor of the town came
down the street and a lot of other people in grand clothes with him.
And the Mayor stopped before the house where the Doctor was living; and
everybody in the village gathered round to see what was going to happen.

After six page-boys had blown on shining trumpets to make the people
stop talking, the Doctor came out on to the steps and the Mayor spoke.

"Doctor John Dolittle," said he: "It is a great pleasure for me to
present to the man who rid the seas of the Dragon of Barbary this
little token from the grateful people of our worthy Town."

And the Mayor took from his pocket a little tissue-paper packet, and
opening it, he handed to the Doctor a perfectly beautiful watch with
real diamonds in the back.

Then the Mayor pulled out of his pocket a still larger parcel and said,

"Where is the dog?"

Then everybody started to hunt for Jip. And at last Dab-Dab found him
on the other side of the village in a stable-yard, where all the dogs
of the country-side were standing round him speechless with admiration
and respect.

When Jip was brought to the Doctor's side, the Mayor opened the larger
parcel; and inside was a dog-collar made of solid gold! And a great
murmur of wonder went up from the village-folk as the Mayor bent down
and fastened it round the dog's neck with his own hands.

For written on the collar in big letters were these words: "JIP-THE
CLEVEREST DOG IN THE WORLD."

Then the whole crowd moved down to the beach to see them off. And
after the red-haired fisherman and his sister and the little boy had
thanked the Doctor a