Free The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews Page B

of yesterday's adventure. Whangdoodleland was a place of beauty and wonder and they longed to be there.
    They felt no fear as they donned the scrappy caps, welcoming the tumbling sensation that told them they were once again on their way.
    The brilliant light surrounded them and they found themselves standing at the edge of the Golden River.
    "No Sidewinders," said Lindy with relief.
    "None at all," said the professor happily. "Come along."
    They walked by the river. It sang its joyous song and today the birds were singing too. The children saw bright flashes of color as wonderful feathered creatures flew among the purple and mauve foliage. There was a special feeling to this second day in Whangdoodleland.
    "We will head towards Ploy," declared the professor. "But w e will go by way of the river."
    "What's Ploy?" Tom asked.
    "It's a place—kind of rocky and interesting country. You'll see."
    "What's this part of the country called, right here?" asked Ben.
    "This region is called the Blandlands. Because it is so flat, you see."
    Lindy's nose was twitching. "I smell baked apples," she said. She saw a tree covered with white blossoms. She looked up at the professor. "It's the tree, huh?" He nodded and she sighed, "I'll never get used to this place."
    "Professor, the palace looks nearer today. It's bigger and sort of different," Ben said.
    The children looked at the shining edifice on top of the distant mountains. "It's probably the angle of the sun," said the professor. "It's quite a long way away, believe me."
    Lindy made an impatient sound. "Oooh, I can't wait to meet the Whangdoodle." She kicked at a brightly colored stone on the path and it bounced and rolled ahead of her. It hit a rock and cracked apart. A beautiful jewel - like flower grew out of it.
    Lindy was about to examine it when Tom said in a thunderstruck voice, "Look at that!" He pointed towards the river, and the children gasped.
    At the river's edge, rocking gently in the water, was a beautiful red barge. It had a burnt-orange sail, a soaring mast, glowing teak decks and a magnificent ship's wheel. A polished brass handrail encircled the boat. Painted on the transom in bright letters were the words The Jolly Boat.
    "Holy cow!" said Ben. "Do you suppose we could go aboard?"
    "I don't see why not," said the professor.
    The children raced up the gangplank.
    "Look at the ship's bell!" yelled Tom, and he rang it loudly. It produced a wonderful melodious sound. "But who does this belong to?" asked Ben.
    "This is the royal barge. It belongs to the Whangdoodle," the professor explained.
    It was easy to tell that the barge was a master shipbuilder's creation. It was exquisitely fitted together and varnished to perfection. The companionways were gleaming white. Silk line was coiled in neat circles fore and aft and amidships. The cleats and davits and winches were highly polished brass. The prow bore a beautiful carved figurehead: a lady with her head flung back and hair streaming in the wind. Beneath a striped canopy a table and chairs were laid out with a bright tablecloth and comfortable cushions.
    The professor said with enthusiasm, "Well, shall we get under way?"
    "You mean we can go for a ride?" asked Tom incredulously.
    "Of course. Now, which of you knows a good joke?"
    The children looked puzzled.
    "Come on," cried the professor. "This is The Jolly Boat. We need a joke to get started."
    "I know a joke," said Lindy. "It goes like this. How did the telephone propose to the lady?"
    "How?" asked the professor.
    "By giving her a ring."
    "Boy, Lindy." Tom spoke in a disgusted voice. "That's pathetic."
    "I was only trying to help," she said.
    The Jolly Boat trembled.
    "Well, that's a start," encouraged the professor. "Tom, what about you?"
    "Er—what sings, has four legs, is yellow and weighs one thousand pounds?"
    "What does?"
    "Two five-hundred-pound canaries."
    The Jolly Boat began to shake and rumble. The professor laughed.
    "One more joke," he said, "and we'll be on