King Jolliginki and Queen Ermintrude lived deep in the jungle.
Dr. Dolittle now stood before them.
"What is your business here?" King Jolliginki roared.
His voice was much louder than that of most men.
That's why it sounded like a roar.
Dr. Dolittle explained why he came to Africa.
The king listened carefully.
"May I travel through your land to help the monkeys?" the doctor asked politely.
"No!" the king shook his head.
Dr. Dolittle could not believe his ears.
"Why not, your Majesty?" he asked.
"Many years ago," replied the king.
"I allowed a man to go through my land.
I was kind to him, but do you know what he did?
He killed my elephants, dug up my gold, and chopped down my trees!
I will never again let a stranger go through my land. NEVER!"
King Jolliginki turned to his guards.
"To the dungeon!" he ordered.
Dr. Dolittle and the animals were dragged away to the dungeon.
It was cold, dirty, and dark in the dungeon.
"I wish we had never come here," cried Gub-Gub.
Then he started to cry.
"Be quiet or else I'll hit you!" Chee-Chee warned.
"Dr. Dolittle! Dr. Dolittle!" The animals surrounded him.
"Is everyone here?" Dr. Dolittle blinked.
"No. We can't find Polynesia," Jip replied sadly.
"Oh, no! Polynesia! Polynesia!"
Dr. Dolittle looked around for his beloved bird.
"SSSSH! I'm here!" whispered a voice from the window.
They all looked up.
"POLYNESIA!" they shouted.
"SHHHHHHH! Quiet! The guards will hear you!" Polynesia whispered.
"You must get us out of here, Polynesia," Dr. Dolittle pleaded.
"Don't worry, Dr. Dolittle," Polynesia comforted him,
"I already have a plan."
"YIPPPIE! Polynesia will get us out!" shouted Gub-Gub.
That night, Polynesia flew into the king's bedroom.
She pretended to be Dr. Dolittle.
"King Jolliginki!" Polynesia said in the doctor's voice.
"Huh? Ermintrude, is that you?"
The king thought it was the queen.
"King Jolliginki!" the bird called out, more loudly.
"Who's there? Show yourself!" King Jolliginki said.
"I am the great Dr. Dolittle!" Polynesia replied.
"Show yourself!" repeated the terrified king.
"Listen to me, foolish king," Polynesia said in a low voice.
King Jolliginki was getting very scared.
"You are in my dungeon!
How can you speak to me?" he cried.
"Of course you cannot see me.
I am invisible," Polynesia laughed.
"No, that's impossible!"
His voice sounded squeaky and high.
"Let us go!" Polynesia commanded.
"NO! I can't!" the king sobbed.
"If you don't, then I will make you sick like the monkeys!"
"Who is the king talking to?" wondered Queen Ermintrude.
The king did not want to suffer.
"Guards! Guards! Release the prisoners!" he roared.
The guards ran toward the dungeon.
Polynesia flew out the window.
At that moment, Queen Ermintrude turned and saw her.
"What is that parrot doing here?"
she asked her puzzled husband.
Polynesia had no time to waste.
"Dr. Dolittle! Wake up! Get ready!" she gasped.
Before the doctor could answer, the guards opened the door.
"By the king's orders, you are free to go!" shouted a guard.
"Quickly! Doctor! Follow me!"
Polynesia said in the animal language.
"Stop! Stop! Don't let the prisoners go!"
The king ran toward the dungeon.
The king now knew he had been tricked.
"It was the parrot pretending to be the doctor," his wife had said.
But it was too late.
The doctor and all his animals were gone.