And turning around Jip saw the longest tail that mortal beast ever had, thrashing the water and driving them toward the island.
"I know!" cried Jip. "It's the dragon! This is King Kakaboochi's mother-in-law we're sitting on!"
"Well anyway thank goodness she rose in time!" said the Doctor, shaking the water out of his ears. "I was never so near drowning in my life. I suppose I'd better make myself a little more presentable before she gets her head out of water."
And, taking down his clothes off his own head, the Doctor smartened up his high hat and dressed himself, while the strange thing that had saved their lives carried them steadily and firmly toward the mysterious island.
[CHAPTER VII]
THE ANIMALS' PARADISE
At length the extraordinary creature that had come to their rescue reached the island; and with Jip and the Doctor still clinging to his wide back, he crawled out of the water on to the beach.
And then John Dolittle, seeing its head for the first time, cried out in great excitement:
"Jip, it's a Quiffenodochus, as sure as I'm alive!"
"A Quiffeno-what-us?" asked Jip.