Mr. Poodle’s eyes went twinkling again when he heard Helen talking to Tommy. Then he told Helen her mamma was very thoughtful and kind to prepare such a fine lunch, {22} and he said there was no telling what might happen on a trip of this kind, though he expected to find plenty of good things to eat in Toyville. “Everything is now ready,” said he. “I have sent a Messenger ahead to tell the Toy people we are coming, and I expect they will greet us with a royal welcome. The Mayor and his councillors, or, at least, a company of the Toyville Guards will probably meet us at the gates on the other side of the Hills of Troubleland.”
While Tommy was busily engaged packing the lunch into a little express wagon, Mr. Poodle left the work room to wait upon two customers who had just entered the shop. He did not at all like their looks and began to wonder what might be their errand, as they were certainly ruffians and could hardly have come to buy toys.
His first thought was a desire to be rid of them, and with this in mind, he made some apology about it being early and the shop not yet open for business.
At first, the men seemed somewhat ill at ease, but before Mr. Poodle could finish speaking, the smaller and coarser of the pair turned upon him roughly. “We will stay right here until we are through with you,” he said; “and don’t give us any more of your fine talk either. Do you hear?”
Meanwhile his companion had glanced into the back room and saw Tommy. “Leave this to me,” he whispered. “The boy is here and I have thought of a plan.” Then he turned to the toymaker. “You are right, sir,” he said, in a voice smooth and oily. “The day certainly is young. We beg your pardon for having disturbed you so early. You see, we are about to leave the city and would like {23} a few toys to take to the children at home; say this, and this, and that,” and throwing, as he spoke, a gold piece upon the counter. “Never mind the change. Perhaps you have a boy who will deliver these. Pray send him soon, as we depart in an hour. Send to the Inn at the sign of the Black Lion.” Then, without waiting for a reply, they opened the door and were gone.
Mr. Poodle looked at the gold piece: “A big price to pay for a few toys,” he thought. Then he looked at the toys. Captain Hinkle Pinkle, Captain Noddle Poddle and Rolie Polie were the ones the man bought. Mr. Poodle did not like to sell these, they were such friends of Tommy and Helen. But now it was too late, he had the money and there was nothing he could do except to put them in a box for Tommy to take to the Black Lion Inn.
Tommy was glad to help Mr. Poodle by going the errand and said he would hurry, so as not to delay the journey to Toyville. Then taking the box of toys he trudged off up the street and soon came in sight of the big Black Lion sign hanging over the door of an old brick and timbered house.
“Why this is the street where the man chased me,” he thought, “and this is the house where I first saw him. I will be glad when I get back again to Mr. Poodle’s toy shop.” Just then a company of soldiers came galloping around a corner further down the street. Tommy turned to lift the latch, but before he could do this, the door swung open and a hand grabbed him roughly and pulled him over the threshold, while the door was quickly closed and barred. The big room in which he now found himself, was lit only by one sputtering candle which winked and {24} blinked upon the wall like the eye of some evil monster. By this dim light he could make out four rough men.
Tommy was now thoroughly frightened. His heart was beating very loud. He did not like to seem to be a coward, but he felt sure those rough men meant to harm him. “I will drop the basket and run,” he thought. Then he remembered about the door being locked.
