The breath was knocked out of Big Bill. He could not speak even in a whisper. “He has us, he has us; the barley bull has us!” was what he tried to say, but never a single word came over his parched lips. Then with the last ounce of strength that remained in their bodies, Big Bill and his two men got on their feet and started to run as fast as ever their shaking legs could carry them. Never once did any of them stop for even a second to look back, and I very much doubt if they heard the shouts of Captain Pinkle and Captain Poddle and their soldiers, or even heard the reports of the musket shots that were being fired. No, they thought the barley bull had come through the bushes tearing after them; which was too much for the bravery of these three bold Buccaneers.
But it wasn’t the barley bull that had tumbled the three Buccaneers to the ground; it was a no more harmful {52} creature that had come crashing through the trees, to land on their broad backs, than the little clown, Rolie Polie. If Big Bill and his two fellows had seen Rolie Polie sitting on the ground and laughing at their hasty retreat, it certainly would have made them more angry than they were now scared.
Meanwhile, having seen Rolie Polie jump, Mr. Poodle and Tommy hurried back to the roadway, and, followed by Helen, ran hurriedly down and around the bend.
“Have you found Rolie Polie? Is he hurt? Has he any joints broken?” called Mr. Poodle the moment he came in sight of the soldiers.
“No,” answered Captain Pinkle, “Rolie Polie is not hurt and he certainly has served us well this day, by saving Miss Helen and Master Tommy from the Grumbletown Buccaneers.”
When Mr. Poodle looked at the ambush, and realized how near Helen and Tommy had come to being captured, he was very thankful for such a lucky escape. “We must keep together the rest of the journey,” he said to the two captains. “These Buccaneers will get over their fright by and by, and you may be sure they won’t give up trying to capture Helen and Tommy; so we must be continually on the lookout for another attack.”
Finding that Rolie Polie was not at all hurt by his tumble, and that the jolly little fellow was well able to travel, the company formed in line and again started down the road towards the City of Toyville.
