When Dr. Dolittle was a people doctor, he once helped a sick sailor.
The sailor was very grateful to the doctor.
"I will give you whatever you want," he promised.
So Dr. Dolittle decided to ask for his help.
"I need to travel to Africa," he said.
"You may use my boat," the sailor answered.
Soon Dr. Dolittle was ready for the great journey to Africa.
He felt excited and sad at the same time.
He could not take all the animals with him.
"Take care of the house," he said to the remaining animals.
"Stay warm and drink lots of water."
"We'll miss you, Dr. Dolittle," the animals cried.
For six long weeks, they sailed.
Polynesia and Chee-Chee enjoyed the sun and the ocean.
"Can you see Africa yet?" the monkey asked.
"Not yet, Chee-Chee, but soon," answered the doctor.
The parrot and the monkey were so excited to return to Africa, their home.
However, the others were not enjoying themselves too much.
"Oh, I feel so sick," the green pig moaned.
"Don't get sick on me!" growled Jip.
"It's too bad you can't swim," Dab-Dab jumped onto the boat.
"The water is so warm today."
"Hey! Watch it!" Too-Too did not like water at all.
John Dolittle was a good doctor, but not a good sailor.
"I'm afraid we're lost," he said one morning.
"Yoo-hoo!"
"What was that?" asked Gub-Gub.
"What was what?
I didn't hear anything!" growled Jip.
"Oh, yoo-hoo!"
"Look! Over there!" shouted Dab-Dab.
The sound was coming from two dolphins.
"Are you Dr. Dolittle?" called out one dolphin.
"Yes, I am. How did you know?" Dr. Dolittle asked, surprised.
"We heard all about you, Doctor.
You're famous!" shouted the other one.
"We must get to Africa," said Chee-Chee.
"We know. We'll help you get there," said the first dolphin.
"Just follow us!" said the other.
"I bet I could swim faster than them!" Dab-Dab said with a sniff.
The dolphins guided Dr. Dolittle's boat across the ocean.
As they passed by, fish and whales swam up to see the animal doctor.
"That's the human who speaks our language!" whispered a large fish.
"He's going to save the monkeys!" shouted the whale.
Finally it was time for the dolphins to leave them.
"This is as far as we can go," one dolphin said.
"Just keep going straight and you'll see land," the other said.
"How can we ever thank you?" asked Dr. Dolittle.
"Save the monkeys, Doctor."
The dolphins swam away into the sunset.
That night, there was a terrible storm.
The waves carried the boat in every direction.
"Oh, I'm going to be sick," Gub-Gub, who was greener than ever, moaned.
"Hold on tight!" shouted Jip.
The wind howled and the sky roared.
"Are we ever going to make it to Africa?" cried Chee-Chee.
Suddenly the boat hit something hard.
Water began to fill the boat.
"Jump off! Jump off!" shouted Jip.
"Doctor! We're almost on land!" Too-Too pointed.
"Quick! Dab-Dab! Take this rope!" Polynesia commanded.
"Tie it around that tree!"
One by one, the animals and Dr. Dolittle crossed to land.
They watched as the water swallowed up their boat.
"We don't have a boat anymore," Gub-Gub said sadly.
"But we're alive. That's the most important thing," Dr. Dolittle smiled.