*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 79813 *** [Illustration: Book cover, Dumpy Dimple dressed in headdress, red jumper, blue shorts, brown hiking books, heads off with his dog Rag ready for adventures] The Adventures of DUMPY DIMPLE And his DOG! [Illustration: Dumpy Dimple, dressed in hat, thick coat and scarf, smiles and holds Rag who looks lovingly up to Dumpy’s face] Pictured by G. F. Christie. Told by M. Byron. NEW YORK HODDER & STOUGHTON. [Illustration: THOMAS FORMAN & SONS PRINTERS NOTTINGHAM ENGLAND.] This is a story, short and simple, About the adventures of Dumpy Dimple, And Rag, his dog. They were very queer, And most exciting,--as you shall hear! No doubt your friends may have talked to you Of the wonderful battle of Bunkerloo, And the things that happened to Dumpy D.-- Oh! don’t I wish they would happen to me! How he hunted beasts of the fiercest kind, How he fought each enemy he could find,-- How he captured a regiment single-handed, And they had to do just as he commanded. Dumpy Dimple was short and fat, But extremely brave in spite of that; And Rag, the pluckiest dog was he,-- They were both as bold as bold can be. And they made a laager--a camp, you know,-- With sacks and boxes all in a row,-- They’d a gun, a sword, and a flag to wave,-- No wonder they were so bold and brave! And Dick, the horse (of the four-wheel breed), He could snort and gallop--he could, indeed! In fact, they were just the sort, all three, For having adventures--as you will see! The First Adventure. [Illustration: Rag peeks out of the top of a box surrounded by a sack and spade lying in the grass] THEY DISCOVER THE ENEMY AND RAG GOES SCOUTING! Said, Dumpy Dimple, “Now, Rag, stand steady: Is the rifle loaded? Is everything ready? The enemy’s coming soon, I hope,-- I see him, I think, through my telescope. [Illustration: Dumpy and Rag stand atop the box, Dumpy looking afar through a telescope to the trees, with sack, spade, hobby horse and umbrella nearby] So you had better be off to scout,-- Go very quietly, creep about,-- But if you should hear the rifle crack, Quick as you can, dear Rag, come back!” The Second Adventure. [Illustration: Elephant mounted on platform with wheels laying on its side] THEY STALK A MONSTROUS ELEPHANT. Just then a trumpet began to blow, And Dumpy whispered, “I told you so!” A fearful Elephant, huge, immense, Was glaring over the garden-fence! [Illustration: Dumpy and Rag hide in the bushes while watching the elephant looking over the fence] They stalked the Elephant inch by inch,-- He was dreadfully big--but they didn’t flinch: Dumpy, choosing the proper spots, Brought him down in a couple of shots. The Third Adventure. [Illustration: Camp fire beneath a kettle hanging from wooden poles held together at the top] THEY MAKE TEA. Dumpy and Rag were as pleased as Punch, But both of them felt it was time for lunch: A nice camp-table they managed to fix, And boiled the kettle on blazing sticks. [Illustration: Rag sits on tree stump with paws on a makeshift table on which are placed a jar of jam, bread and a knife, while Dumpy pours water from the kettle into a mug] For however brave a hero may be, He’s braver far when he’s had some tea: And Rag was ever so fond of a crust, Though he wouldn’t touch if you told him--“Trust!” The Fourth Adventure. [Illustration: Savage Bunny on skateboard] THEY GO A-HUNTING AGAIN AND MEET A SAVAGE BUNNY. Dumpy said, as he galloped out, “I’m sure there are fierce wild beasts about!” And the very next moment--wasn’t it funny?-- He was face to face with a savage Bunny! [Illustration: Hobby Horse tied to a tree, Rag and Dumpy behind another tree, watch savage Bunny approach] Do you think that he or Rag showed fear? Certainly not. With a bark and a cheer, They dashed on the foe with all their might, And thrashed him soundly in one sharp fight. The Fifth Adventure. [Illustration: Golliwogg with legs crossed sits on the ground behind a tree] THEY RESCUE A PRISONER AND TREAT HIM WITH MUCH KINDNESS. Goodness! what can the matter be? A poor black prisoner tied to a tree! It shan’t be said that a boy and a dog Wouldn’t rescue a Golliwogg! [Illustration: Dumpy rides the hobby horse, spade in hand, with Rag close by, getting ready to save Golliwog who has been tied to a tree] They freed the captive, they gave him food, He was quite overcome with gratitude, And they sang him, “Rule Britannia” then, Over, and over, and over again. The Sixth Adventure. [Illustration: Rag pulls rope tied in a loop around the toy soldier] THEY CAPTURE SIX OF THE ENEMY, WHO KICK. When you meet with an enemy’s troop, You get a rope and you make a loop, You throw your lasso, and catch a man, One by one--it’s a splendid plan! [Illustration: Dumpy astride the hobby horse, with Rag in front, throws a lasso around one of three toy soldiers] Dumpy tried it with great success, Six fine soldiers he took--no less. They kicked a little, as soldiers will, But Rag said, “Grr!” if they didn’t keep still. The Seventh Adventure. [Illustration: Rag runs away from the scarecrow] THEY FIGHT THE BATTLE OF BUNKERLOO. A poppy-field they now did view-- ’Twas the famous field of Bunkerloo. The enemy, full of boast and brag, Wanted to slaughter Dumpy and Rag. [Illustration: Rag hides behind Dumpy’s legs as Dumpy with shield and sword approaches the scarecrow] But Dumpy, giving his wildest yell, With sword and shield on the foeman fell,-- And Rag, very brave, though he didn’t show it, Cried, “Yap! yap! yap!” which meant, “Dumpy, go it!” The Eighth Adventure. [Illustration: Dumpy in feathered headdress pours medicine into a glass] THEY GO INTO HOSPITAL, AND RAG’S WOUNDS ARE ATTENDED TO. But Rag, poor dog, in the thick of the fight, Got badly wounded--a piteous sight-- And Dumpy hoisted a small red flag, While he was busy attending to Rag. [Illustration: In the makeshift hospital, Rag sits atop the box, shaded by the umbrella, as Dumpy takes his temperature] In a hospital tent Rag had to lie, With a dismal whine and a bandaged eye. But Dumpy said, “Though you’ve suffered loss, I’m certain you’ll get the Victoria Cross!” The Ninth Adventure. [Illustration: Rag stands over one of the toy soldiers laying on the ground] THEY CAPTURE A DESERTER. The battle continued all round about, And Dumpy ordered his sentries out; But one of them thought he might get hurt, So (very meanly) he tried to desert. [Illustration: Dumpy sleeps on the ground, shaded by the umbrella, as Rag brings him the toy solider deserter] The Captain was getting a moment’s nap, Quite tired out with the fray, poor chap. But Rag, with a face very stern and grim, Spied the deserter and captured him. The Tenth Adventure. [Illustration: A toy solider leans on the jam jar] THEY PUNISH THE DESERTER. He had to be punished, of course he had; But Dumpy hated to see him sad; Dumpy said, with a frowning brow, “We haven’t time for Court-martials now! [Illustration: Dumpy sits over paperwork, feather and ink, as he declares punishment for the toy solider while Rag oversees the proceedings] Just to show you how kind I am, I shall only, Soldier, cut off your jam; Back to your post! Whatever we do, We must win the Battle of Bunkerloo!” The Eleventh Adventure. [Illustration: Rag stands on hind legs facing a toy solider] THEY WIN THE BATTLE AND DUMPY IS PROMOTED. When the evening drum went Rub-a-dub-dub, Rag, like a General, mounted the tub. And Captain Dumpy, the fight being done, Came and reported how he had won. [Illustration: Rag sits upright on a barrel, front paws holding the spade, as Dumpy salutes] General Rag hadn’t much to say, But he thought a good deal, for that was his way: And what he meant when he said, “Bow-wow!” Was--“You’re promoted to Colonel now!” The Twelfth and last Adventure. [Illustration: Dumpy feeds Rag from a large wooden spoon] THEY BIVOUAC AFTER THE DAY’S WORK. [Illustration: Dumpy sits beside the camp fire and stirs the stew in the pot as Rag waits with one ear cocked] And, now as the enemies round about, Were each defeated and put to rout, And as he was safe from all attack, Dumpy said, “Let us bivouac! We’ll boil a kettle and make a stew, And get some supper for me and you: I think, for to-day, adventures are done,-- Rag, old boy! wasn’t it splendid fun!” [Illustration: “GOOD BYE!” Dumpy holds Rag in one hand, waving his hat in the other, surrounded by a soldier, the elephant, and Golliwogg, while Bunny hides behind a drum] *** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 79813 ***