The Adventures of Horace Tidwiddler by jlee smith (book suggestions txt) 📕

would crawl around to where the Bedouin camels were tied, he would cut them loose and yell as loud as he could and have Dylan growl like a lion or panther as loud as he could. He thought this would create a diversion and give Bentaub enough time to rescue their companions. He then said, “Well, if you have a better idea, lets hear it.” Bentaub was silent.
It was about this time that they saw an old woman with two bowls of soup enter a tent at the far end of the camp. She was gone a long time and did not return. No one else entered the tent so Bentaub said he thought this may be the place where their friends were being held.
Dylan sat back on his haunches and let loose an awful roar that was a cross between a lion and a panther. The Bedouin slavers were taken completely by surprise. They did not know what it was but they knew it was dangerous. They screamed at the top of their lungs, and ran in all directions. While this was going on, Bentaub slipped into the village and up to the tent the old woman had entered. He took his knife and cut an opening so he could see inside the tent. The old woman was asleep on a rug. Abbasonn and Durant were tied to the tent’s center pole. Both had been gagged but they nodded when Bentaub entered the tent. He cut their bonds and helped them to their feet. They quickly crawled though the opening he had cut and disappeared into the night. It was later that Horace and Dylan located Abbasonn, Durant and Bentaub. They did not speak, only nodding to each other and continued on to the beach. Abbasonn made them all get on board and pushed the little craft into the surf just as the slavers were coming over the sand dunes. It was a very narrow escape but it was an escape regardless of how narrow.
The moon had just begun to rise out of the sea when they cleared the breakwater and headed for open water. Horace held on to the mast and said to no one in particular, “I have never been that scared in my whole life.” Bentaub said under his breath, “Well, that makes two of us.”


CHAPTER TWENTY ONE - THE RETURN BEGINS

After they had put some distance between them and the slavers, Abbasonn sat on deck with all the adventurers and told how they had first been received very graciously by the Bedouins. They were given coffee and invited to share their fire. It was only later when they awoke to find themselves bound and gagged that they realized that the coffee had been drugged. Aunt Matt said you could never trust Bedouins bearing gifts. Horace turned to Bob and said, “I bet she read that somewhere.” Bob nodded his agreement but he really was still working on the sand thing. Things like this bothered Bob. He had this serious look on his face and this made Horace think how smart Bob was to understand such things. When dawn began to break, they had put many miles between them and the Bedouin slavers.
They turned the little craft eastward and sailed for the next two weeks keeping the shore line in sight. On the morning of the fifteenth day, Durant yelled, “I see the entrance to Port Cesizeria.” All members of the crew were on deck as they sailed into the little harbor. Horace could see people waving to them long before the sail was lowered and the anchor dropped. A small boat was rowed out to take them to the dock. Abbasonn’s wife and all his children were there as well as Durant’s and Bentaub’s. Horace was very excited when he saw little Evangeline, Donkey and Guiensenbach standing with the crowd. He felt like he had also returned home.
When Horace stepped on the dock, Evangeline was the first one there to grab his shoulders and give him a hug. She told him that they had almost given up hope for his return. Guiensenbach said she was glad they had turned up because if they had not, she was going to have to get on a boat and come looking for him. She said, “And, you know what I think about boats.” Dylan was hiding behind Horace’s legs acting very shy. Horace said to the gathering, “Let me introduce a new friend, this is Dylan, he will be our new traveling companion.” Introductions were made all around as they walked to the large tent in the center of the village. Coffee was served to the gathering as Abbasonn began to tell stories of their adventures. He was careful not to mention dragons or bats.
Late that evening as Horace and Aunt Matt were walking back to the tent they had been provided, they overheard Bentaub and Durant telling their children a story about a princess and a dragon; how they had saved her from certain death. Bentaub was telling the story while Durant, using his hands and the fire light, made shadow puppets on the side of the tent. The children were completely terrified and did not say a word. They could not believe their fathers were so brave and had fought off dragons. When the story was over, they all yelled for more. Horace smiled and said, “It’s funny how stories change.” Aunt Matt said, “It all depends on who is telling the story.” They both smiled and walked on to their tent.
The next morning, Horace told Abbasonn that he was very anxious to set out on
the last leg of his journey home. It was then Evangeline told Horace that she and Donkey
had decided to stay in Port Cesizeria with Abbasonn’s family. She asked Horace to take a
walk with her as she had something she needed to discuss with him. As they walked
down toward the little harbor, Horace heard the honking of geese and he remembered
Rex, T-Rex and the twins. He smiled and said, “I bet they have grown in my absence.” She smiled and said, “And multiplied too.” It was at this moment Horace looked out on the water and saw four full grown white geese with twelve little yellow ones paddling behind. For some reason he felt like a father to these little guys. He asked Evangeline
what she would do in Port Cesizeria. She replied, “Son, I am in the egg business,
thanks to you. Abbasonn’s sons and I are in business together. They feed the geese and gather the eggs. I count the money. They both laughed and walked back to the tent.
Aunt Matt was sitting by the fire with Dylan and Bob. She said that there would be no problem finding the way home. She could do it in her sleep. Horace walked up at that moment and said, "I sure hope so." He did not laugh. Durant and Abbasonn walked into the tent, got a cup of coffee and sat next to Horace. Durant said, "Because of our
trip, I now have two new places to trade with, Rotte Weiller and Reed Islands. This will
prove very profitable I am sure." He said, "Horace, I would not have this opportunity if it
weren't for you. Therefore, Horace, I can not in good conscious keep your silver armor,
besides it was a grand adventure that I will never forget." Horace was at a loss for words.
He finally stammered, "Thank you, Durant, this means more to me than you could ever
know."
The next day it was decided that Abbasonn's two oldest sons would escort the
travelers as far as the first mountain pass. Horace would never have asked for this but he
was very happy it was offered. Horace had become very aware of the dangers that existed
in this desert, dangers he had never known before. Aunt Matt told him later that this was
a sign he was growing up, maturing.
All provisions were packed and the travelers were making ready for the journey when Horace came across his unicycle that was stored on board the boat. Horace rolled it into the village while wide eyed children came from everywhere to see what he had. When he sat on it and began to peddle forwards then backwards, and then took off riding
it through and around the tents. The children went wild, they had never seen anything this grand in their lives. They all wanted to touch it and were asking Horace a hundred questions at the same time. Abbasonn's youngest child was about six and he was the most inquisitive of all the children. His name was Kahn and he fell in love with the unicycle the moment he laid eyes on it. Horace sat him on the black leather seat, held him steady with one hand while pushing with the other. His feet just barely reached the peddles but his balance was perfect. Horace gave him a little push and off he peddled with fifty screaming children following. Horace watched his face as he peddled around and around. He was the happiest child in the village. Abbasonn walked up to see what all the commotion was about. Horace watched Kahn as he rode the unicycle like he had been born on it, Horace turned to Abbasonn and asked, "Would it be okay if I gave your son a parting gift?" Abbasonn smiled and said, "Only if you help me catch him." They both laughed.
That evening, meat was placed on a spit over an open fire and cooked for several hours. Flat bread was made from fresh ground flour and melons were placed near the fire to cook. There was also fresh goat cheese and butter. It had been some time since a meal such as this had been set before the adventurers. That night, Horace slept better than he had in months. He was among friends, he was safe, and his stomach was full, what more could one ask for? As he was drifting off to sleep, he could hear Dylan snoring and making sounds like he was chasing a rabbit in his sleep. He said, "Good dog, good dog", and petted Dylan's body as he lay next to him. In his sleep, Dylan said, "Night Horace."
The next morning after coffee and cakes, Horace, Dylan, Aunt Matt, Bob and
Guiensenbach set out with Abbasonn’s two oldest sons leading the way. They had traveled down the beach for about a mile when Horace turned and looked back. He looked at Aunt Matt and said, “I don’t think we will ever meet finer people better than
those we just left.” She replied, “You are more than likely right but don’t forget,
tomorrow is always a new day.”
The weather was fair and clear without any clouds in the sky. Bob was sure this side of the world was made of nothing but sand and was longing for his bushes and trees when Horace said, “Look, I can see the mountain range ahead.” It had