On the coast of West Africa, about twenty miles to the of Fantippo, there was a running out into the sea which had a lighthouse on it called the Cape Stephen Light. This light was kept carefully burning by the government who controlled that part of Africa, in order that ships should see it from the sea and know where they were. It was a dangerous part of the coast, this. There were many rocks and shallows near the end of Cape Stephen. And if the light were ever allowed to go out at night, of course, ships traveling that part of the sea would be in great danger of running into the long cape and themselves.  
Now, one evening not long after the Golden Jays had gone west, the Doctor was writing letters in the post office by the light of a candle. It was late and all the animals were fast asleep long ago. Presently while he wrote he heard a sound a long way off, coming through the open window at his elbow. He put down his pen and listened.
 
It was the sound of a seabird, calling away out at sea. Now, seabirds don't, as a rule, call very much unless they are in great numbers. This call sounded like a single bird. The Doctor put his head through the window and looked out.
 
It was a dark night, as black as pitch, and he couldn't see a thing—especially as his eyes were used to the light of the candle. The mysterious call was repeated again and again, like a cry of from the sea. The Doctor didn't know quite what to make of it. But soon he thought it seemed to be coming nearer. And, grabbing his hat, he ran out on to the .
 
"What is it? What's the matter?" he shouted into the darkness over the sea.
 
He got no answer. But soon, with a rush of wings that nearly blew his candle out, a great seagull swept down on to the houseboat rail beside him.
 
"Doctor," panted the , "the Cape Stephen Light is out. I don't know what's the matter. It has never gone out before. We use it as a land-mark, you know, when we are flying after dark. The night's as black as ink. I'm afraid some ship will surely run into the cape. I thought I'd come and tell you."
 
"Good heavens!" cried the Doctor. "What can have happened? There's a lighthouse keeper living there to attend to it. Was it lighted earlier in the evening?"
 
"I don't know," said the gull. "I was coming in from herring—they're running just now, you know, a little to the North. And, expecting to see the light, I lost my way and flew miles too far south. When I found out my mistake I went back, flying close down by the shore. And I came to Stephen Cape, but it had no light. It was black as anything. And I would have run right into the rocks myself if I hadn't been going carefully."
 
"How far would it be from here?" asked John Dolittle.
 
"Well, by land it would be twenty-five miles to where the lighthouse stands," said the gull. "But by water it would be only about twelve, I should say."
 
"All right," said the Doctor, hurrying into his coat. "Wait just a moment till I wake Dab-Dab."
 
The Doctor ran into the post office kitchen and woke the poor , who was soundly beside the kitchen stove.
 
"Listen, Dab-Dab!" said the Doctor, shaking her. "Wake up! The Cape Stephen Light's gone out!"
 
"Whazhat?" said Dab-Dab, sleepily opening her eyes. "Stove's gone out?"
 
"No, the lighthouse on Cape Stephen," said the Doctor. "A gull just came and told me. The shipping's in danger. , you know, and all that. Wake up and look sensible, for pity's sake!"
 
At last poor Dab-Dab, , understood what was the matter. And in a moment she was up and doing.
 
"I know where it is, Doctor. I'll fly right over there.—No, I won't need the gull to guide me. You keep him to show you the way. Follow me immediately in the canoe. If I can find out anything I'll come back and meet you half way. If not, I'll wait for you by the lighthouse tower. Thank goodness, it's a calm night, anyway—even if it is dark!"
 
With a flap of her wings, Dab-Dab flew right through the open window and was gone into the night, while the Doctor grabbed his little black medicine bag and, calling to the gull to follow him, ran down to the other end of the houseboat, the canoe and jumped in. Then he pushed off, headed around the island of No-Man's-Land and paddled for all he was worth for the seaward end of Cape Stephen.
 
About half way to the long neck of land that out into the gloomy ocean the Doctor's canoe was met by Dab-Dab—though how she found it in the darkness, with only the sound of the paddle to guide her, goodness only knows.
 
"Doctor," said she, "if the lighthouse keeper is in there at all he must be sick, or something. I hammered on the windows, but nobody answered."
 
"Dear me!" muttered the Doctor, paddling harder than ever, "I wonder what can have happened?"
 
"And that's not the worst," said Dab-Dab. "On the far side of the cape—you can't see it from here—there's the headlight of a big sailing ship, bearing down southward, making straight for the rocks. They can't see the lighthouse and they don't know what danger they're in."
 
"Good Lord!" the Doctor, and he nearly broke the paddle as he churned the water astern to make the canoe go faster yet.
 
"How far off the rocks is the ship now?" asked the gull.
 
"About a mile, I should say," said Dab-Dab. "But she's a big one—judging by the height of her mast-light—and she won't be long before she's aground on the cape."
 
"Keep right on, Doctor," said the gull. "I'm going off to get some friends of mine."
 
And the seagull spread his wings and flew away toward the land, calling the same cry as the Doctor had heard through the post office window.
 
John Dolittle had no idea of what he meant to do. Nor was the gull himself sure that he would be in time to succeed with the plan he had in mind. But presently, to his delight, the seabird heard his call being answered from the rocky shores in darkness. And soon he had hundreds of his brother circling round him in the night.
 
Then he took them to the great ship, which was sailing calmly toward the rocks and destruction. And there, going forward to where the helmsman held the of the wheel and watched the compass swinging before him in the light of a little, dim lamp, the gulls started dashing themselves into the wheelman's face and covering the glass of the compass, so he could not the ship.
 
 
The helmsman, battling with the birds, set up a yell for help, saying he couldn't see to steer the boat. Then the officers and sailors rushed up to his assistance and tried to beat the birds off.
&nbs............