voyages of dr[1]. doolittle(都利特尔的航行)-第1节
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
THE VOYAGES OF
DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
HUGH LOFTING
To Colin and Elizabeth
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
PROLOGUE
ALL that I have written so far about Doctor Dolittle I heard long after
it happened from those who had known him indeed a great deal of it took
place before I was born。 But I now come to set down that part of the great
man's life which I myself saw and took part in。
Many years ago the Doctor gave me permission to do this。 But we
were both of us so busy then voyaging around the world； having
adventures and filling note…books full of natural history that I never
seemed to get time to sit down and write of our doings。
Now of course； when I am quite an old man； my memory isn't so good
any more。 But whenever I am in doubt and have to hesitate and think； I
always ask Polynesia； the parrot。
That wonderful bird （she is now nearly two hundred and fifty years old）
sits on the top of my desk； usually humming sailor songs to herself； while
I write this book。 And； as every one who ever met her knows； Polynesia's
memory is the most marvelous memory in the world。 If there is any
happening I am not quite sure of； she is always able to put me right； to tell
me exactly how it took place； who was there and everything about it。 In
fact sometimes I almost think I ought to say that this book was written by
Polynesia instead of me。
Very well then； I will begin。 And first of all I must tell you something
about myself and how I came to meet the Doctor。
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
PART I
THE FIRST CHAPTER
THE COBBLER'S SON
MY name was Tommy Stubbins； son of Jacob Stubbins； the cobbler of
Puddleby…on…the…Marsh； and I was nine and a half years old。 At that time
Puddleby was only quite a small town。 A river ran through the middle of it；
and over this river there was a very old stone bridge； called Kingsbridge；
which led you from the market…place on one side to the churchyard on the
other。
Sailing…ships came up this river from the sea and anchored near the
bridge。 I used to go down and watch the sailors unloading the ships upon
the river…wall。 The sailors sang strange songs as they pulled upon the ropes；
and I learned these songs by heart。 And I would sit on the river…wall with
my feet dangling over the water and sing with the men； pretending to
myself that I too was a sailor。
For I longed always to sail away with those brave ships when they
turned their backs on Puddleby Church and went creeping down the river
again； across the wide lonely marshes to the sea。 I longed to go with them
out into the world to seek my fortune in foreign landsAfrica； India；
China and Peru！ When they got round the bend in the river and the water
was hidden from view； you could still see their huge brown sails towering
over the roofs of the town； moving onward slowlylike some gentle giants
that walked among the houses without noise。 What strange things would
they have seen； I wondered； when next they came back to anchor at
Kingsbridge！ And； dreaming of the lands I had never seen； I'd sit on there；
watching till they were out of sight。
Three great friends I had in Puddleby in those days。 One was Joe； the
mussel…man； who lived in a tiny hut by the edge of the water under the
bridge。 This old man was simply marvelous at making things。 I never saw
a man so clever with his hands。 He used to mend my toy ships for me
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
which I sailed upon the river； he built windmills out of packing…cases and
barrel…staves； and he could make the most wonderful kites from old
umbrellas。
Joe would sometimes take me in his mussel…boat； and when the tide
was running out we would paddle down the river as far as the edge of the
sea to get mussels and lobsters to sell。 And out there on the cold lonely
marshes we would see wild geese flying； and curlews and redshanks and
many other kinds of seabirds that live among the samfire and the long
grass of the great salt fen。 And as we crept up the river in the evening；
when the tide had turned； we would see the lights on Kingsbridge twinkle
in the dusk； reminding us of tea…time and warm fires。
Another friend I had was Matthew Mugg； the cat's…meat…man。 He was
a funny old person with a bad squint。 He looked rather awful but he was
really quite nice to talk to。 He knew everybody in Puddleby； and he knew
all the dogs and all the cats。 In those times being a cat's…meat…man was a
regular business。 And you could see one nearly any day going through the
streets with a wooden tray full of pieces of meat stuck on skewers crying；
〃Meat！ M…E…A…T！〃 People paid him to give this meat to their cats and
dogs instead of feeding them on dog…biscuits or the scraps from the table。
I enjoyed going round with old Matthew and seeing the cats and dogs
come running to the garden…gates whenever they heard his call。
Sometimes he let me give the meat to the animals myself； and I thought
this was great fun。 He knew a lot about dogs and he would tell me the
names of the different kinds as we went through the town。 He had several
dogs of his own； one； a whippet； was a very fast runner； and Matthew used
to win prizes with her at the Saturday coursing races； another； a terrier；
was a fine ratter。 The cat's…meat…man used to make a business of rat…
catching for the millers and farmers as well as his other trade of selling
cat's…meat。
My third great friend was Luke the Hermit。 But of him I will tell you
more later on。
I did not go to school； because my father was not rich enough to send
me。 But I was extremely fond of animals。 So I used to spend my time
collecting birds' eggs and butterflies； fishing in the river； rambling through
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
the countryside after blackberries and mushrooms and helping the mussel…
man mend his nets。
Yes； it was a very pleasant life I lived in those days long ago though
of course I did not think so then。 I was nine and a half years old； and； like
all boys； I wanted to grow upnot knowing how well off I was with no
cares and nothing to worry me。 Always I longed for the time when I
should be allowed to leave my father's house； to take passage in one of
those brave ships； to sail down the river through the misty marshes to the
sea out into the world to seek my fortune。
THE SECOND CHAPTER
I HEAR OF THE GREAT NATURALIST
ONE early morning in the Springtime； when I was wandering among
the hills at the back of the town； I happened to come upon a hawk with a
squirrel in its claws。 It was standing on a rock and the squirrel was
fighting very hard for its life。 The hawk was so frightened when I came
upon it suddenly like this； that it dropped the poor creature and flew away。
I picked the squirrel up and found that two of its legs were badly hurt。 So I
carried it in my arms back to the town。
When I came to the bridge I went into the musselman's hut and asked
him if he could do anything for it。 Joe put on his spectacles and examined
it carefully。 Then he shook his head。
〃Yon crittur's got a broken leg；〃 he said〃and another badly cut an' all。
I can mend you your boats； Tom； but I haven't the tools nor the learning to
make a broken squirrel seaworthy。 This is a job for a surgeonand for a
right smart one an' all。 There be only one man I know who could save yon
crittur's life。 And that's John Dolittle。〃
〃Who is John Dolittle？〃 I asked。 〃Is he a vet？〃
〃No；〃 said the mussel…man。 〃He's no vet。 Doctor Dolittle is a
nacheralist。〃
〃What's a nacheralist？〃
〃A nacheralist；〃 said Joe； putting away
