voyages of dr[1]. doolittle(都利特尔的航行)-第17节
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who proudly led Bob up the aisle； through the astonished crowd； past the
frowning； spluttering； long…nosed Prosecutor； and made him comfortable
on a high chair in the witness…box； from where the old bulldog sat
scowling down over the rail upon the amazed and gaping jury。
THE SEVENTH CHAPTER
THE END OF THE MYSTERY
THE trial went swiftly forward after that。 Mr。 Jenkyns told the Doctor
to ask Bob what he saw on the 〃night of the 29th；〃 and when Bob had told
all he knew and the Doctor had turned it into English for the judge and the
jury； this was what he had to say：
〃On the night of the 29th of November； 1824； I was with my master；
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Luke Fitzjohn （otherwise known as Luke the Hermit） and his two partners；
Manuel Mendoza and William Boggs （otherwise known as Bluebeard Bill）
on their gold…mine in Mexico。 For a long time these three men had been
hunting for gold； and they had dug a deep hole in the ground。 On the
morning of the 29th gold was discovered； lots of it； at the bottom of this
hole。 And all three； my master and his two partners； were very happy
about it because now they would be rich。 But Manuel Mendoza asked
Bluebeard Bill to go for a walk with him。 These two men I had always
suspected of being bad。 So when I noticed that they left my master behind；
I followed them secretly to see what they were up to。 And in a deep cave
in the mountains I heard them arrange together to kill Luke the Hermit so
that they should get all the gold and he have none。〃
At this point the judge asked； 〃Where is the witness Mendoza？
Constable； see that he does not leave the court。〃
But the wicked little man with the watery eyes had already sneaked
out when no one was looking and he was never seen in Puddleby again。
〃Then；〃 Bob's statement went on； 〃I went to my master and tried very
hard to make him understand that his partners were dangerous men。 But it
was no use。 He did not understand dog language。 So I did the next best
thing： I never let him out of my sight but stayed with him every moment
of the day and night。
〃Now the hole that they had made was so deep that to get down and up
it you had to go in a big bucket tied on the end of a rope； and the three
men used to haul one another up and let one another down the mine in this
way。 That was how the gold was brought up tooin the bucket。 Well；
about seven o'clock in the evening my master was standing at the top of
the mine； hauling up Bluebeard Bill who was in the bucket。 Just as he had
got Bill halfway up I saw Mendoza come out of the hut where we all lived。
Mendoza thought that Bill was away buying groceries。 But he wasn't： he
was in the bucket。 And when Mendoza saw Luke hauling and straining on
the rope he thought he was pulling up a bucket…ful of gold。 So he drew a
pistol from his pocket and came sneaking up behind Luke to shoot him。
〃I barked and barked to warn my master of the danger he was in； but
he was so busy hauling up Bill （who was a heavy fat man） that he took no
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notice of me。 I saw that if I didn't do something quick he would surely be
shot。 So I did a thing I've never done before： suddenly and savagely I bit
my master in the leg from behind。 Luke was so hurt and startled that he
did just what I wanted him to do： he let go the rope with both hands at
once and turned round。 And then； CRASH！ down went Bill in his bucket
to the bottom of the mine and he was killed。
〃While my master was busy scolding me Mendoza put his pistol in his
pocket； came up with a smile on his face and looked down the mine。
〃 'Why； Good Gracious'！〃 said he to Luke； 'You've killed Bluebeard
Bill。 I must go and tell the police'hoping； you see； to get the whole mine
to himself when Luke should be put in prison。 Then he jumped on his
horse and galloped away。〃
〃And soon my master grew afraid； for he saw that if Mendoza only
told enough lies to the police； it WOULD look as though he had killed Bill
on purpose。 So while Mendoza was gone he and I stole away together
secretly and came to England。 Here he shaved off his beard and became a
hermit。 And ever since； for fifteen years； we've remained in hiding。 This is
all I have to say。 And I swear it is the truth； every word。〃
When the Doctor finished reading Bob's long speech the excitement
among the twelve men of the jury was positively terrific。 One； a very old
man with white hair； began to weep in a loud voice at the thought of poor
Luke hiding on the fen for fifteen years for something he couldn't help。
And all the others set to whispering and nodding their heads to one
another。
In the middle of all this up got that horrible Prosecutor again； waving
his arms more wildly than ever。
〃Your Honor；〃 he cried； 〃I must object to this evidence as biased。 Of
course the dog would not tell the truth against his own master。 I object。 I
protest。〃
〃Very well；〃 said the judge； 〃you are at liberty to cross…examine。 It is
your duty as Prosecutor to prove his evidence untrue。 There is the dog：
question him； if you do not believe what he says。〃
I thought the long…nosed lawyer would have a fit。 He looked first at the
dog； then at the Doctor； then at the judge； then back at the dog scowling
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from the witness…box。 He opened his mouth to say something； but no
words came。 He waved his arms some more。 His face got redder and
redder。 At last； clutching his forehead； he sank weakly into his seat and
had to be helped out of the court…room by two friends。 As he was half
carried through the door he was still feebly murmuring； 〃I protestI
objectI protest！〃
THE EIGHTH CHAPTER
THREE CHEERS
NEXT the judge made a very long speech to the jury； and when it was
over all the twelve jurymen got up and went out into the next room。 And at
that point the Doctor came back； leading Bob； to the seat beside me。
〃What have the jurymen gone out for？〃 I asked。
〃They always do that at the end of a trialto make up their minds
whether the prisoner did it or not。〃
〃Couldn't you and Bob go in with them and help them make up their
minds the right way？〃 I asked。
〃No； that's not allowed。 They have to talk it over in secret。 Sometimes
it takesMy Gracious； look； they're coming back already！ They didn't
spend long over it。〃
Everybody kept quite still while the twelve men came tramping back
into their places in the pews。 Then one of them； the leadera little man
stood up and turned to the judge。 Every one was holding his breath；
especially the Doctor and myself； to see what he was going to say。 You
could have heard a pin drop while the whole court…room； the whole of
Puddleby in fact； waited with craning necks and straining cars to hear the
weighty words。
〃Your Honor；〃 said the little man； 〃the jury returns a verdict of NOT
GUILTY。〃
〃What's that mean？〃 I asked； turning to the Doctor。
But I found Doctor John Dolittle； the famous naturalist； standing on
top of a chair； dancing about on one leg like a schoolboy。
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〃It means he's free！〃 he cried； 〃Luke is free！〃
〃Then he'll be able to come on the voyage with us； won't he？〃
But I could not hear his answer； for the whole court…room seemed to
be jumping up on chairs like the Doctor。 The crowd had suddenly gone
crazy。 All the people were laughing and calling and waving to Luke to
show him how glad they were that he was free。 The noise was deafening。
Then it stopped。 All was quiet again； and the people stood up
respectfully while the judge left the Court。 For the trial of Luke the Hermit
