voyages of dr[1]. doolittle(都利特尔的航行)-第21节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃Well； he has spoken of wanting to take another man；〃 I said； 〃but so
far he hasn't made up his mind。〃
Matthew grunted； then squinted up at the graceful masts of the Curlew。
〃You know； Tommy；〃 said he； 〃if it wasn't for my rheumatism I've half
a mind to come with the Doctor myself。 There's something about a boat
standing ready to sail that always did make me feel venturesome and
travelish…like。 What's that stuff in the cans you're taking on？〃
〃This is treacle；〃 I said〃twenty pounds of treacle。〃
〃My Goodness；〃 he sighed； turning away sadly。 〃That makes me feel
76
… Page 77…
THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
more like going with you than everBut my rheumatism is that bad I can't
hardly〃
I didn't hear any more for Matthew had moved off； still mumbling；
into the crowd that stood about the wharf。 The clock in Puddleby Church
struck noon and I turned back； feeling very busy and important； to the task
of loading。
But it wasn't very long before some one else came along and
interrupted my work。 This was a huge； big； burly man with a red beard and
tattoo…marks all over his arms。 He wiped his mouth with the back of his
hand； spat twice on to the river…wall and said；
〃Boy； where's the skipper？〃
〃The SKIPPER！Who do you mean？〃 I asked。
〃The captainWhere's the captain； of this craft？〃 he said； pointing to
the Curlew。
〃Oh； you mean the Doctor；〃 said I。 〃Well； he isn't here at present。〃
At that moment the Doctor arrived with his arms full of note…books
and butterfly…nets and glass cases and other natural history things。 The big
man went up to him； respectfully touching his cap。
〃Good morning； Captain；〃 said he。 〃I heard you was in need of hands
for a voyage。 My name's Ben Butcher； able seaman。〃
〃I am very glad to know you；〃 said the Doctor。 〃But I'm afraid I shan't
be able to take on any more crew。〃
〃Why； but Captain；〃 said the able seaman； 〃you surely ain't going to
face deep…sea weather with nothing more than this bit of a lad to help you…
… and with a cutter that big！〃
The Doctor assured him that he was； but the man didn't go away。 He
hung around and argued。 He told us he had known of many ships being
sunk through 〃undermanning。〃 He got out what he called his stiffikita
paper which said what a good sailor he was and implored us； if we
valued our lives； to take him。
But the Doctor was quite firm…polite but determinedand finally the
man walked sorrowfully away； telling us he never expected to see us alive
again。
Callers of one sort and another kept us quite busy that morning。 The
77
… Page 78…
THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
Doctor had no sooner gone below to stow away his note…books than
another visitor appeared upon the gang…plank。 This was a most
extraordinary…looking black man。 The only other negroes I had seen had
been in circuses； where they wore feathers and bone necklaces and things
like that。 But this one was dressed in a fashionable frock coat with an
enormous bright red cravat。 On his head was a straw hat with a gay band；
and over this he held a large green umbrella。 He was very smart in every
respect except his feet。 He wore no shoes or socks。
〃Pardon me；〃 said he； bowing elegantly； 〃but is this the ship of the
physician Dolittle？〃
〃Yes；〃 I said； 〃did you wish to see him？〃
〃I didif it will not be discommodious；〃 he answered。
〃Who shall I say it is？〃
〃I am Bumpo Kahbooboo； Crown Prince of Jolliginki。〃
I ran downstairs at once and told the Doctor。
〃How fortunate！〃 cried John Dolittle。 〃My old friend Bumpo！ Well；
well！He's studying at Oxford； you know。 How good of him to come all
this way to call on me！〃 And he tumbled up the ladder to greet his visitor。
The strange black man seemed to be overcome with joy when the
Doctor appeared and shook him warmly by the hand。
〃News reached me；〃 he said； 〃that you were about to sail upon a
voyage。 I hastened to see you before your departure。 I am sublimely
ecstasied that I did not miss you。〃
〃You very nearly did miss us；〃 said the Doctor。 〃As it happened； we
were delayed somewhat in getting the necessary number of men to sail our
boat。 If it hadn't been for that； we would have been gone three days ago。〃
〃How many men does your ship's company yet require？〃 asked
Bumpo。
〃Only one；〃 said the Doctor〃But it is so hard to find the right one。〃
〃Methinks I detect something of the finger of Destination in this；〃 said
Bumpo。 〃How would I do？〃
〃Splendidly；〃 said the Doctor。 〃But what about your studies？ You can't
very well just go off and leave your university career to take care of itself；
you know。〃
78
… Page 79…
THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
〃I need a holiday；〃 said Bumpo。 〃Even had I not gone with you； I
intended at the end of this term to take a three…months' absconsionBut
besides； I shall not be neglecting my edification if I accompany you。
Before I left Jolliginki my august father； the King； told me to be sure and
travel plenty。 You are a man of great studiosity。 To see the world in your
company is an opportunity not to be sneezed upon。 No； no； indeed。〃
〃How did you like the life at Oxford？〃 asked the Doctor。
〃Oh； passably； passably；〃 said Bumpo。 〃I liked it all except the algebra
and the shoes。 The algebra hurt my head and the shoes hurt my feet。 I
threw the shoes over a wall as soon as I got out of the college quadrilateral
this morning； and the algebra I am happily forgetting very fastI liked
CiceroYes； I think Cicero's fineso simultaneous。 By the way； they tell
me his son is rowing for our college next year charming fellow。〃
The Doctor looked down at the black man's huge bare feet
thoughtfully a moment。
〃Well；〃 he said slowly； 〃there is something in what you say； Bumpo；
about getting education from the world as well as from the college。 And if
you are really sure that you want to come； we shall be delighted to have
you。 Because； to tell you the truth； I think you are exactly the man we
need。〃
THE SECOND CHAPTER
GOOD…BYE！
TWO days after that we had all in readiness for our departure。
On this voyage Jip begged so hard to be taken that the Doctor finally
gave in and said he could come。 Polynesia and Chee…Chee were the only
other animals to go with us。 Dab…Dab was left in charge of the house and
the animal family we were to leave behind。
Of course； as is always the way； at the last moment we kept
remembering things we had forgotten； and when we finally closed the
house up and went down the steps to the road； we were all burdened with
armfuls of odd packages。
79
… Page 80…
THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
Halfway to the river； the Doctor suddenly remembered that he had left
the stock…pot boiling on the kitchen…fire。 However； we saw a blackbird
flying by who nested in our garden； and the Doctor asked her to go back
for us and tell Dab…Dab about it。
Down at the river…wall we found a great crowd waiting to see us off。
Standing right near the gang…plank were my mother and father。 I hoped
that they would not make a scene； or burst into tears or anything like that。
But as a matter of fact they behaved quite wellfor parents。 My mother
said something about being sure not to get my feet wet； and my father just
smiled a crooked sort of smile； patted me on the back and wished me luck。
Good…byes are awfully uncomfortable things and I was glad when it was
over and we passed on to the ship。
We were a little surprised not to see Matthew Mugg among the crowd。
We had felt sure that he would be there； and the Doctor had intended to
give him some extra instructions about the food for the animals we had
left at the house。
At last； after much pulling and tugging； we got the anchor
