voyages of dr[1]. doolittle(都利特尔的航行)-第23节
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I was tremendously interested to see how a ship could be steered into a
port at night with nothing but light…houses and a compass to guide you。 It
seemed to me that the Doctor missed all the rocks and sand…bars very
cleverly。
We got into that funny little Cornish harbor about eleven o'clock that
night。 The Doctor took his stowaways on shore in our small row…boat
which we kept on the deck of the Curlew and found them rooms at the
hotel there。 When he got back he told us that Mrs。 Luke had gone straight
to bed and was feeling much better。
It was now after midnight； so we decided to stay in the harbor and wait
till morning before setting out again。
I was glad to get to bed； although I felt that staying up so tremendously
late was great fun。 As I climbed into the bunk over the Doctor's and pulled
the blankets snugly round me； I found I could look out of the port…hole at
my elbow； and； without raising my head from the pillow； could see the
lights of Penzance swinging gently up and down with the motion of the
ship at anchor。 It was like being rocked to sleep with a little show going on
to amuse you。 I was just deciding that I liked the life of the sea very much
when I fell fast asleep。
THE FOURTH CHAPTER
OUR TROUBLES CONTINUE
THE next morning when we were eating a very excellent breakfast of
kidneys and bacon； prepared by our good cook Bumpo； the Doctor said to
me；
〃I was just wondering； Stubbins； whether I should stop at the Capa
Blanca Islands or run right across for the coast of Brazil。 Miranda said we
could expect a spell of excellent weather nowfor four and a half weeks at
least。〃
〃Well；〃 I said； spooning out the sugar at the bottom of my cocoa…cup；
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〃I should think it would be best to make straight across while we are sure
of good weather。 And besides the Purple Bird…of…Paradise is going to keep
a lookout for us； isn't she？ She'll be wondering what's happened to us if we
don't get there in about a month。〃
〃True； quite true； Stubbins。 On the other hand； the Capa Blancas make
a very convenient stopping place on our way across。 If we should need
supplies or repairs it would be very handy to put in there。〃
〃How long will it take us from here to the Capa Blancas？〃 I asked。
〃About six days；〃 said the Doctor〃Well； we can decide later。 For the
next two days at any rate our direction would be the same practically in
either case。 If you have finished breakfast let's go and get under way。〃
Upstairs I found our vessel surrounded by white and gray seagulls who
flashed and circled about in the sunny morning air； looking for food…scraps
thrown out by the ships into the harbor。
By about half past seven we had the anchor up and the sails set to a
nice steady breeze； and this time we got out into the open sea without
bumping into a single thing。 We met the Penzance fishing fleet coming in
from the night's fishing； and very trim and neat they looked； in a line like
soldiers； with their red…brown sails all leaning over the same way and the
white water dancing before their bows。
For the next three or four days everything went smoothly and nothing
unusual happened。 During this time we all got settled down into our
regular jobs； and in spare moments the Doctor showed each of us how to
take our turns at the wheel； the proper manner of keeping a ship on her
right course； and what to do if the wind changed suddenly。 We divided the
twenty…four hours of the day into three spells； and we took it in turns to
sleep our eight hours and be awake sixteen。 So the ship was well looked
after； with two of us always on duty。
Besides that； Polynesia； who was an older sailor than any of us； and
really knew a lot about running ships； seemed to be always awake except
when she took her couple of winks in the sun； standing on one leg beside
the wheel。 You may be sure that no one ever got a chance to stay abed
more than his eight hours while Polynesia was around。 She used to watch
the ship's clock； and if you overslept a half…minute； she would come down
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to the cabin and peck you gently on the nose till you got up。
I very soon grew to be quite fond of our funny black friend Bumpo；
with his grand way of speaking and his enormous feet which some one
was always stepping on or falling over。 Although he was much older than I
was and had been to college； he never tried to lord it over me。 He seemed
to be forever smiling and kept all of us in good humor。 It wasn't long
before I began to see the Doctor's good sense in bringing himin spite of
the fact that he knew nothing whatever about sailing or travel。
On the morning of the fifth day out； just as I was taking the wheel over
from the Doctor； Bumpo appeared and said；
〃The salt beef is nearly all gone； Sir。〃
〃The salt beef！〃 cried the Doctor。 〃Why； we brought a hundred and
twenty pounds with us。 We couldn't have eaten that in five days。 What can
have become of it？〃
〃I don't know； Sir； I'm sure。 Every time I go down to the stores I find
another hunk missing。 If it is rats that are eating it； then they are certainly
colossal rodents。〃
Polynesia who was walking up and down a stay…rope taking her
morning exercise； put in；
〃We must search the hold。 If this is allowed to go on we will all be
starving before a week is out。 Come downstairs with me； Tommy； and we
will look into this matter。〃
So we went downstairs into the store…room and Polynesia told us to
keep quite still and listen。 This we did。 And presently we heard from a
dark corner of the hold the distinct sound of someone snoring。
〃Ah； I thought so；〃 said Polynesia。 〃It's a manand a big one。 Climb in
there； both of you； and haul him out。 It sounds as though he were behind
that barrelGosh！ We seem to have brought half of Puddleby with us。
Anyone would think we were a penny ferry…boat。 Such cheek！ Haul him
out。〃
So Bumpo and I lit a lantern and climbed over the stores。 And there；
behind the barrel； sure enough； we found an enormous bearded man fast
asleep with a well…fed look on his face。 We woke him up。
〃Washamarrer？〃 he said sleepily。
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It was Ben Butcher； the able seaman。
Polynesia spluttered like an angry fire…cracker。
〃This is the last straw；〃 said she。 〃The one man in the world we least
wanted。 Shiver my timbers； what cheek！〃
〃Would it not be advisable；〃 suggested Bumpo； 〃while the varlet is still
sleepy； to strike him on the head with some heavy object and push him
through a port…hole into the sea？〃
〃No。 We'd get into trouble；〃 said Polynesia。 〃We're not in Jolliginki
now； you knowworse luck！Besides； there never was a port…hole big
enough to push that man through。 Bring him upstairs to the Doctor。〃
So we led the man to the wheel where he respectfully touched his cap
to the Doctor。
〃Another stowaway； Sir；〃 said Bumpo smartly。 I thought the poor
Doctor would have a fit。
〃Good morning； Captain；〃 said the man。 〃Ben Butcher； able seaman； at
your service。 I knew you'd need me； so I took the liberty of stowing away…
…much against my conscience。 But I just couldn't bear to see you poor
landsmen set out on this voyage without a single real seaman to help you。
You'd never have got home alive if I hadn't comeWhy look at your
mainsail； Sirall loose at the throat。 First gust of wind come along； and
away goes your canvas overboardWell； it's all right now I'm here。 We'll
soon get things in shipshape。〃
〃No； it isn't all right；〃 said the Doctor； 〃it's all wrong。 And I'm not at all
glad to see you。 I told you in Puddleby I didn't want you。 You had no right
to come。〃
〃But Captain；〃 said the able seaman； 〃you can't sail this ship without
me。 You don't understand navigation。 Why； look at the compass now：
you've let her swing a point and a half off her
