voyages of dr[1]. doolittle(都利特尔的航行)-第26节
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
〃Pepito de Malaga；〃 said Don Enrique； 〃one of the greatest names； one
of the bravest men； in all Spain。〃
〃Very well；〃 said the Doctor； 〃I have a proposal to make to you。 I have
never fought a bull in my life。 Now supposing I were to go into the ring
to…morrow with Pepito de Malaga and any other matadors you choose； and
if I can do more tricks with a bull than they can； would you promise to do
something for me？〃
Don Enrique threw back his head and laughed。
〃Man；〃 he said； 〃you must be mad！ You would be killed at once。 One
has to be trained for years to become a proper bullfighter。〃
〃Supposing I were willing to take the risk of thatYou are not afraid； I
take it； to accept my offer？〃
The Spaniard frowned。
〃Afraid！〃 he cried； 〃Sir； if you can beat Pepito de Malaga in the bull…
ring I'll promise you anything it is possible for me to grant。〃
〃Very good；〃 said the Doctor； 〃now I understand that you are quite a
powerful man in these islands。 If you wished to stop all bullfighting here
after to…morrow； you could do it； couldn't you？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Don Enrique proudly〃I could。〃
〃Well that is what I ask of youif I win my wager；〃 said John Dolittle。
〃If I can do more with angry bulls than can Pepito de Malaga； you are to
promise me that there shall never be another bullfight in the Capa Blancas
so long as you are alive to stop it。 Is it a bargain？〃
The Spaniard held out his hand。
〃It is a bargain；〃 he said〃I promise。 But I must warn you that you are
merely throwing your life away； for you will certainly be killed。 However；
that is no more than you deserve for saying that bullfighting is an
unworthy sport。 I will meet you here to…morrow morning if you should
wish to arrange any particulars。 Good day； Sir。〃
As the Spaniard turned and walked into the shop with the bed…maker；
Polynesia； who had been listening as usual； flew up on to my shoulder and
whispered in my ear；
〃I； have a plan。 Get hold of Bumpo and come some place where the
Doctor can't hear us。 I want to talk to you。〃
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
I nudged Bumpo's elbow and we crossed the street and pretended to
look into a jeweler's window； while the Doctor sat down upon his bed to
lace up his boots； the only part of his clothing he had taken off for the
night。
〃Listen；〃 said Polynesia； 〃I've been breaking my head trying to think
up some way we can get money to buy those stores with； and at last I've
got it。〃
〃The money？〃 said Bumpo。
〃No； stupid。 The ideato make the money with。 Listen： the Doctor is
simply bound to win this game to…morrow； sure as you're alive。 Now all
we have to do is to make a side bet with these Spaniards they're great on
gamblingand the trick's done。〃
〃What's a side bet？〃 I asked。
〃Oh I know what that is；〃 said Bumpo proudly。 〃We used to have lots
of them at Oxford when boat…racing was on。 I go to Don Enrique and say；
'I bet you a hundred pounds the Doctor wins。' Then if he does win； Don
Enrique pays me a hundred pounds； and if he doesn't； I have to pay Don
Enrique。〃
〃That's the idea；〃 said Polynesia。 〃Only don't say a hundred pounds：
say two…thousand five…hundred pesetas。 Now come and find old Don
Ricky…ticky and try to look rich。〃
So we crossed the street again and slipped into the bed…maker's shop
while the Doctor was still busy with his boots。
〃Don Enrique；〃 said Bumpo； 〃allow me to introduce myself。 I am the
Crown Prince of Jolliginki。 Would you care to have a small bet with me on
to…morrow's bullfight？〃
Don Enrique bowed。
〃Why certainly；〃 he said； 〃I shall be delighted。 But I must warn you
that you are bound to lose。 How much？〃
〃Oh a mere truffle；〃 said Bumpo〃just for the fun of the thing； you
know。 What do you say to three…thousand pesetas？〃
〃I agree；〃 said the Spaniard bowing once more。 〃I will meet you after
the bullfight to…morrow。〃
〃So that's all right；〃 said Polynesia as we came out to join the Doctor。
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
〃I feel as though quite a load had been taken off my mind。〃
THE EIGHTH CHAPTER
THE GREAT BULLFIGHT
THE next day was a great day in Monteverde。 All the streets were
hung with flags； and everywhere gaily dressed crowds were to be seen
flocking towards the bull…ring； as the big circus was called where the
fights took place。
The news of the Doctor's challenge had gone round the town and； it
seemed； had caused much amusement to the islanders。 The very idea of a
mere foreigner daring to match himself against the great Pepito de
Malaga！Serve him right if he got killed！
The Doctor had borrowed a bullfighter's suit from Don Enrique； and
very gay and wonderful he looked in it； though Bumpo and I had hard
work getting the waistcoat to close in front and even then the buttons kept
bursting off it in all directions。
When we set out from the harbor to walk to the bull…ring； crowds of
small boys ran after us making fun of the Doctor's fatness； calling out；
〃Juan Hagapoco； el grueso matador！〃 which is the Spanish for； 〃John
Dolittle； the fat bullfighter。〃 As soon as we arrived the Doctor said he
would like to take a look at the bulls before the fight began； and we were
at once led to the bull pen where； behind a high railing； six enormous
black bulls were tramping around wildly。
In a few hurried words and signs the Doctor told the bulls what he was
going to do and gave them careful instructions for their part of the show。
The poor creatures were tremendously glad when they heard that there
was a chance of bullfighting being stopped； and they promised to do
exactly as they were told。
Of course the man who took us in there didn't understand what we
were doing。 He merely thought the fat Englishman was crazy when he saw
the Doctor making signs and talking in ox tongue。
From there the Doctor went to the matadors' dressing…rooms while
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
Bumpo and I with Polynesia made our way into the bull…ring and took our
seats in the great open…air theatre。
It was a very gay sight。 Thousands of ladies and gentlemen were there；
all dressed in their smartest clothes； and everybody seemed very happy
and cheerful。
Right at the beginning Don Enrique got up and explained to the people
that the first item on the program was to be a match between the English
Doctor and Pepito de Malaga。 He told them what he had promised if the
Doctor should win。 But the people did not seem to think there was much
chance of that。 A roar of laughter went up at the very mention of such a
thing。
When Pepito came into the ring everybody cheered； the ladies blew
kisses and the men clapped and waved their hats。
Presently a large door on the other side of the ring was rolled back and
in galloped one of the bulls； then the door was closed again。 At once the
matador became very much on the alert。 He waved his red cloak and the
bull rushed at him。 Pepito stepped nimbly aside and the people cheered
again。
This game was repeated several times。 But I noticed that whenever
Pepito got into a tight place and seemed to be in real danger from the bull；
an assistant of his； who always hung around somewhere near； drew the
bull's attention upon himself by waving another red cloak。 Then the bull
would chase the assistant and Pepito was left in safety。 Most often； as soon
as he had drawn the bull off； this assistant ran for the high fence and
vaulted out of the ring to save himself。 They evidently had it all arranged；
these matadors； and it didn't seem to me that they were in any very great
danger from the poor clumsy bull so long as they didn't slip and fall。
After about ten minutes of this kind of thing the small door into the
matadors' dressing…room opened and the Doctor strol
