voyages of dr[1]. doolittle(都利特尔的航行)-第37节
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OVER the mountain and back； for more exercise； I'll wait for him here。
Chee…Chee and Polynesia can follow him。〃
Indeed it would have taken a monkey or a bird to climb the place
which the beetle was now walking up。 It was a smooth； flat part of the
mountain's side； steep as a wall。
But presently； when the Jabizri was no more than ten feet above our
heads； we all cried out together。 For； even while we watched him； he had
disappeared into the face of the rock like a raindrop soaking into sand。
〃He's gone；〃 cried Polynesia。 〃There must be a hole up there。〃 And in a
twinkling she had fluttered up the rock and was clinging to the face of it
with her claws。
〃Yes；〃 she shouted down； 〃we've run him to earth at last。 His hole is
right here； behind a patch of lichenbig enough to get two fingers in。〃
〃Ah；〃 cried the Doctor； 〃this great slab of rock then must have slid down
from the summit and shut off the mouth of the cave like a door。 Poor
fellows！ What a dreadful time they must have spent in there！ Oh； if we
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only had some picks and shovels now！〃
〃Picks and shovels wouldn't do much good；〃 said Polynesia。 〃Look at
the size of the slab： a hundred feet high and as many broad。 You would
need an army for a week to make any impression on it。〃
〃I wonder how thick it is；〃 said the Doctor； and he picked up a big
stone and banged it with all his might against the face of the rock。 It made
a hollow booming sound； like a giant drum。 We all stood still listening
while the echo of it died slowly away。
And then a cold shiver ran down my spine。 For； from within the
mountain； back came three answering knocks： BOOM！ 。 。 。 BOOM！ 。 。 。
BOOM！
Wide…eyed we looked at one another as though the earth itself had
spoken。 And the solemn little silence that followed was broken by the
Doctor。
〃Thank Heaven；〃 he said in a hushed reverent voice； 〃some of them at
least are alive！〃
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
PART FIVE
THE FIRST CHAPTER
A GREAT MOMENT
THE next part of our problem was the hardest of all： how to roll aside；
pull down or break open； that gigantic slab。 As we gazed up at it towering
above our heads； it looked indeed a hopeless task for our tiny strength。
But the sounds of life from inside the mountain had put new heart in
us。 And in a moment we were all scrambling around trying to find any
opening or crevice which would give us something to work on。 Chee…Chee
scaled up the sheer wall of the slab and examined the top of it where it
leaned against the mountain's side； I uprooted bushes and stripped off
hanging creepers that might conceal a weak place； the Doctor got more
leaves and composed new picture…letters for the Jabizri to take in if he
should turn up again； whilst Polynesia carried up a handful of nuts and
pushed them into the beetle's hole； one by one； for the prisoners inside to
eat。
〃Nuts are so nourishing；〃 she said。
But Jip it was who； scratching at the foot of the slab like a good ratter；
made the discovery which led to our final success。
〃Doctor；〃 he cried； running up to John Dolittle with his nose all
covered with black mud； 〃this slab is resting on nothing but a bed of soft
earth。 You never saw such easy digging。 I guess the cave behind must be
just too high up for the Indians to reach the earth with their hands； or they
could have scraped a way out long ago。 If we can only scratch the earth…
bed away from under； the slab might drop a little。 Then maybe the Indians
can climb out over the top。〃
The Doctor hurried to examine the place where Jip had dug。
〃Why； yes；〃 he said； 〃if we can get the earth away from under this
front edge； the slab is standing up so straight； we might even make it fall
right down in this direction。 It's well worth trying。 Let's get at it； quick。〃
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We had no tools but the sticks and slivers of stone which we could find
around。 A strange sight we must have looked； the whole crew of us
squatting down on our heels； scratching and burrowing at the foot of the
mountain； like six badgers in a row。
After about an hour； during which in spite of the cold the sweat fell
from our foreheads in all directions； the Doctor said； 〃Be ready to jump
from under； clear out of the way； if she shows signs of moving。 If this slab
falls on anybody； it will squash him flatter than a pancake。〃
Presently there was a grating； grinding sound。
〃Look out！〃 yelled John Dolittle； 〃here she comes！Scatter！〃
We ran for our lives； outwards； toward the sides。 The big rock slid
gently down； about a foot； into the trough which we had made beneath it。
For a moment I was disappointed； for like that； it was as hopeless as
before no signs of a cave…mouth showing above it。 But as I looked
upward； I saw the top coming very slowly away from the mountainside。
We had unbalanced it below。 As it moved apart from the face of the
mountain； sounds of human voices； crying gladly in a strange tongue；
issued from behind。 Faster and faster the top swung forward； downward。
Then； with a roaring crash which shook the whole mountain…range beneath
our feet； it struck the earth and cracked in halves。
How can I describe to any one that first meeting between the two
greatest naturalists the world ever knew； Long Arrow； the son of Golden
Arrow and John Dolittle； M。D。； of Puddleby…on…the…Marsh？ The scene
rises before me now； plain and clear in every detail； though it took place so
many； many years ago。 But when I come to write of it； words seem such
poor things with which to tell you of that great occasion。
I know that the Doctor； whose life was surely full enough of big
happenings； always counted the setting free of the Indian scientist as the
greatest thing he ever did。 For my part； knowing how much this meeting
must mean to him； I was on pins and needles of expectation and curiosity
as the great stone finally thundered down at our feet and we gazed across
it to see what lay behind。
The gloomy black mouth of a tunnel； full twenty feet high； was
revealed。 In the centre of this opening stood an enormous red Indian；
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seven feet tall； handsome； muscular； slim and nakedbut for a beaded
cloth about his middle and an eagle's feather in his hair。 He held one hand
across his face to shield his eyes from the blinding sun which he had not
seen in many days。
〃It is he！〃 I heard the Doctor whisper at my elbow。 〃I know him by his
great height and the scar upon his chin。〃
And he stepped forward slowly across the fallen stone with his hand
outstretched to the red man。
Presently the Indian uncovered his eyes。 And I saw that they had a
curious piercing gleam in themlike the eyes of an eagle； but kinder and
more gentle。 He slowly raised his right arm； the rest of him still and
motionless like a statue； and took the Doctor's hand in his。 It was a great
moment。 Polynesia nodded to me in a knowing； satisfied kind of way。 And
I heard old Bumpo sniffle sentimentally。 Then the Doctor tried to speak to
Long Arrow。 But the Indian knew no English of course； and the Doctor
knew no Indian。 Presently； to my surprise； I heard the Doctor trying him in
different animal languages。
〃How do you do？〃 he said in dog…talk； 〃I am glad to see you；〃 in
horse…signs； 〃How long have you been buried？〃 in deer…language。 Still the
Indian made no move but stood there； straight and stiff； understanding not
a word。
The Doctor tried again； in several other animal dialects。 But with n
