voyages of dr[1]. doolittle(都利特尔的航行)-第38节
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a word。
The Doctor tried again； in several other animal dialects。 But with no
result。
Till at last he came to the language of eagles。
〃Great Red…Skin；〃 he said in the fierce screams and short grunts that
the big birds use； 〃never have I been so glad in all my life as I am to…day
to find you still alive。〃
In a flash Long Arrow's stony face lit up with a smile of understanding；
and back came the answer in eagle…tongue；
〃Mighty White Man； I owe my life to you。 For the remainder of my
days I am your servant to command。〃
Afterwards Long Arrow told us that this was the only bird or animal
language that he had ever been able to learn。 But that he had not spoken it
in a long time； for no eagles ever came to this island。
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Then the Doctor signaled to Bumpo who came forward with the nuts
and water。 But Long Arrow neither ate nor drank。 Taking the supplies with
a nod of thanks； he turned and carried them into the inner dimness of the
cave。 We followed him。
Inside we found nine other Indians； men； women and boys； lying on
the rock floor in a dreadful state of thinness and exhaustion。
Some had their eyes closed； as if dead。 Quickly the Doctor went round
them all and listened to their hearts。 They were all alive； but one woman
was too weak even to stand upon her feet。
At a word from the Doctor； Chee…Chee and Polynesia sped off into the
jungles after more fruit and water。
While Long Arrow was handing round what food we had to his
starving friends； we suddenly heard a sound outside the cave。 Turning
about we saw； clustered at the entrance； the band of Indians who had met
us so inhospitably at the beach。
They peered into the dark cave cautiously at first。 But as soon as they
saw Long Arrow and the other Indians with us； they came rushing in；
laughing； clapping their hands with joy and jabbering away at a
tremendous rate。
Long Arrow explained to the Doctor that the nine Indians we had
found in the cave with him were two families who had accompanied him
into the mountains to help him gather medicine…plants。 And while they had
been searching for a kind of mossgood for indigestionwhich grows
only inside of damp caves； the great rock slab had slid down and shut
them in。 Then for two weeks they had lived on the medicine…moss and
such fresh water as could be found dripping from the damp walls of the
cave。 The other Indians on the island bad given them up for lost and
mourned them as dead； and they were now very surprised and happy to
find their relatives alive。
When Long Arrow turned to the newcomers and told them in their
own language that it was the white man who had found and freed their
relatives； they gathered round John Dolittle； all talking at once and beating
their breasts。
Long Arrow said they were apologizing and trying to tell the Doctor
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how sorry they were that they had seemed unfriendly to him at the beach。
They had never seen a white man before and had really been afraid of
himespecially when they saw him conversing with the porpoises。 They
had thought he was the Devil； they said。
Then they went outside and looked at the great stone we had thrown
down； big as a meadow； and they walked round and round it； pointing to
the break running through the middle and wondering how the trick of
felling it was done。
Travelers who have since visited Spidermonkey Island tell me that that
huge stone slab is now one of the regular sights of the island。 And that the
Indian guides； when showing it to visitors； always tell THEIR story of
how it came there。 They say that when the Doctor found that the rocks had
entrapped his friend； Long Arrow； he was so angry that he ripped the
mountain in halves with his bare hands and let him out。
THE SECOND CHAPTER
〃THE MEN OF THE MOVING LAND〃
FROM that time on the Indians' treatment of us was very different。 We
were invited to their village for a feast to celebrate the recovery of the lost
families。 And after we had made a litter from saplings to carry the sick
woman in； we all started off down the mountain。
On the way the Indians told Long Arrow something which appeared to
be sad news； for on hearing it； his face grew very grave。 The Doctor asked
him what was wrong。 And Long Arrow said he had just been informed that
the chief of the tribe； an old man of eighty； had died early that morning。
〃That；〃 Polynesia whispered in my ear； 〃must have been what they
went back to the village for； when the messenger fetched them from the
beach。Remember？〃
〃What did he die of？〃 asked the Doctor。
〃He died of cold；〃 said Long Arrow。
Indeed； now that the sun was setting； we were all shivering ourselves。
〃This is a serious thing；〃 said the Doctor to me。 〃The island is still in
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the grip of that wretched current flowing southward。 We will have to look
into this to…morrow。 If nothing can be done about it； the Indians had better
take to canoes and leave the island。 The chance of being wrecked will be
better than getting frozen to death in the ice…floes of the Antarctic。〃
Presently we came over a saddle in the hills； and looking downward on
the far side of the island； we saw the village a large cluster of grass huts
and gaily colored totem…poles close by the edge of the sea。
〃How artistic！〃 said the Doctor〃Delightfully situated。 What is the
name of the village？〃
〃Popsipetel；〃 said Long Arrow。 〃That is the name also of the tribe。 The
word signifies in Indian tongue； The Men of The Moving Land。 There are
two tribes of Indians on the island： the Popsipetels at this end and the Bag…
jagderags at the other。〃
〃Which is the larger of the two peoples？〃
〃The Bag…jagderags； by far。 Their city covers two square leagues。
But；〃 added Long Arrow a slight frown darkening his handsome face； 〃for
me； I would rather have one Popsipetel than a hundred Bag…jagderags。〃
The news of the rescue we had made had evidently gone ahead of us。
For as we drew nearer to the village we saw crowds of Indians streaming
out to greet the friends and relatives whom they had never thought to see
again。
These good people； when they too were told how the rescue had been
the work of the strange white visitor to their shores； all gathered round the
Doctor； shook him by the hands； patted him and hugged him。 Then they
lifted him up upon their strong shoulders and carried him down the hill
into the village。
There the welcome we received was even more wonderful。 In spite of
the cold air of the coming night； the villagers； who had all been shivering
within their houses； threw open their doors and came out in hundreds。 I
had no idea that the little village could hold so many。 They thronged about
us； smiling and nodding and waving their hands； and as the details of what
we had done were recited by Long Arrow they kept shouting strange
singing noises； which we supposed were words of gratitude or praise。
We were next escorted to a brand…new grass house； clean and sweet…
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smelling within； and informed that it was ours。 Six strong Indian boys
were told off to be our servants。
On our way through the village we noticed a house； larger than the rest；
standing at the end of the main street。 Long Arrow pointed to it and told us
it was the Chief's house； but that it was now emptyno new chief having
yet been elected to take the place of the old one who had died。
Inside our new home a feast of fish and fruit had been prepared。 Most
of the more important men of the tribe were already seating themselves at
the long dining…table when we got there。 Long Arrow invited us to sit
down and eat。
This we were glad enough to do； as we wer
