voyages of dr[1]. doolittle(都利特尔的航行)-第40节
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jumping through the waves。 The Doctor hailed them and they came
inshore。
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He asked them how far we were from the South Polar Continent。
About a hundred miles； they told him。 And then they asked why he
wanted to know。
〃Because this floating island we are on；〃 said he； 〃is drifting
southward all the time in a current。 It's an island that ordinarily belongs
somewhere in the tropic zonereal sultry weather； sunstrokes and all that。
If it doesn't stop going southward pretty soon everything on it is going to
perish。〃
〃Well；〃 said the porpoises； 〃then the thing to do is to get it back into a
warmer climate； isn't it？〃
〃Yes； but how？〃 said the Doctor。 〃We can't ROW it back。〃
〃No；〃 said they； 〃but whales could push itif you only got enough of
them。〃
〃What a splendid idea！Whales； the very thing！〃 said the Doctor。 〃Do
you think you could get me some？〃
〃Why； certainly；〃 said the porpoises； 〃we passed one herd of them out
there； sporting about among the icebergs。 We'll ask them to come over。
And if they aren't enough； we'll try and hunt up some more。 Better have
plenty。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said the Doctor。 〃You are very kindBy the way； do you
happen to know how this island came to be a floating island？ At least half
of it； I notice； is made of stone。 It is very odd that it floats at all； isn't it？〃
〃It is unusual；〃 they said。 〃But the explanation is quite simple。 It used
to be a mountainous part of South America an overhanging partsort of
an awkward corner； you might say。 Way back in the glacial days；
thousands of years ago； it broke off from the mainland； and by some
curious accident the inside of it； which is hollow； got filled with air as it
fell into the ocean。 You can only see less than half of the island： the bigger
half is under water。 And in the middle of it； underneath； is a huge rock air…
chamber； running right up inside the mountains。 And that's what keeps it
floating。〃
〃What a pecurious phenometer！〃 said Bumpo。
〃It is indeed；〃 said the Doctor。 〃I must make a note of that。〃 And out
came the everlasting note…book。
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The porpoises went bounding off towards the icebergs。 And not long
after； we saw the sea heaving and frothing as a big herd of whales came
towards us at full speed。
They certainly were enormous creatures； and there must have been a
good two hundred of them。
〃Here they are；〃 said the porpoises； poking their heads out of the
water。
〃Good！〃 said the Doctor。 〃Now just explain to them； will you please？
that this is a very serious matter for all the living creatures in this land。
And ask them if they will be so good as to go down to the far end of the
island； put their noses against it and push it back near the coast of
Southern Brazil。〃
The porpoises evidently succeeded in persuading the whales to do as
the Doctor asked； for presently we saw them thrashing through the seas；
going off towards the south end of the island。
Then we lay down upon the beach and waited。
After about an hour the Doctor got up and threw a stick into the water。
For a while this floated motionless。 But soon we saw it begin to move
gently down the coast。
〃Ah！〃 said the Doctor； 〃see that？The island is going North at last。
Thank goodness！〃
Faster and faster we left the stick behind； and smaller and dimmer
grew the icebergs on the skyline。
The Doctor took out his watch； threw more sticks into the water and
made a rapid calculation。
〃Humph！Fourteen and a half knots an hour；〃 he murmured〃A very
nice speed。 It should take us about five days to get back near Brazil。 Well；
that's that Quite a load off my mind。 I declare I feel warmer already。 Let's
go and get something to eat。〃
THE FIFTH CHAPTER
WAR！
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ON our way back to the village the Doctor began discussing natural
history with Long Arrow。 But their most interesting talk； mainly about
plants； had hardly begun when an Indian runner came dashing up to us
with a message。
Long Arrow listened gravely to the breathless； babbled words； then
turned to the Doctor and said in eagle tongue；
〃Great White Man； an evil thing has befallen the Popsipetels。 Our
neighbors to the southward； the thievish Bag…jagderags； who for so long
have cast envious eyes on our stores of ripe corn； have gone upon the war…
path； and even now are advancing to attack us。〃
〃Evil news indeed；〃 said the Doctor。 〃Yet let us not judge harshly。
Perhaps it is that they are desperate for food； having their own crops frost…
killed before harvest。 For are they not even nearer the cold South than
you？〃
〃Make no excuses for any man of the tribe of the Bag…jagderags；〃 said
Long Arrow shaking his head。 〃They are an idle shiftless race。 They do but
see a chance to get corn without the labor of husbandry。 If it were not that
they are a much bigger tribe and hope to defeat their neighbor by sheer
force of numbers； they would not have dared to make open war upon the
brave Popsipetels。〃
When we reached the village we found it in a great state of excitement。
Everywhere men were seen putting their bows in order； sharpening spears；
grinding battle…axes and making arrows by the hundred。 Women were
raising a high fence of bamboo poles all round the village。 Scouts and
messengers kept coming and going； bringing news of the movements of
the enemy。 While high up in the trees and hills about the village we could
see look…outs watching the mountains to the southward。
Long Arrow brought another Indian； short but enormously broad； and
introduced him to the Doctor as Big Teeth； the chief warrior of the
Popsipetels。
The Doctor volunteered to go and see the enemy and try to argue the
matter out peacefully with them instead of fighting； for war； he said； was
at best a stupid wasteful business。 But the two shook their heads。 Such a
plan was hopeless； they said。 In the last war when they had sent a
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messenger to do peaceful arguing； the enemy had merely hit him with an
ax。
While the Doctor was asking Big Teeth how he meant to defend the
village against attack； a cry of alarm was raised by the look…outs。
〃They're coming！The Bag…jagderags…swarming down the mountains
in thousands！〃
〃Well；〃 said the Doctor； 〃it's all in the day's work； I suppose。 I don't
believe in war； but if the village is attacked we must help defend it。〃
And he picked up a club from the ground and tried the heft of it
against a stone。
〃This；〃 he said； 〃seems like a pretty good tool to me。〃 And he walked
to the bamboo fence and took his place among the other waiting fighters。
Then we all got hold of some kind of weapon with which to help our
friends； the gallant Popsipetels： I borrowed a bow and a quiver full of
arrows； Jip was content to rely upon his old； but still strong teeth； Chee…
Chee took a bag of rocks and climbed a palm where he could throw them
down upon the enemies' heads； and Bumpo marched after the Doctor to
the fence armed with a young tree in one hand and a door…post in the other。
When the enemy drew near enough to be seen from where we stood
we all gasped with astonishment。 The hillsides were actually covered with
them thousands upon thousands。 They made our small army within the
village look like a mere handful。
〃Saints alive！〃 muttered Polynesia； 〃our little lot will stand no chance
against that swarm。 This will never do。 I'm going off to get some help。〃
Where she was going and what kind of help she meant to get； I had no
idea。 She just disappeared from my side。 But Jip； who had heard her；
poked his nose between the bamboo bars of the fence
