voyages of dr[1]. doolittle(都利特尔的航行)-第44节
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known as Jong Thinkalot。 How do you like it？〃
〃But I don't WANT to be a chief；〃 said the Doctor in an irritable voice。
〃I'm afraid you'll have hard work to get out of it now；〃 said she
〃unless you're willing to put to sea again in one of their rickety canoes。
You see you've been elected not merely the Chief of the Popsipetels；
you're to be a kingthe King of the whole of Spidermonkey Island。 The
Bag…jagderags； who were so anxious to have you govern them； sent spies
and messengers ahead of you； and when they found that you had been
elected Chief of the Popsipetels overnight they were bitterly disappointed。
However； rather than lose you altogether； the Bag…jagderags were willing
to give up their independence； and insisted that they and their lands be
united to the Popsipetels in order that you could be made king of both。 So
now you're in for it。〃
〃Oh Lord！〃 groaned the Doctor； 〃I do wish they wouldn't be so
enthusiastic！ Bother it； I don't WANT to be a king！〃
〃I should think； Doctor；〃 said I； 〃you'd feel rather proud and glad。 I
wish I had a chance to be a king。〃
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〃Oh I know it sounds grand； said he； pulling on his boots miserably。
〃But the trouble is； you can t take up responsibilities and then just drop
them again when you feel like it。 I have my own work to do。 Scarcely one
moment have I had to give to natural history since I landed on this island。
I've been doing some one else's business all the time。 And now they want
me to go on doing it！ Why； once I'm made King of the Popsipetels； that's
the end of me as a useful naturalist。 I'd be too busy for anything。 All I'd be
then is just a er er just a king。〃
〃Well； that's something！〃 said Bumpo。 〃My father is a king and has a
hundred and twenty wives。〃
〃That would make it worse；〃 said the Doctor〃 a hundred and twenty
times worse。 I have my work to do。 I don't want to be a king。〃
〃Look；〃 said Polynesia； 〃here come the head men to announce your
election。 Hurry up and get your boots laced。〃
The throng before our door had suddenly parted asunder； making a
long lane； and down this we now saw a group of personages coming
towards us。 The man in front； a handsome old Indian with a wrinkled face；
carried in his hands a wooden crowna truly beautiful and gorgeous
crown； even though of wood。 Wonderfully carved and painted； it had two
lovely blue feathers springing from the front of it。 Behind the old man
came eight strong Indians bearing a litter； a sort of chair with long handles
underneath to carry it by。
Kneeling down on one knee； bending his head almost to the ground；
the old man addressed the Doctor who now stood in the doorway putting
on his collar and tie。
〃Oh； Mighty One；〃 said he； 〃we bring you word from the Popsipetel
people。 Great are your deeds beyond belief； kind is your heart and your
wisdom； deeper than the sea。 Our chief is dead。 The people clamor for a
worthy leader。 Our old enemies； the Bag…jagderags are become； through
you； our brothers and good friends。 They too desire to bask beneath the
sunshine of your smile。 Behold then； I bring to you the Sacred Crown of
Popsipetel which； since ancient days when this island and its peoples were
one； beneath one monarch； has rested on no kingly brow。 Oh Kindly One；
we are bidden by the united voices of the peoples of this land to carry you
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to the Whispering Rocks； that there； with all respect and majesty； you may
be crowned our king King of all the Moving Land。〃
The good Indians did not seem to have even considered the possibility
of John Dolittle's refusing。 As for the poor Doctor； I never saw him so
upset by anything。 It was in fact the only time I have known him to get
thoroughly fussed。
〃Oh dear！〃 I heard him murmur； looking around wildly for some
escape。 〃What SHALL I do？Did any of you see where I laid that stud of
mine？ How on earth can I get this collar on without a stud？ What a day
this is； to be sure IMaybe it rolled under the bed； BumpoI do think they
might have given me a day or so to think it over in。 Who ever heard of
waking a man right out of his sleep； and telling him he's got to be a king；
before he has even washed his face？ Can't any of you find it？ Maybe
you're standing on it； Bumpo。 Move your feet。〃
〃Oh don't bother about your stud；〃 said Polynesia。 〃You will have to be
crowned without a collar。 They won't know the difference。〃
〃I tell you I'm not going to be crowned；〃 cried the Doctor〃not if I can
help it。 I'll make them a speech。 Perhaps that will satisfy them。〃 He turned
back to the Indians at the door。
〃My friends；〃 he said； 〃I am not worthy of this great honor you would
do me。 Little or no skill have I in the arts of kingcraft。 Assuredly among
your own brave men you will find many better fitted to lead you。 For this
compliment； this confidence and trust； I thank you。 But； I pray you； do not
think of me for such high duties which I could not possibly fulfil。〃
The old man repeated his words to the people behind him in a louder
voice。 Stolidly they shook their heads； moving not an inch。 The old man
turned back to the Doctor。
〃You are the chosen one；〃 said he。 〃They will have none but you。〃
Into the Doctor's perplexed face suddenly there came a flash of hope。
〃I'll go and see Long Arrow；〃 he whispered to me。 〃Perhaps he will
know of some way to get me out of this。〃
And asking the personages to excuse him a moment； he left them there；
standing at his door； and hurried off in the direction of Long Arrow's
house。 I followed him。
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We found our big friend lying on a grass bed outside his home； where
he had been moved that he might witness the holiday…making。
〃Long Arrow；〃 said the Doctor speaking quickly in eagle tongue so
that the bystanders should not overhear； 〃in dire peril I come to you for
help。 These men would make me their king。 If such a thing befall me； all
the great work I hoped to do must go undone； for who is there unfreer than
a king？ I pray you speak with them and persuade their kind well…meaning
hearts that what they plan to do would be unwise。〃
Long Arrow raised himself upon his elbow。 〃Oh Kindly One；〃 said he
（this seemed now to have become the usual manner of address when
speaking to the Doctor）； 〃sorely it grieves me that the first wish you ask of
me I should be unable to grant。 Alas！ I can do nothing。 These people have
so set their hearts on keeping you for king that if I tried to interfere they
would drive me from their land and likely crown you in the end in any
case。 A king you must be； if only for a while。 We must so arrange the
business of governing that you may have time to give to Nature's secrets。
Later we may be able to hit upon some plan to relieve you of the burden of
the crown。 But for now you must be king。 These people are a headstrong
tribe and they will have their way。 There is no other course。〃
Sadly the Doctor turned away from the bed and faced about。 And there
behind him stood the old man again； the crown still held in his wrinkled
hands and the royal litter waiting at his elbow。 With a deep reverence the
bearers motioned towards the seat of the chair； inviting the white man to
get in。
Once more the poor Doctor looked wildly； hopelessly about him for
some means of escape。 For a moment I thought he was going to take to his
heels and run for it。 But the crowd around us was far too thick and densely
packed for anyone to break through it。 A band of whistles and drums near
by suddenly started the music of a solemn processional march。 He turned
back pleadingly again to Long Arrow in a last appeal for help。 But the big
Indian merely shook his head and pointed； like the bearers； to the waiting
chair。
At last； almost in tears； John Dolittle stepped slowly into the litter and
sat down。 As he was hoisted on to the broad shoulders of the bearers I
