voyages of dr[1]. doolittle(都利特尔的航行)-第47节
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was born！ Then while we crowded round The grateful glow； pushed he
Our wayward； floating land Back to peaceful anchorage In sunny seas。
V
（He Leads The People To Victory in War） Once only Was his kindly
countenance Darkened by a deadly frown。 Woe to the wicked enemy That
dares attack The tribe with Thinkalot for Chief！
VI
（He Is Crowned King） The birds of the air rejoiced； The Sea laughed
and gambolled with her shores； All Red…skins wept for joy The day we
crowned him King。 He is the Builder； the Healer； the Teacher and the
Prince； He is the greatest of them all。 May he live a thousand thousand
years； Happy in his heart； To bless our land with Peace。
THE SECOND CHAPTER
THOUGHTS OF HOME
IN the Royal Palace Bumpo and I had a beautiful suite of rooms of our
very ownwhich Polynesia； Jip and Chee…Chee shared with us。
Officially Bumpo was Minister of the Interior； while I was First Lord
of the Treasury。 Long Arrow also had quarters there； but at present he was
absent； traveling abroad。
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One night after supper when the Doctor was away in the town
somewhere visiting a new…born baby； we were all sitting round the big
table in Bumpo's reception…room。 This we did every evening； to talk over
the plans for the following day and various affairs of state。 It was a kind of
Cabinet Meeting。
To…night however we were talking about Englandand also about
things to eat。 We had got a little tired of Indian food。 You see； none of the
natives knew how to cook； and we had the most discouraging time training
a chef for the Royal Kitchen。 Most of them were champions at spoiling
good food。 Often we got so hungry that the Doctor would sneak
downstairs with us into the palace basement； after all the cooks were safe
in bed； and fry pancakes secretly over the dying embers of the fire。 The
Doctor himself was the finest cook that ever lived。 But he used to make a
terrible mess of the kitchen； and of course we had to be awfully careful
that we didn't get caught。
Well； as I was saying； to…night food was the subject of discussion at
the Cabinet Meeting； and I had just been reminding Bumpo of the nice
dishes we had had at the bed…maker's house in Monteverde。
〃I tell you what I would like now；〃 said Bumpo： 〃a large cup of cocoa
with whipped cream on the top of it。 In Oxford we used to be able to get
the most wonderful cocoa。 It is really too bad they haven't any cocoa…trees
in this island； or cows to give cream。〃
〃When do you suppose；〃 asked Jip； 〃the Doctor intends to move on
from here？〃
〃I was talking to him about that only yesterday；〃 said Polynesia。 〃But I
couldn't get any satisfactory answer out of him。 He didn't seem to want to
speak about it。〃
There was a pause in the conversation。
〃Do you know what I believe？〃 she added presently。 〃I believe the
Doctor has given up even thinking of going home。〃
〃Good Lord！〃 cried Bumpo。 〃You don't say！〃
〃Sh！〃 said Polynesia。 〃What's that noise？〃
We listened； and away off in the distant corridors of the palace we
heard the sentries crying；
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〃The King！Make way！The King！〃
〃It's heat last；〃 whispered Polynesia〃late； as usual。 Poor man； how
he does work！Chee…Chee； get the pipe and tobacco out of the cupboard
and lay the dressing…gown ready on his chair。〃
When the Doctor came into the room he looked serious and thoughtful。
Wearily he took off his crown and hung it on a peg behind the door。 Then
he exchanged the royal cloak for the dressing…gown； dropped into his chair
at the head of the table with a deep sigh and started to fill his pipe。
〃Well；〃 asked Polynesia quietly； 〃how did you find the baby？〃
〃The baby？〃 he murmuredhis thoughts still seemed to be very far
away〃Ah yes。 The baby was much better； thank you It has cut its
second tooth。〃
Then he was silent again； staring dreamily at the ceiling through a
cloud of tobacco…smoke； while we all sat round quite still； waiting。
〃We were wondering； Doctor；〃 said I at last；〃just before you came in…
… when you would be starting home again。 We will have been on this
island seven months to…morrow。〃
The Doctor sat forward in his chair looking rather uncomfortable。
〃Well； as a matter of fact；〃 said he after a moment； 〃I meant to speak to
you myself this evening on that very subject。 But it'sera little hard to
make any one exactly understand the situation。 I am afraid that it would be
impossible for me to leave the work I am now engaged on。 。 。 。 You
remember； when they first insisted on making me king； I told you it was
not easy to shake off responsibilities； once you had taken them up。 These
people have come to rely on me for a great number of things。 We found
them ignorant of much that white people enjoy。 And we have； one might
say； changed the current of their lives considerably。 Now it is a very
ticklish business； to change the lives of other people。 And whether the
changes we have made will be； in the end； for good or for bad； is our
lookout。〃
He thought a momentthen went on in a quieter； sadder voice：
〃I would like to continue my voyages and my natural history work；
and I would like to go back to Puddlebyas much as any of you。 This is
March； and the crocuses will be showing in the lawn。 。 。 。 But that which I
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feared has come true： I cannot close my eyes to what might happen if I
should leave these people and run away。 They would probably go back to
their old habits and customs： wars； superstitions； devil…worship and what
not； and many of the new things we have taught them might be put to
improper use and make their condition； then； worse by far than that in
which we found them。 。 。 。 They like me； they trust me； they have come to
look to me for help in all their problems and troubles。 And no man wants
to do unfair things to them who trust him。 。 。 。 And then again； I like
THEM。 They are； as it were； my childrenI never had any children of my
ownand I am terribly interested in how they will grow up。 Don't you see
what I mean？How can I possibly run away and leave them in the
lurch？ 。 。 。 No。 I have thought it over a good deal and tried to decide what
was best。 And I am afraid that the work I took up when I assumed the
crown I must stick to。 I'm afraid I've got to stay。〃
〃For goodfor your whole life？〃 asked Bumpo in a low voice。
For some moments the Doctor； frowning； made no answer。
〃I don't know；〃 he said at last〃Anyhow for the present there is
certainly no hope of my leaving。 It wouldn't be right。〃
The sad silence that followed was broken finally by a knock upon the
door。
With a patient sigh the Doctor got up and put on his crown and cloak
again。
〃Come in；〃 he called； sitting down in his chair once more。
The door opened and a footmanone of the hundred and forty…three
who were always on night dutystood bowing in the entrance。
〃Oh； Kindly One；〃 said he； 〃there is a traveler at the palace…gate who
would have speech with Your Majesty。〃
〃Another baby's been born； I'll bet a shilling；〃 muttered Polynesia。
〃Did you ask the traveler's name？〃 enquired the Doctor。
〃Yes； Your Majesty；〃 said the footman。 〃It is Long Arrow； the son of
Golden Arrow。〃
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THE THIRD CHAPTER
THE RED MAN'S SCIENCE
LONG ARROW！〃 cried the Doctor。 〃How splendid！ Show him in
show him in at once。〃
〃I'm so glad；〃 he continued； turning to us as soon as the footman had
gone。 〃I've missed Long Arro
