voyages of dr[1]. doolittle(都利特尔的航行)-第48节
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gone。 〃I've missed Long Arrow terribly。 He's an awfully good man to have
around even if he doesn't talk much。 Let me see： it's five months now
since he went off to Brazil。 I'm so glad he's back safe。 He does take such
tremendous chances with that canoe of hisclever as he is。 It's no joke；
crossing a hundred miles of open sea in a twelve…foot canoe。 I wouldn't
care to try it。〃
Another knock； and when the door swung open in answer to the
Doctor's call； there stood our big friend on the threshold； a smile upon his
strong； bronzed face。 Behind him appeared two porters carrying loads
done up in Indian palm…matting。 These； when the first salutations were
over； Long Arrow ordered to lay their burdens down。
〃Behold； oh Kindly One；〃 said he； 〃I bring you； as I promised； my
collection of plants which I had hidden in a cave in the Andes。 These
treasures represent the labors of my life。〃
The packages were opened； and inside were many smaller packages
and bundles。 Carefully they were laid out in rows upon the table。
It appeared at first a large but disappointing display。 There were plants；
flowers； fruits； leaves； roots； nuts； beans； honeys； gums； bark； seeds； bees
and a few kinds of insects。
The study of plantsor botany； as it is calledwas a kind of natural
history which had never interested me very much。 I had considered it；
compared with the study of animals； a dull science。 But as Long Arrow
began taking up the various things in his collection and explaining their
qualities to us； I became more and more fascinated。 And before he had
done I was completely absorbed by the wonders of the Vegetable
Kingdom which he had brought so far。
〃These；〃 said he； taking up a little packet of big seeds； 〃are what I have
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called 'laughing…beans。' 〃
〃What are they for？〃 asked Bumpo。
〃To cause mirth；〃 said the Indian。
Bumpo； while Long Arrow's back was turned； took three of the beans
and swallowed them。
〃Alas！〃 said the Indian when he discovered what Bumpo had done。 〃If
he wished to try the powers of these seeds he should have eaten no more
than a quarter of a one。 Let us hope that he does not die of laughter。〃
The beans' effect upon Bumpo was most extraordinary。 First he broke
into a broad smile； then he began to giggle； finally he burst into such
prolonged roars of hearty laughter that we had to carry him into the next
room and put him to bed。 The Doctor said afterwards that he probably
would have died laughing if he had not had such a strong constitution。 All
through the night he gurgled happily in his sleep。 And even when we woke
him up the next morning he rolled out of bed still chuckling。
Returning to the Reception Room； we were shown some red roots
which Long Arrow told us had the property； when made into a soup with
sugar and salt； of causing people to dance with extraordinary speed and
endurance。 He asked us to try them； but we refused； thanking him。 After
Bumpo's exhibition we were a little afraid of any more experiments for the
present。
There was no end to the curious and useful things that Long Arrow had
collected： an oil from a vine which would make hair grow in one night； an
orange as big as a pumpkin which he had raised in his own mountain…
garden in Peru； a black honey （he had brought the bees that made it too
and the seeds of the flowers they fed on） which would put you to sleep；
just with a teaspoonful； and make you wake up fresh in the morning； a nut
that made the voice beautiful for singing； a water…weed that stopped cuts
from bleeding； a moss that cured snake…bite； a lichen that prevented sea…
sickness。
The Doctor of course was tremendously interested。 Well into the early
hours of the morning he was busy going over the articles on the table one
by one； listing their names and writing their properties and descriptions
into a note…book as Long Arrow dictated。
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〃There are things here； Stubbins；〃 he said as he ended； 〃which in the
hands of skilled druggists will make a vast difference to the medicine and
chemistry of the world。 I suspect that this sleeping…honey by itself will
take the place of half the bad drugs we have had to use so far。 Long Arrow
has discovered a pharmacopaeia of his own。 Miranda was right： he is a
great naturalist。 His name deserves to be placed beside Linnaeus。 Some
day I must get all these things to EnglandBut when；〃 he added sadly
〃Yes； that's the problem： when？〃
THE FOURTH CHAPTER
THE SEA…SERPENT
FOR a long time after that Cabinet Meeting of which I have just told
you we did not ask the Doctor anything further about going home。 Life in
Spidermonkey Island went forward； month in month out； busily and
pleasantly。 The Winter； with Christmas celebrations； came and went； and
Summer was with us once again before we knew it。
As time passed the Doctor became more and more taken up with the
care of his big family； and the hours he could spare for his natural history
work grew fewer and fewer。 I knew that he often still thought of his house
and garden in Puddleby and of his old plans and ambitions； because once
in a while we would notice his face grow thoughtful and a little sad； when
something reminded him of England or his old life。 But he never spoke of
these things。 And I truly believe he would have spent the remainder of his
days on Spidermonkey Island if it hadn't been for an accident and for
Polynesia。
The old parrot had grown very tired of the Indians and she made no
secret of it。
〃The very idea；〃 she said to me one day as we were walking on the
seashore〃the idea of the famous John Dolittle spending his valuable life
waiting on these greasy natives！Why； it's preposterous！〃
All that morning we had been watching the Doctor superintend the
building of the new theatre in Popsipetelthere was already an opera…
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house and a concert…hall； and finally she had got so grouchy and annoyed
at the sight that I had suggested her taking a walk with me。
〃Do you really think；〃 I asked as we sat down on the sands； 〃that he
will never go back to Puddleby again？〃
〃I don't know；〃 said she。 〃At one time I felt sure that the thought of the
pets he had left behind at the house would take him home soon。 But since
Miranda brought him word last August that everything was all right there；
that hope's gone。 For months and months I've been racking my brains to
think up a plan。 If we could only hit upon something that would turn his
thoughts back to natural history again I mean something big enough to
get him really excitedwe might manage it。 But how？〃she shrugged her
shoulders in disgust〃How？when all he thinks of now is paving streets
and teaching papooses that twice one are two！〃
It was a perfect Popsipetel day； bright and hot； blue and yellow。
Drowsily I looked out to sea thinking of my mother and father。 I wondered
if they were getting anxious over my long absence。 Beside me old
Polynesia went on grumbling away in low steady tones； and her words
began to mingle and mix with the gentle lapping of the waves upon the
shore。 It may have been the even murmur of her voice； helped by the soft
and balmy air； that lulled me to sleep。 I don't know。 Anyhow I presently
dreamed that the island had moved again not floatingly as before； but
suddenly； jerkily； as though something enormously powerful had heaved it
up from its bed just once and let it down。
How long I slept after that I have no idea。 I was awakened by a gentle
pecking on the nose。
〃Tommy！Tommy！〃 （it was Polynesia's voice） 〃Wake up！Gosh； what
a boy； to sleep through an earthquake and never notice it！Tommy； listen：
here's our chance now。 Wake up； for goodness' sake！〃
〃What's
