voyages of dr[1]. doolittle(都利特尔的航行)-第51节
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〃Yes； that's true。 He's far too consententious Bumpo agreed。
〃And besides；〃 Polynesia went on； 〃his only hope of ever getting away
from here would be to escape secretly。 He's got to leave while he is
holiday…making； incognito when no one knows where he is or what he's
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doing； but us。 If he built a ship big enough to cross the sea in； all the
Indians would see it； and hear it； being built； and they'd ask what it was for。
They would interfere。 They'd sooner have anything happen than lose the
Doctor。 Why； I believe if they thought he had any idea of escaping they
would put chains on him。〃
〃Yes； I really think they would；〃 I agreed。 〃Yet without a ship of some
kind I don't see how the Doctor is going to get away； even secretly。〃
〃Well； I'll tell you；〃 said Polynesia。 〃If we do succeed in making him
take this holiday； our next step will be to get the sea…snail to promise to
take us all in his shell and carry us to the mouth of Puddleby River。 If we
can once get the snail willing； the temptation will be too much for John
Dolittle and he'll come； I knowespecially as he'll be able to take those
new plants and drugs of Long Arrow's to the English doctors； as well as
see the floor of the ocean on the way。〃
〃How thrilling！〃 I cried。 〃Do you mean the snail could take us under
the sea all the way back to Puddleby？〃
〃Certainly；〃 said Polynesia； 〃a little trip like that is nothing to him。 He
would crawl along the floor of the ocean and the Doctor could see all the
sights。 Perfectly simple。 Oh； John Dolittle will come all right； if we can
only get him to take that holidayAND if the snail will consent to give us
the ride。〃
〃Golly； I hope he does！〃 sighed Jip。 〃I'm sick of these beastly tropics
they make you feel so lazy and good…for…nothing。 And there are no rats or
anything herenot that a fellow would have the energy to chase 'em even
if there were。 My； wouldn't I be glad to see old Puddleby and the garden
again！ And won't Dab…Dab be glad to have us back！〃
〃By the end of next month；〃 said I； 〃it will be two whole years since
we left Englandsince we pulled up the anchor at Kingsbridge and
bumped our way out into the river。〃
〃And got stuck on the mud…bank；〃 added Chee…Chee in a dreamy； far…
away voice。
〃Do you remember how all the people waved to us from the river…
wall？〃 I asked。
〃Yes。 And I suppose they've often talked about us in the town since；〃
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said Jip〃wondering whether we're dead or alive。〃
〃Cease；〃 said Bumpo； 〃I feel I am about to weep from sediment。〃
THE SEVENTH CHAPTER
THE DOCTOR'S DECISION
WELL； you can guess how glad we were when next morning the
Doctor； after his all…night conversation with the snail； told us that he had
made up his mind to take the holiday。 A proclamation was published right
away by the Town Crier that His Majesty was going into the country for a
seven…day rest； but that during his absence the palace and the government
offices would be kept open as usual。
Polynesia was immensely pleased。 She at once set quietly to work
making arrangements for our departuretaking good care the while that no
one should get an inkling of where we were going； what we were taking
with us； the hour of our leaving or which of the palace…gates we would go
out by。
Cunning old schemer that she was； she forgot nothing。 And not even
we； who were of the Doctor's party； could imagine what reasons she had
for some of her preparations。 She took me inside and told me that the one
thing I must remember to bring with me was ALL of the Doctor's note…
books。 Long Arrow； who was the only Indian let into the secret of our
destination； said he would like to come with us as far as the beach to see
the Great Snail； and him Polynesia told to be sure and bring his collection
of plants。 Bumpo she ordered to carry the Doctor's high hatcarefully
hidden under his coat。 She sent off nearly all the footmen who were on
night duty to do errands in the town； so that there should be as few
servants as possible to see us leave。 And midnight； the hour when most of
the towns…people would be asleep； she finally chose for our departure。
We had to take a week's food…supply with us for the royal holiday。 So；
with our other packages； we were heavy laden when on the stroke of
twelve we opened the west door of the palace and stepped cautiously and
quietly into the moonlit garden。
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〃Tiptoe incognito；〃 whispered Bumpo as we gently closed the heavy
doors behind us。
No one had seen us leave。
At the foot of the stone steps leading from the Peacock Terrace to the
Sunken Rosary； something made me pause and look back at the
magnificent palace which we had built in this strange； far…off land where
no white men but ourselves had ever come。 Somehow I felt it in my bones
that we were leaving it to…night never to return again。 And I wondered
what other kings and ministers would dwell in its splendid halls when we
were gone。 The air was hot； and everything was deadly still but for the
gentle splashing of the tame flamingoes paddling in the lily…pond。
Suddenly the twinkling lantern of a night watchman appeared round the
corner of a cypress hedge。 Polynesia plucked at my stocking and； in an
impatient whisper； bade me hurry before our flight be discovered。
On our arrival at the beach we found the snail already feeling much
better and now able to move his tail without pain。
The porpoises （who are by nature inquisitive creatures） were still
hanging about in the offing to see if anything of interest was going to
happen。 Polynesia； the plotter； while the Doctor was occupied with his
new patient； signaled to them and drew them aside for a little private chat。
〃Now see here； my friends；〃 said she speaking low： 〃you know how
much John Dolittle has done for the animalsgiven his whole life up to
them； one might say。 Well； here is your chance to do something for him。
Listen： he got made king of this island against his will； see？ And now that
he has taken the job on； he feels that he can't leave it thinks the Indians
won't be able to get along without him and all that which is nonsense； as
you and I very well know。 All right。 Then here's the point： if this snail
were only willing to take him and us and a little baggagenot very much；
thirty or forty pieces； sayinside his shell and carry us to England； we feel
sure that the Doctor would go； because he's just crazy to mess about on the
floor of the ocean。 What's more this would be his one and only chance of
escape from the island。 Now it is highly important that the Doctor return to
his own country to carry on his proper work which means such a lot to the
animals of the world。 So what we want you to do is to tell the sea…urchin
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to tell the starfish to tell the snail to take us in his shell and carry us to
Puddleby River。 Is that plain？〃
〃Quite； quite；〃 said the porpoises。 〃And we will willingly do our very
best to persuade himfor it is； as you say； a perfect shame for the great
man to be wasting his time here when he is so much needed by the
animals。〃
〃And don't let the Doctor know what you're about；〃 said Polynesia as
they started to move off。 〃He might balk if he thought we had any hand in
it。 Get the snail to offer on his own account to take us。 See？〃
John Dolittle； unaware of anything save the work he was engaged on；
was standing knee…deep in the shallow water； helping the snail try out his
mended tail to see if it were well enough to travel on。 Bumpo and Long
Arrow； with Chee…Chee and Jip； were lolling at the foot of a palm a little
way up the beach。 Polynesia and I now went and joined them。 Half an
h
