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voyage； this。 Look at all the sea we've got to cross。 Will it take us long？〃
〃Oh； no；〃 said the Doctor〃not very。 With a good boat and a good
wind we should make it easily in four weeks。 But isn't it extraordinary？ Of
all the places in the world you picked out that one with your eyes shut。
Spidermonkey Island after all！Well； there's one good thing about it： I
shall be able to get some Jabizri beetles。〃 〃What are Jabizri beetles？〃
〃They are a very rare kind of beetles with peculiar habits。 I want to
study them。 There are only three countries in the world where they are to
be found。 Spidermonkey Island is one of them。 But even there they are
very scarce。〃
〃What is this little question…mark after the name of the island for？〃 I
asked； pointing to the map。
〃That means that the island's position in the ocean is not known very
exactlythat it is somewhere ABOUT there。 Ships have probably seen it in
that neighborhood； that is all； most likely。 It is quite possible we shall be
the first white men to land there。 But I daresay we shall have some
difficulty in finding it first。〃
How like a dream it all sounded！ The two of us sitting there at the big
study…table； the candles lit； the smoke curling towards the dim ceiling
from the Doctor's pipethe two of us sitting there； talking about finding an
island in the ocean and being the first white men to land upon it！
〃I'll bet it will be a great voyage；〃 I said。 〃It looks a lovely island on
the map。 Will there be black men there？〃
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
〃No。 A peculiar tribe of Red Indians lives on it； Miranda tells me。〃
At this point the poor Bird…of…Paradise stirred and woke up。 In our
excitement we had forgotten to speak low。
〃We are going to Spidermonkey Island； Miranda；〃 said the Doctor。
〃You know where it is； do you not？〃
〃I know where it was the last time I saw it；〃 said the bird。 〃But
whether it will be there still； I can't say。〃
〃What do you mean？〃 asked the Doctor。 〃It is always in the same place
surely？〃
〃Not by any means；〃 said Miranda。 〃Why； didn't you know？
Spidermonkey Island is a FLOATING island。 It moves around all over the
placeusually somewhere near southern South America。 But of course I
could surely find it for you if you want to go there。〃
At this fresh piece of news I could contain myself no longer。 I was
bursting to tell some one。 I ran dancing and singing from the room to find
Chee…Chee。
At the door I tripped over Dab…Dab； who was just coming in with her
wings full of plates； and fell headlong on my nose；
〃Has the boy gone crazy？〃 cried the duck。 〃Where do you think you're
going； ninny？〃
〃To Spidermonkey Island！〃 I shouted； picking myself up and doing
cart…wheels down the hall〃Spidermonkey Island！ Hooray！And it's a
FLOATING island！〃
〃You're going to Bedlam； I should say；〃 snorted the housekeeper。
〃Look what you've done to my best china！〃
But I was far too happy to listen to her scolding； and I ran on； singing；
into the kitchen to find Chee…Chee。
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
PART THREE
THE FIRST CHAPTER
THE THIRD MAN
THAT same week we began our preparations for the voyage。
Joe； the mussel…man； had the Curlew moved down the river and tied it
up along the river…wall； so it would be more handy for loading。 And for
three whole days we carried provisions down to our beautiful new boat
and stowed them away。
I was surprised to find how roomy and big she was inside。 There were
three little cabins； a saloon （or dining…room） and underneath all this； a big
place called the hold where the food and extra sails and other things were
kept。
I think Joe must have told everybody in the town about our coming
voyage； because there was always a regular crowd watching us when we
brought the things down to put aboard。 And of course sooner or later old
Matthew Mugg was bound to turn up。
〃My Goodness； Tommy；〃 said he； as he watched me carrying on some
sacks of flour； 〃but that's a pretty boat！ Where might the Doctor be going
to this voyage？〃
〃We're going to Spidermonkey Island；〃 I said proudly。
〃And be you the only one the Doctor's taking along？〃
〃Well； he has spoken of wanting to take another man；〃 I said； 〃but so
far he hasn't made up his mind。〃
Matthew grunted； then squinted up at the graceful masts of the Curlew。
〃You know； Tommy；〃 said he； 〃if it wasn't for my rheumatism I've half
a mind to come with the Doctor myself。 There's something about a boat
standing ready to sail that always did make me feel venturesome and
travelish…like。 What's that stuff in the cans you're taking on？〃
〃This is treacle；〃 I said〃twenty pounds of treacle。〃
〃My Goodness；〃 he sighed； turning away sadly。 〃That makes me feel
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
more like going with you than everBut my rheumatism is that bad I can't
hardly〃
I didn't hear any more for Matthew had moved off； still mumbling；
into the crowd that stood about the wharf。 The clock in Puddleby Church
struck noon and I turned back； feeling very busy and important； to the task
of loading。
But it wasn't very long before some one else came along and
interrupted my work。 This was a huge； big； burly man with a red beard and
tattoo…marks all over his arms。 He wiped his mouth with the back of his
hand； spat twice on to the river…wall and said；
〃Boy； where's the skipper？〃
〃The SKIPPER！Who do you mean？〃 I asked。
〃The captainWhere's the captain； of this craft？〃 he said； pointing to
the Curlew。
〃Oh； you mean the Doctor；〃 said I。 〃Well； he isn't here at present。〃
At that moment the Doctor arrived with his arms full of note…books
and butterfly…nets and glass cases and other natural history things。 The big
man went up to him； respectfully touching his cap。
〃Good morning； Captain；〃 said he。 〃I heard you was in need of hands
for a voyage。 My name's Ben Butcher； able seaman。〃
〃I am very glad to know you；〃 said the Doctor。 〃But I'm afraid