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that happens is written down。
The Doctor too； in what spare time he had； was nearly always writing…
… in his note…books。 I used to peep into these sometimes； now that I could
read； but I found it hard work to make out the Doctor's handwriting。 Many
of these note…books seemed to be about sea things。 There were six thick
ones filled full with notes and sketches of different seaweeds； and there
were others on sea birds； others on sea worms； others on seashells。 They
were all some day to be re…written； printed and bound like regular books。
One afternoon we saw； floating around us； great quantities of stuff that
looked like dead grass。 The Doctor told me this was gulf…weed。 A little
further on it became so thick that it covered all the water as far as the eye
could reach； it made the Curlew look as though she were moving across a
meadow instead of sailing the Atlantic。
Crawling about upon this weed； many crabs were to be seen。 And the
sight of them reminded the Doctor of his dream of learning the language
of the shellfish。 He fished several of these crabs up with a net and put
them in his listening…tank to see if he could understand them。 Among the
crabs he also caught a strange…looking； chubby； little fish which he told me
was called a Silver Fidgit。
After he had listened to the crabs for a while with no success； he put
the fidgit into the tank and began to listen to that。 I had to leave him at this
moment to go and attend to some duties on the deck。 But presently I heard
him below shouting for me to come down again。
〃Stubbins；〃 he cried as soon as he saw me〃a most extraordinary
thing Quite unbelievableI'm not sure whether I'm dreamingCan't
believe my own senses。 III〃
〃Why； Doctor；〃 I said； 〃what is it？What's the matter？〃
〃The fidgit；〃 he whispered； pointing with a trembling finger to the
listening…tank in which the little round fish was still swimming quietly； 〃he
talks English！ Andandand HE WHISTLES TUNESEnglish tunes！〃
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
〃Talks English！〃 I cried〃Whistles！Why； it's impossible。〃
〃It's a fact；〃 said the Doctor； white in the face with excitement。 〃It's
only a few words； scattered； with no particular sense to them all mixed
up with his own language which I can't make out yet。 But they're English
words； unless there's something very wrong with my hearing And the
tune he whistles； it's as plain as anythingalways； the same tune。 Now you
listen and tell me what you make of it。 Tell me everything you hear。 Don't
miss a word。〃
I went to the glass tank upon the table while the Doctor grabbed a
note…book and a pencil。 Undoing my collar I stood upon the empty
packing…case he had been using for a stand and put my right ear down
under the water。
For some moments I detected nothing at allexcept； with my dry ear；
the heavy breathing of the Doctor as he waited； all stiff and anxious； for
me to say something。 At last from within the water； sounding like a child
singing miles and miles away； I heard an unbelievably thin； small voice。
〃Ah！〃 I said。
〃What is it？〃 asked the Doctor in a hoarse； trembly whisper。 〃What
does he say？〃
〃I can't quite make it out；〃 I said。 〃It's mostly in some strange fish
languageOh； but wait a minute！Yes； now I get it'No smoking'。 。 。 。
'My； here's a queer one！' 'Popcorn and picture postcards here 。。 。 。 。 。 This
way out 。。 。 。 。 。 Don't spit'What funny things to say； Doctor！Oh； but
wait！ Now he's whistling the tune。〃
〃What tune is it？〃 gasped the Doctor。
〃John Peel。〃
〃Ah hah；〃 cried the Doctor； 〃that's what I made it out to be。〃 And he
wrote furiously in his note…book。
I went on listening。
〃This is most extraordinary；〃 the Doctor kept muttering to himself as
his pencil went wiggling over the page〃Most extraordinary but
frightfully thrilling。 I wonder where he〃
〃Here's some more；〃 I cried〃some more English。 。 。 。 'THE BIG
TANK NEEDS CLEANING'。。。。 That's all。 Now he's talking fish…talk
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
again。〃
〃The big tank！〃 the Doctor murmured frowning in a puzzled kind of
way。 〃I wonder where on earth he learned〃
Then he bounded up out of his chair。
〃I have it；〃 he yelled； 〃this fish has escaped from an aquarium。 Why； of
course！ Look at the kind of things he has learned： 'Picture postcards'they
always sell them in aquariums； 'Don't spit'； 'No smoking'； 'This way out'
the things the attendants say。 And then； 'My； here's a queer one！' That's the
kind of thing that people exclaim when they look into the tanks。 It all fits。
There's no doubt about it； Stubbins： we have here a fish who has escaped
from captivity。 And it's quite possible not certain； by any means； but
quite possiblethat I may now； through him； be able to establish
communication with the shellfish。 This is a great piece of luck。〃
THE SECOND CHAPTER
THE FIDGIT'S STORY
WELL； now that he was started once more upon his old hobby of the
shellfish languages； there was no stopping the Doctor。 He worked right
through the night。
A little after midnight I fell asleep in a chair； about two in the morning
Bumpo fell asleep at the wheel； and for five hours the Curlew was allowed
to drift where she liked。 But still John Dolittle worked on； trying his
hardest to understand the fidgit's language； struggling to make the fidgit
understand him。
When I woke up it was broad daylight again。 The Doctor was still
standing at the listening…tank； looking as tired as an owl and dreadfully
wet。 But on his face there was a proud and happy smile。
〃Stubbins；〃 he said as soon as he saw me stir； 〃I've done it。 I've got the
key to the fidgit's language。 It's a frightfully difficult languagequite
different from anything I ever heard。 The only thing it reminds me of
slightlyis ancient Hebrew。 It isn't shellfish； but it's a big step towards it。
Now； the next thing； I want you to take a pencil and a fresh notebook and
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