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hours dragged by； we hoped and hoped that he would get up and fly the
rest； and let Polynesia carry on the work of following him。 But he never
opened his wings once。 I had not realized before how hard it is for a
human being to walk slowly enough to keep up with a beetle。 It was the
most tedious thing I have ever gone through。 And as we dawdled along
behind； watching him like hawks lest we lose him under a leaf or
something； we all got so cross and ill…tempered we were ready to bite one
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another's heads off。 And when he stopped to look at the scenery or polish
his nose some more； I could hear Polynesia behind me letting out the most
dreadful seafaring swear…words you ever heard。
After he had led us the whole way round the mountain he brought us
to the exact spot where we started from and there he came to a dead stop。
〃Well；〃 said Bumpo to Polynesia； 〃what do you think of the beetle's
sense now？ You see he DOESN'T know enough to go home。〃
〃Oh； be still； you Hottentot！〃 snapped Polynesia。 〃Wouldn't YOU want
to stretch your legs for exercise if you'd been shut up in a box all day。
Probably his home is near here； and that's why he's come back。〃
〃But why；〃 I asked； 〃did he go the whole way round the mountain
first？〃
Then the three of us got into a violent argument。 But in the middle of it
all the Doctor suddenly called out；
〃Look； look！〃
We turned and found that he was pointing to the Jabizri； who was now
walking UP the mountain at a much faster and more business…like gait。
〃Well；〃 said Bumpo sitting down wearily； 〃if he is going to walk
OVER the mountain and back； for more exercise； I'll wait for him here。
Chee…Chee and Polynesia can follow him。〃
Indeed it would have taken a monkey or a bird to climb the place
which the beetle was now walking up。 It was a smooth； flat part of the
mountain's side； steep as a wall。
But presently； when the Jabizri was no more than ten feet above our
heads； we all cried out together。 For； even while we watched him； he had
disappeared into the face of the rock like a raindrop soaking into sand。
〃He's gone；〃 cried Polynesia。 〃There must be a hole up there。〃 And in a
twinkling she had fluttered up the rock and was clinging to the face of it
with her claws。
〃Yes；〃 she shouted down； 〃we've run him to earth at last。 His hole is
right here； behind a patch of lichenbig enough to get two fingers in。〃
〃Ah；〃 cried the Doctor； 〃this great slab of rock then must have slid down
from the summit and shut off the mouth of the cave like a door。 Poor
fellows！ What a dreadful time they must have spent in there！ Oh； if we
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only had some picks and shovels now！〃
〃Picks and shovels wouldn't do much good；〃 said Polynesia。 〃Look at
the size of the slab： a hundred feet high and as many broad。 You would
need an army for a week to make any impression on it。〃
〃I wonder how thick it is；〃 said the Doctor； and he picked up a big
stone and banged it with all his might against the face of the rock。 It made
a hollow booming sound； like a giant drum。 We all stood still listening
while the echo of it died slowly away。
And then a cold shiver ran down my spine。 For； from within the
mountain； back came three answering knocks： BOOM！ 。 。 。 BOOM！ 。 。 。
BOOM！
Wide…eyed we looked at one another as though the earth itself had
spoken。 And the solemn little silence that followed was broken by the
Doctor。
〃Thank Heaven；〃 he said in a hushed reverent voice； 〃some of them at
least are alive！〃
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
PART FIVE
THE FIRST CHAPTER
A GREAT MOMENT
THE next part of our problem was the hardest of all： how to roll aside；
pull down or break open； that gigantic slab。 As we gazed up at it towering
above our heads； it looked indeed a hopeless task for our tiny strength。
But the sounds of life from inside the mountain had put new heart in
us。 And in a moment we were all scrambling around trying to find any
opening or crevice which would give us something to work on。 Chee…Chee
scaled up the sheer wall of the slab and examined the top of it where it
leaned against the mountain's side； I uprooted bushes and stripped off
hanging creepers that might conceal a weak place； the Doctor got more
leaves and composed new picture…letters for the Jabizri to take in if he
should turn up again； whilst Polynesia carried up a handful of nuts and
pushed them into the beetle's hole； one by one； for the prisoners inside to
eat。
〃Nuts are so nourishing；〃 she said。
But Jip it was who； scratching at the foot of the slab like a good ratter；
made the discovery which led to our final success。
〃Doctor；〃 he cried； running up to John Dolittle with his nose all
covered with black mud； 〃this slab is resting on nothing but a bed of soft
earth。 You never saw such easy digging。 I guess the cave behind must be
just too high up for the Indians to reach the earth with their hands； or they
could have scraped a way out long ago。 If we can only scratch the earth…
bed away from under； the slab might drop a little。 Then maybe the Indians
can climb out over the top。〃
The Doctor hurried to examine the place where Jip had dug。
〃Why； yes；〃 he said； 〃if we can get the earth away from under this
front edge； the slab is standing up so straight； we might even make it fall
right down in this direction。 It's well worth trying。 Let's get at it； quick。〃
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We had no tools but the sticks and slivers of stone which we could find
around。 A strange sight we must have looked； the whole crew of us
squatting down on our heels； scratching and burrowing at the foot of the
mountain； like six badgers in a row。
After about an hour； during which i