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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 in spite of the cold the sweat fell
from our foreheads in all directions； the Doctor said； 〃Be ready to jump
from under； clear out of the way； if she shows signs of moving。 If this slab
falls on anybody； it will squash him flatter than a pancake。〃
Presently there was a grating； grinding sound。
〃Look out！〃 yelled John Dolittle； 〃here she comes！Scatter！〃
We ran for our lives； outwards； toward the sides。 The big rock slid
gently down； about a foot； into the trough which we had made beneath it。
For a moment I was disappointed； for like that； it was as hopeless as
before no signs of a cave…mouth showing above it。 But as I looked
upward； I saw the top coming very slowly away from the mountainside。
We had unbalanced it below。 As it moved apart from the face of the
mountain； sounds of human voices； crying gladly in a strange tongue；
issued from behind。 Faster and faster the top swung forward； downward。
Then； with a roaring crash which shook the whole mountain…range beneath
our feet； it struck the earth and cracked in halves。
How can I describe to any one that first meeting between the two
greatest naturalists the world ever knew； Long Arrow； the son of Golden
Arrow and John Dolittle； M。D。； of Puddleby…on…the…Marsh？ The scene
rises before me now； plain and clear in every detail； though it took place so
many； many years ago。 But when I come to write of it； words seem such
poor things with which to tell you of that great occasion。
I know that the Doctor； whose life was surely full enough of big
happenings； always counted the setting free of the Indian scientist as the
greatest thing he ever did。 For my part； knowing how much this meeting
must mean to him； I was on pins and needles of expectation and curiosity
as the great stone finally thundered down at our feet and we gazed across
it to see what lay behind。
The gloomy black mouth of a tunnel； full twenty feet high； was
revealed。 In the centre of this opening stood an enormous red Indian；
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
seven feet tall； handsome； muscular； slim and nakedbut for a beaded
cloth about his middle and an eagle's feather in his hair。 He held one hand
across his face to shield his eyes from the blinding sun which he had not
seen in many days。
〃It is he！〃 I heard the Doctor whisper at my elbow。 〃I know him by his
great height and the scar upon his chin。〃
And he stepped forward slowly across the fallen stone with his hand
outstretched to the red man。
Presently the Indian uncovered his eyes。 And I saw that they had a
curious piercing gleam in themlike the eyes of an eagle； but kinder and
more gentle。 He slowly raised his right arm； the rest of him still and
motionless like a statue； and took the Doctor's hand in his。 It was a great
moment。 Polynesia nodded to me in a knowing； satisfied kind of way。 And
I heard old Bumpo sniffle sentimentally。 Then the Doctor tried to speak to
Long Arrow。 But the Indian knew no English of course； and the Doctor
knew no Indian。 Presently； to my surprise； I heard the Doctor trying him in
different animal languages。
〃How do you do？〃 he said in dog…talk； 〃I am glad to see you；〃 in
horse…signs； 〃How long have you been buried？〃 in deer…language。 Still the
Indian made no move but stood there； straight and stiff； understanding not
a word。
The Doctor tried again； in several other animal dialects。 But with no
result。
Till at last he came to the language of eagles。
〃Great Red…Skin；〃 he said in the fierce screams and short grunts that
the big birds use； 〃never have I been so glad in all my life as I am to…day
to find you still alive。〃
In a flash Long Arrow's stony face lit up with a smile of understanding；
and back came the answer in eagle…tongue；
〃Mighty White Man； I owe my life to you。 For the remainder of my
days I am your servant to command。〃
Afterwards Long Arrow told us that this was the only bird or animal
language that he had ever been able to learn。 But that he had not spoken it
in a long time； for no eagles ever came to this island。
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THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
Then the Doctor signaled to Bumpo who came forward with the nuts
and water。 But Long Arrow neither ate nor drank。 Taking the supplies with
a nod of thanks； he turned and carried them into the inner dimness of the
cave。 We followed him。
Inside we found nine other Indians； men； women and boys； lying on
the rock floor in a dreadful state of thinness and exhaustion。
Some had their eyes closed； as if dead。 Quickly the Doctor went round
them all and listened to their hearts。 They were all alive； but one woman
was too weak even to stand upon her feet。
At a word from the Doctor； Chee…Chee and Polynesia sped off into the
jungles after more fruit and water。
While Long Arrow was handing round what food we had to his
starving friends； we suddenly heard a sound outside the cave。 Turning
about we saw； clustered at the entrance； the band of Indians who had met
us so inhospitably at the beach。
They peered into the dark cave cautiously at first。 But as soon as they
saw Long Arrow and the other Indians with us； they came rushing in；
laughing； clapping their hands with joy and jabbering away at a
tremendous rate。
Long Arrow explained to the Doctor that the nine Indians we had
found in the cave with him were two families who had accompanied him
into the mountains to help him gather medicine…plants。 And while they had
been searching for a kind of mossgood for indigestionwhich grows
only inside of damp caves； the great rock slab had slid down and shut
them in。 Then for two weeks they had lived on the medicine…moss and
such fresh water as could be found dripping from the damp walls of the
cave。 The other Indians on the island bad given them up for lost and
mourned them as dead； and they were now very surprised and happy to
find their relatives alive。
When Long Arrow turned to the newcomers a