按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
and the seeds of the flowers they fed on） which would put you to sleep；
just with a teaspoonful； and make you wake up fresh in the morning； a nut
that made the voice beautiful for singing； a water…weed that stopped cuts
from bleeding； a moss that cured snake…bite； a lichen that prevented sea…
sickness。
The Doctor of course was tremendously interested。 Well into the early
hours of the morning he was busy going over the articles on the table one
by one； listing their names and writing their properties and descriptions
into a note…book as Long Arrow dictated。
176
… Page 177…
THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
〃There are things here； Stubbins；〃 he said as he ended； 〃which in the
hands of skilled druggists will make a vast difference to the medicine and
chemistry of the world。 I suspect that this sleeping…honey by itself will
take the place of half the bad drugs we have had to use so far。 Long Arrow
has discovered a pharmacopaeia of his own。 Miranda was right： he is a
great naturalist。 His name deserves to be placed beside Linnaeus。 Some
day I must get all these things to EnglandBut when；〃 he added sadly
〃Yes； that's the problem： when？〃
THE FOURTH CHAPTER
THE SEA…SERPENT
FOR a long time after that Cabinet Meeting of which I have just told
you we did not ask the Doctor anything further about going home。 Life in
Spidermonkey Island went forward； month in month out； busily and
pleasantly。 The Winter； with Christmas celebrations； came and went； and
Summer was with us once again before we knew it。
As time passed the Doctor became more and more taken up with the
care of his big family； and the hours he could spare for his natural history
work grew fewer and fewer。 I knew that he often still thought of his house
and garden in Puddleby and of his old plans and ambitions； because once
in a while we would notice his face grow thoughtful and a little sad； when
something reminded him of England or his old life。 But he never spoke of
these things。 And I truly believe he would have spent the remainder of his
days on Spidermonkey Island if it hadn't been for an accident and for
Polynesia。
The old parrot had grown very tired of the Indians and she made no
secret of it。
〃The very idea；〃 she said to me one day as we were walking on the
seashore〃the idea of the famous John Dolittle spending his valuable life
waiting on these greasy natives！Why； it's preposterous！〃
All that morning we had been watching the Doctor superintend the
building of the new theatre in Popsipetelthere was already an opera…
177
… Page 178…
THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
house and a concert…hall； and finally she had got so grouchy and annoyed
at the sight that I had suggested her taking a walk with me。
〃Do you really think；〃 I asked as we sat down on the sands； 〃that he
will never go back to Puddleby again？〃
〃I don't know；〃 said she。 〃At one time I felt sure that the thought of the
pets he had left behind at the house would take him home soon。 But since
Miranda brought him word last August that everything was all right there；
that hope's gone。 For months and months I've been racking my brains to
think up a plan。 If we could only hit upon something that would turn his
thoughts back to natural history again I mean something big enough to
get him really excitedwe might manage it。 But how？〃she shrugged her
shoulders in disgust〃How？when all he thinks of now is paving streets
and teaching papooses that twice one are two！〃
It was a perfect Popsipetel day； bright and hot； blue and yellow。
Drowsily I looked out to sea thinking of my mother and father。 I wondered
if they were getting anxious over my long absence。 Beside me old
Polynesia went on grumbling away in low steady tones； and her words
began to mingle and mix with the gentle lapping of the waves upon the
shore。 It may have been the even murmur of her voice； helped by the soft
and balmy air； that lulled me to sleep。 I don't know。 Anyhow I presently
dreamed that the island had moved again not floatingly as before； but
suddenly； jerkily； as though something enormously powerful had heaved it
up from its bed just once and let it down。
How long I slept after that I have no idea。 I was awakened by a gentle
pecking on the nose。
〃Tommy！Tommy！〃 （it was Polynesia's voice） 〃Wake up！Gosh； what
a boy； to sleep through an earthquake and never notice it！Tommy； listen：
here's our chance now。 Wake up； for goodness' sake！〃
〃What's the matter？〃 I asked sitting up with a yawn。
〃Sh！Look！〃 whispered Polynesia pointing out to sea。
Still only half awake； I stared before me with bleary； sleep…laden eyes。
And in the shallow water； not more than thirty yards from shore I saw an
enormous pale pink shell。 Dome…shaped； it towered up in a graceful
rainbow curve to a tremendous height； and round its base the surf broke
178
… Page 179…
THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
gently in little waves of white。 It could have belonged to the wildest
dream。
〃What in the world is it？〃 I asked。
〃That；〃 whispered Polynesia； 〃is what sailors for hundreds of years
have called the Sea…serpent。 I've seen it myself more than once from the
decks of ships； at long range； curving in and out of the water。 But now that
I see it close and still； I very strongly suspect that the Sea…serpent of
history is no other than the Great Glass Sea…snail that the fidgit told us of。
If that isn't the only fish of its kind in the seven seas； call me a carrion…
crowTommy； we're in luck。 Our job is to get the Doctor down here to
look at that prize specimen before it moves off to the Deep Hole。 If we can；
then trust me； we may leave this blessed island yet。 You stay here and keep
an eye on it while I go after the Doctor。 Don't move or speakdon't even
breathe heavy： he might get scaredawful timid things； snails。 Just watch
him； and I'll be back in two shakes。〃
Stealthily creeping up the sands till she could get behind the cover of
some bushes before she took to her wings； Polynesia went off in the
direction of the town； while I remained alone upon the shore fascinatedly
watching this unbelievable monster wallowing in the shallow sea。