voyages of dr[1]. doolittle(都利特尔的航行)-第25节
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！
things besides the beef。 And having no money； we were sorely puzzled
how to buy more。 The Doctor went through his trunk to see if there was
anything he could sell。 But the only thing he could find was an old watch
with the hands broken and the back dented in； and we decided this would
not bring us in enough money to buy much more than a pound of tea。
Bumpo suggested that he sing comic songs in the streets which he had
learned in Jolliginki。 But the Doctor said he did not think that the islanders
would care for African music。
The other thing that kept us was the bullfight。 In these islands； which
belonged to Spain； they had bullfights every Sunday。 It was on a Friday
that we arrived there； and after we had got rid of the able seaman we took
a walk through the town。
It was a very funny little town； quite different from any that I had ever
seen。 The streets were all twisty and winding and so narrow that a wagon
could only just pass along them。 The houses overhung at the top and came
so close together that people in the attics could lean out of the windows
and shake hands with their neighbors on the opposite side of the street。
The Doctor told us the town was very； very old。 It was called Monteverde。
As we had no money of course we did not go to a hotel or anything
91
… Page 92…
THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
like that。 But on the second evening when we were passing by a bed…
maker's shop we noticed several beds； which the man had made； standing
on the pavement outside。 The Doctor started chatting in Spanish to the
bed…maker who was sitting at his door whistling to a parrot in a cage。 The
Doctor and the bed…maker got very friendly talking about birds and things。
And as it grew near to supper…time the man asked us to stop and sup with
him。
This of course we were very glad to do。 And after the meal was over
（very nice dishes they were； mostly cooked in olive…oilI particularly
liked the fried bananas） we sat outside on the pavement again and went on
talking far into the night。
At last when we got up； to go back to our ship； this very nice
shopkeeper wouldn't hear of our going away on any account。 He said the
streets down by the harbor were very badly lighted and there was no moon。
We would surely get lost。 He invited us to spend the night with him and go
back to our ship in the morning。
Well； we finally agreed； and as our good friend had no spare bedrooms；
the three of us； the Doctor； Bumpo and I； slept on the beds set out for sale
on the pavement before the shop。 The night was so hot we needed no
coverings。 It was great fun to fall asleep out of doors like this； watching
the people walking to and fro and the gay life of the streets。 It seemed to
me that Spanish people never went to bed at all。 Late as it was； all the little
restaurants and cafes around us were wide open； with customers drinking
coffee and chatting merrily at the small tables outside。 The sound of a
guitar strumming softly in the distance mingled with the clatter of
chinaware and the babble of voices。
Somehow it made me think of my mother and father far away in
Puddleby； with their regular habits； the evening practise on the flute and
the restdoing the same thing every day。 I felt sort of sorry for them in a
way； because they missed the fun of this traveling life； where we were
doing something new all the timeeven sleeping dif…ferently。 But I
suppose if they had been invited to go to bed on a pavement in front of a
shop they wouldn't have cared for the idea at all。 It is funny how some
people are。
92
… Page 93…
THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
THE SEVENTH CHAPTER
THE DOCTOR'S WAGER
NEXT morning we were awakened by a great racket。 There was a
procession coming down the street； a number of men in very gay clothes
followed by a large crowd of admiring ladies and cheering children。 I
asked the Doctor who they were。
〃They are the bullfighters；〃 he said。 〃There is to be a bullfight to…
morrow。〃
〃What is a bullfight？〃 I asked。
To my great surprise the Doctor got red in the face with anger。 It
reminded me of the time when he had spoken of the lions and tigers in his
private zoo。
〃A bullfight is a stupid； cruel； disgusting business；〃 said he。 〃These
Spanish people are most lovable and hospitable folk。 How they can enjoy
these wretched bullfights is a thing I could never understand。〃
Then the Doctor went on to explain to me how a bull was first made
very angry by teasing and then allowed to run into a circus where men
came out with red cloaks； waved them at him； and ran away。 Next the bull
was allowed to tire himself out by tossing and killing a lot of poor； old；
broken…down horses who couldn't defend themselves。 Then； when the bull
was thoroughly out of breath and wearied by this； a man came out with a
sword and killed the bull。
〃Every Sunday；〃 said the Doctor；〃 in almost every big town in Spain
there are six bulls killed like that and as many horses。〃
〃But aren't the men ever killed by the bull？〃 I asked。
〃Unfortunately very seldom；〃 said he。 〃A bull is not nearly as
dangerous as he looks； even when he's angry； if you are only quick on your
feet and don't lose your head。 These bullfighters are very clever and
nimble。 And the people； especially the Spanish ladies； think no end of
them。 A famous bullfighter （or matador； as they call them） is a more
important man in Spain than a kingHere comes another crowd of them
93
… Page 94…
THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
round the corner； look。 See the girls throwing kisses to them。 Ridiculous
business！〃
At that moment our friend the bed…maker came out to see the
procession go past。 And while he was wishing us good morning and
enquiring how we had slept； a friend of his walked up and joined us。 The
bed…maker introduced this friend to us as Don Enrique Cardenas。
Don Enrique when he heard where we were from； spoke to us in
English。 He appeared to be a well…educated； gentlemanly sort of person。
〃And you go to see the bullfight to…morrow； yes？〃 he asked the Doctor
pleasantly。
〃Certainly not；〃 said John Dolittle firmly。 〃I don't like bullfights
cruel； cowardly shows。〃
Don Enrique nearly exploded。 I never saw a man get so excited。 He
told the Doctor that he didn't know what he was talking about。 He said
bullfighting was a noble sport and that the matadors were the bravest men
in the world。
〃Oh； rubbish！〃 said the Doctor。 〃You never give the poor bull a chance。
It is only when he is all tired and dazed that your precious matadors dare
to try and kill him。〃
I thought the Spaniard was going to strike the Doctor he got so angry。
While he was still spluttering to find words； the bed…maker came between
them and took the Doctor aside。 He explained to John Dolittle in a whisper
that this Don Enrique Cardenas was a very important person； that he it was
who supplied the bullsa special； strong black kind from his own farm
for all the bullfights in the Capa Blancas。 He was a very rich man； the bed…
maker said； a most important personage。 He mustn't be allowed to take
offense on any account。
I watched the Doctor's face as the bed…maker finished； and I saw a
flash of boyish mischief come into his eyes as though an idea had struck
him。 He turned to the angry Spaniard。
〃Don Enrique；〃 he said； 〃you tell me your bullfighters are very brave
men and skilful。 It seems I have offended you by saying that bullfighting
is a poor sport。 What is the name of the best matador you have for to…
morrow's show？〃
94
… Page 95…
THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
〃Pepito de Malaga；〃 said Don Enriq
