voyages of dr[1]. doolittle(都利特尔的航行)-第41节
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poked his nose between the bamboo bars of the fence to get a better view
of the enemy and said；
〃Likely enough she's gone after the Black Parrots。 Let's hope she finds
them in time。 Just look at those ugly ruffians climbing down the rocks
millions of 'em！ This fight's going to keep us all hopping。〃
And Jip was right。 Before a quarter of an hour had gone by our village
was completely surrounded by one huge mob of yelling； raging Bag…
jagderags。
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I now come again to a part in the story of our voyages where things
happened so quickly； one upon the other； that looking backwards I see the
picture only in a confused kind of way。 I know that if it had not been for
the Terrible Three as they came afterwards to be fondly called in
Popsipetel history Long Arrow； Bumpo and the Doctor； the war would
have been soon over and the whole island would have belonged to the
worthless Bag…jagderags。 But the Englishman； the African and the Indian
were a regiment in themselves； and between them they made that village a
dangerous place for any man to try to enter。
The bamboo fencing which had been hastily set up around the town
was not a very strong affair； and right from the start it gave way in one
place after another as the enemy thronged and crowded against it。 Then
the Doctor； Long Arrow and Bumpo would hurry to the weak spot； a
terrific hand…to…hand fight would take place and the enemy be thrown out。
But almost instantly a cry of alarm would come from some other part of
the village…wall； and the Three would have to rush off and do the same
thing all over again。
The Popsipetels were themselves no mean fighters； but the strength
and weight of those three men of different lands and colors； standing close
together； swinging their enormous war…clubs； was really a sight for the
wonder and admiration of any one；
Many weeks later when I was passing an Indian camp…fire at night I
heard this song being sung。 It has since become one of the traditional
folksongs of the Popsipetels。
THE SONG OF THE TERRIBLE THREE
Oh hear ye the Song of the Terrible Three And the fight that they
fought by the edge of the sea。 Down from the mountains； the rocks and the
crags； Swarming like wasps； came the Bag…jagderags。
Surrounding our village； our walls they broke down。 Oh； sad was the
plight of our men and our town！ But Heaven determined our land to set
free And sent us the help of the Terrible Three。 One was a Blackhe was
dark as the night； One was a Red…skin； a mountain of height； But the chief
was a White Man； round like a bee； And all in a row stood the Terrible
Three。
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Shoulder to shoulder； they hammered and hit。 Like demons of fury
they kicked and they bit。 Like a wall of destruction they stood in a row；
Flattening enemies； six at a blow。
Oh； strong was the Red…skin fierce was the Black。 Bag…jagderags
trembled and tried to turn back。 But 'twas of the White Man they shouted；
〃Beware！ He throws men in handfuls； straight up in the air！〃
Long shall they frighten bad children at night With tales of the Red
and the Black and the White。 And long shall we sing of the Terrible Three
And the fight that they fought by the edge of the sea。
THE SIXTH CHAPTER
GENERAL POLYNESIA
BUT alas！ even the Three； mighty though they were； could not last
forever against an army which seemed to have no end。 In one of the
hottest scrimmages； when the enemy had broken a particularly wide hole
through the fence； I saw Long Arrow's great figure topple and come down
with a spear sticking in his broad chest。
For another half…hour Bumpo and the Doctor fought on side by side。
How their strength held out so long I cannot tell； for never a second were
they given to get their breath or rest their arms。
The Doctorthe quiet； kindly； peaceable； little Doctor！well； you
wouldn't have known him if you had seen him that day dealing out whacks
you could hear a mile off； walloping and swatting in all directions。
As for Bumpo； with staring eye…balls and grim set teeth； he was a
veritable demon。 None dared come within yards of that wicked； wide…
circling door…post。 But a stone； skilfully thrown； struck him at last in the
centre of the forehead。 And down went the second of the Three。 John
Dolittle； the last of the Terribles； was left fighting alone。
Jip and I rushed to his side and tried to take the places of the fallen
ones。 But； far too light and too small； we made but a poor exchange。
Another length of the fence crashed down； and through the widened gap
the Bag…jagderags poured in on us like a flood。
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〃To the canoes！To the sea！〃 shouted the Popsipetels。 〃Fly for your
lives！ All is over！The war is lost！〃
But the Doctor and I never got a chance to fly for our lives。 We were
swept off our feet and knocked down flat by the sheer weight of the mob。
And once down； we were unable to get up again。 I thought we would
surely be trampled to death。
But at that moment； above the din and racket of the battle； we heard
the most terrifying noise that ever assaulted human ears： the sound of
millions and millions of parrots all screeching with fury together。
The army； which in the nick of time Polynesia had brought to our
rescue； darkened the whole sky to the westward。 I asked her afterwards；
how many birds there were； and she said she didn't know exactly but that
they certainly numbered somewhere between sixty and seventy millions。
In that extraordinarily short space of time she had brought them from the
mainland of South America。
If you have ever heard a parrot screech with anger you will know that
it makes a truly frightful sound； and if you have ever been bitten by one；
you will know that its bite can be a nasty and a painful thing。
The Black Parrots （coal…black all over； they wereexcept for a scarlet
beak and a streak of red in wing and tail） on the word of command from
Polynesia set to work upon the Bag…jagderags who were now pouring
through the village looking for plunder。
And the Black Parrots' method of fighting was peculiar。 This is what
they did： on the head of each Bag…jagderag three or four parrots settled
and took a good foot…hold in his hair with their claws； then they leant
down over the sides of his head and began clipping snips out of his ears；
for all the world as though they were punching tickets。 That is all they did。
They never bit them anywhere else except the ears。 But it won the war for
us。
With howls pitiful to hear； the Bag…jagderags fell over one another in
their haste to get out of that accursed village。 It was no use their trying to
pull the parrots off their heads； because for each head there were always
four more parrots waiting impatiently to get on。
Some of the enemy were lucky； and with only a snip or two managed
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to get outside the fencewhere the parrots immediately left them alone。
But with most； before the black birds had done with them； the ears
presented a very singular appearancelike the edge of a postage…stamp。
This treatment； very painful at the time； did not however do them any
permanent harm beyond the change in looks。 And it later got to be the
tribal mark of the Bag…jagderags。 No really smart young lady of this tribe
would be seen walking with a man who did not have scalloped earsfor
such was a proof that he had been in the Great War。 And that （though it is
not generally known to scientists） is how this people came to be called by
the other Indian nations； the Ragged…Eared Bag…jagderags。
As so
