voyages of dr[1]. doolittle(都利特尔的航行)-第45节
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sat down。 As he was hoisted on to the broad shoulders of the bearers I
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heard him still feebly muttering beneath his breath；
〃Botheration take it！I don't WANT to be a king！〃
〃Farewell！〃 called Long Arrow from his bed； 〃and may good fortune
ever stand within the shadow of your throne！〃
〃He comes！He comes！〃 murmured the crowd。 〃Away！ Away！To the
Whispering Rocks！〃
And as the procession formed up to leave the village； the crowd about
us began hurrying off in the direction of the mountains to make sure of
good seats in the giant theatre where the crowning ceremony would take
place。
THE TENTH CHAPTER
THE CORONATION OF KING JONG
IN my long lifetime I have seen many grand and inspiring things； but
never anything that impressed me half as much as the sight of the
Whispering Rocks as they looked on the day King Jong was crowned。 As
Bumpo； Chee…Chee； Polynesia； Jip and I finally reached the dizzy edge of
the great bowl and looked down inside it； it was like gazing over a never…
ending ocean of copper…colored faces； for every seat in the theatre was
filled； every man； woman and child in the island including Long Arrow
who had been carried up on his sick bed was there to see the show。
Yet not a sound； not a pin…drop； disturbed the solemn silence of the
Whispering Rocks。 It was quite creepy and sent chills running up and
down your spine。 Bumpo told me afterwards that it took his breath away
too much for him to speak； but that he hadn't known before that there were
that many people in the world。
Away down by the Table of the Throne stood a brand…new； brightly
colored totem…pole。 All the Indian families had totem…poles and kept them
set up before the doors of their houses。 The idea of a totem…pole is
something like a door…plate or a visiting card。 It represents in its carvings
the deeds and qualities of the family to which it belongs。 This one；
beautifully decorated and much higher than any other； was the Dolittle or；
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as it was to be henceforth called； the Royal Thinkalot totem。 It had nothing
but animals on it； to signify the Doctor's great knowledge of creatures。
And the animals chosen to be shown were those which to the Indians were
supposed to represent good qualities of character； such as； the deer for
speed； the ox for perseverance； the fish for discretion； and so on。 But at the
top of the totem is always placed the sign or animal by which the family is
most proud to be known。 This； on the Thinkalot pole； was an enormous
parrot； in memory of the famous Peace of the Parrots。
The Ivory Throne had been all polished with scented oil and it
glistened whitely in the strong sunlight。 At the foot of it there had been
strewn great quantities of branches of flowering trees； which with the new
warmth of milder climates were now blossoming in the valleys of the
island。
Soon we saw the royal litter； with the Doctor seated in it； slowly
ascending the winding steps of the Table。 Reaching the flat top at last； it
halted and the Doctor stepped out upon the flowery carpet。 So still and
perfect was the silence that even at that distance above I distinctly heard a
twig snap beneath his tread。
Walking to the throne accompanied by the old man； the Doctor got up
upon the stand and sat down。 How tiny his little round figure looked when
seen from that tremendous height！ The throne had been made for longer…
legged kings； and when he was seated； his feet did not reach the ground
but dangled six inches from the top step。
Then the old man turned round and looking up at the people began to
speak in a quiet even voice； but every word he said was easily heard in the
furthest corner of the Whispering Rocks。
First he recited the names of all the great Popsipetel kings who in days
long ago had been crowned in this ivory chair。 He spoke of the greatness
of the Popsipetel people； of their triumphs； of their hardships。 Then
waving his hand towards the Doctor he began recounting the things which
this king…to…be had done。 And I am bound to say that they easily
outmatched the deeds of those who had gone before him。
As soon as he started to speak of what the Doctor had achieved for the
tribe； the people； still strictly silent； all began waving their right hands
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towards the throne。 This gave to the vast theatre a very singular
appearance： acres and acres of something movingwith never a sound。
At last the old man finished his speech and stepping up to the chair；
very respectfully removed the Doctor's battered high hat。 He was about to
put it upon the ground； but the Doctor took it from him hastily and kept it
on his lap。 Then taking up the Sacred Crown he placed it upon John
Dolittle's head。 It did not fit very well （for it had been made for smaller…
headed kings）； and when the wind blew in freshly from the sunlit sea the
Doctor had some difficulty in keeping it on。 But it looked very splendid。
Turning once more to the people； the old man said；
〃Men of Popsipetel； behold your elected king！Are you content？〃
And then at last the voice of the people broke loose。
〃JONG！ JONG！〃 they shouted； 〃LONG LIVE KING JONG！〃
The sound burst upon the solemn silence with the crash of a hundred
cannon。 There； where even a whisper carried miles； the shock of it was
like a blow in the face。 Back and forth the mountains threw it to one
another。 I thought the echoes of it would never die away as it passed
rumbling through the whole island； jangling among the lower valleys；
booming in the distant sea…caves。
Suddenly I saw the old man point upward； to the highest mountain in
the island； and looking over my shoulder； I was just in time to see the
Hanging Stone topple slowly out of sight down into the heart of the
volcano。
〃See ye； Men of the Moving Land！〃 the old man cried： 〃The stone has
fallen and our legend has come true： the King of Kings is crowned this
day！〃
The Doctor too had seen the stone fall and he was now standing up
looking at the sea expectantly。
〃He's thinking of the air…chamber；〃 said Bumpo in my ear。 〃Let us
hope that the sea isn't very deep in these parts。〃
After a full minute （so long did it take the stone to fall that depth） we
heard a muffled； distant； crunching thudand then immediately after； a
great hissing of escaping air。 The Doctor； his face tense with anxiety； sat
down in the throne again still watching the blue water of the ocean with
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staring eyes。
Soon we felt the island slowly sinking beneath us。 We saw the sea
creep inland over the beaches as the shores went down one foot； three
feet； ten feet； twenty； fifty； a hundred。 And then； thank goodness； gently as
a butterfly alighting on a rose； it stopped！ Spidermonkey Island had come
to rest on the sandy bottom of the Atlantic； and earth was joined to earth
once more。
Of course many of the houses near the shores were now under water。
Popsipetel Village itself had entirely disappeared。 But it didn't matter。 No
one was drowned； for every soul in the island was high up in the hills
watching the coronation of King Jong。
The Indians themselves did not realize at the time what was taking
place； though of course they had felt the land sinking beneath them。 The
Doctor told us afterwards that it must have been the shock of that
tremendous shout； coming from a million throats at once； which had
toppled the Hanging Stone off its perch。 But in P
