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！
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 Enrique； 〃one of the greatest names； one
of the bravest men； in all Spain。〃
〃Very well；〃 said the Doctor； 〃I have a proposal to make to you。 I have
never fought a bull in my life。 Now supposing I were to go into the ring
to…morrow with Pepito de Malaga and any other matadors you choose； and
if I can do more tricks with a bull than they can； would you promise to do
something for me？〃
Don Enrique threw back his head and laughed。
〃Man；〃 he said； 〃you must be mad！ You would be killed at once。 One
has to be trained for years to become a proper bullfighter。〃
〃Supposing I were willing to take the risk of thatYou are not afraid； I
take it； to accept my offer？〃
The Spaniard frowned。
〃Afraid！〃 he cried； 〃Sir； if you can beat Pepito de Malaga in the bull…
ring I'll promise you anything it is possible for me to grant。〃
〃Very good；〃 said the Doctor； 〃now I understand that you are quite a
powerful man in these islands。 If you wished to stop all bullfighting here
after to…morrow； you could do it； couldn't you？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Don Enrique proudly〃I could。〃
〃Well that is what I ask of youif I win my wager；〃 said John Dolittle。
〃If I can do more with angry bulls than can Pepito de Malaga； you are to
promise me that there shall never be another bullfight in the Capa Blancas
so long as you are alive to stop it。 Is it a bargain？〃
The Spaniard held out his hand。
〃It is a bargain；〃 he said〃I promise。 But I must warn you that you are
merely throwing your life away； for you will certainly be killed。 However；
that is no more than you deserve for saying that bullfighting is an
unworthy sport。 I will meet you here to…morrow morning if you should
wish to arrange any particulars。 Good day； Sir。〃
As the Spaniard turned and walked into the shop with the bed…maker；
Polynesia； who had been listening as usual； flew up on to my shoulder and
whispered in my ear；
〃I； have a plan。 Get hold of Bumpo and come some place where the
Doctor can't hear us。 I want to talk to you。〃
95
… Page 96…
THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
I nudged Bumpo's elbow and we crossed the street and pretended to
look into a jeweler's window； while the Doctor sat down upon his bed to
lace up his boots； the only part of his clothing he had taken off for the
night。
〃Listen；〃 said Polynesia； 〃I've been breaking my head trying to think
up some way we can get money to buy those stores with； and at last I've
got it。〃
〃The money？〃 said Bumpo。
〃No； stupid。 The ideato make the money with。 Listen： the Doctor is
simply bound to win this game to…morrow； sure as you're alive。 Now all
we have to do is to make a side bet with these Spaniards they're great on
gamblingand the trick's done。〃
〃What's a side bet？〃 I asked。
〃Oh I know what that is；〃 said Bumpo proudly。 〃We used to have lots
of them at Oxford when boat…racing was on。 I go to Don Enrique and say；
'I bet you a hundred pounds the Doctor wins。' Then if he does win； Don
Enrique pays me a hundred pounds； and if he doesn't； I have to pay Don
Enrique。〃
〃That's the idea；〃 said Polynesia。 〃Only don't say a hundred pounds：
say two…thousand five…hundred pesetas。 Now come and find old Don
Ricky…ticky and try to look rich。〃
So we crossed the street again and slipped into the bed…maker's shop
while the Doctor was still busy with his boots。
〃Don Enrique；〃 said Bumpo； 〃allow me to introduce myself。 I am the
Crown Prince of Jolliginki。 Would you care to have a small bet with me on
to…morrow's bullfight？〃
Don Enrique bowed。
〃Why certainly；〃 he said； 〃I shall be delighted。 But I must warn you
that you are bound to lose。 How much？〃
〃Oh a mere truffle；〃 said Bumpo〃just for the fun of the thing； you
know。 What do you say to three…thousand pesetas？〃
〃I agree；〃 said the Spaniard bowing once more。 〃I will meet you after
the bullfight to…morrow。〃
〃So that's all right；〃 said Polynesia as we came out to join the Doctor。
96
… Page 97…
THE VOYAGES OF DOCTOR DOOLITTLE
〃I feel as though quite a load had been taken off my mind。〃
THE EIGHTH CHAPTER
THE GREAT BULLFIGHT
THE next day was a great day in Monteverde。 All the streets were
hung with flags； and everywhere gaily dressed crowds were to be seen
flocking towards the bull…ring； as the big circus was called where the
fights took place。
The news of the Doctor's challenge had gone round the town and； it
seemed； had caused much amusement to the islanders。 The very idea of a
mere foreigner daring to match himself against the great Pepito de
Malaga！Serve him right if he got killed！
The Doctor had borrowed a bullfighter's suit from Don Enrique； and
very gay and wonderful he looked in it； though Bumpo and I had hard
work getting the waistcoat to close in front and even then the buttons kept
bursting off it in all directions。
When we set out from the harbor to walk to the bull…ring； crowds of
small boys ran after us making fun of the Doctor's fatness； calling out；
〃Juan Hagapoco； el grueso matador！〃 which is the Spanish for； 〃John
Dolittle； the fat bullfighter。〃 As soon as we arrived the Doctor said he
would like to take a look at the bulls before the fight began； and we were
at once led to the b