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large man lectured and waved a short thick stick； it was against the rules
of the town to throw dead fish in the streets。
〃At last； to our unutterable joy； the old man turned and moved off with
us towards the harbor。 He walked so slowly； muttering to himself all the
way and watching the man in blue out of the corner of his eye； that I
wanted to bite his finger to make him hurry up。 Both Clippa and I were
actually at our last gasp。
〃Finally he reached the sea…wall and giving us one last sad look he
dropped us into the waters of the harbor。
〃Never had we realized anything like the thrill of that moment； as we
felt the salt wetness close over our heads。 With one flick of our tails we
came to life again。 The old man was so surprised that he fell right into the
water； almost on top of us。 From this he was rescued by a sailor with a
boat…hook； and the last we saw of him； the man in blue was dragging him
away by the coat…collar； lecturing him again。 Apparently it was also
against the rules of the town to throw dead fish into the harbor。
〃But we？What time or thought had we for his troubles？ WE WERE
FREE！ In lightning leaps； in curving spurts； in crazy zig…zagswhooping；
shrieking with delight； we sped for home and the open sea！
〃That is all of my story and I will now； as I promised last night； try to
answer any questions you may ask about the sea； on condition that I am
set at liberty as soon as you have done。〃
The Doctor： Is there any part of the sea deeper than that known as the
Nero DeepI mean the one near the Island of Guam？〃
The Fidgit： 〃Why； certainly。 There's one much deeper than that near
the mouth of the Amazon River。 But it's small and hard to find。 We call it
'The Deep Hole。' And there's another in the Antarctic Sea。〃
The Doctor： 〃Can you talk any shellfish language yourself？〃
The Fidgit： 〃No； not a word。 We regular fishes don't have anything to
do with the shellfish。 We consider them a low class。〃
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The Doctor： 〃But when you're near them； can you hear the sound they
make talkingI mean without necessarily understanding what they say？〃
The Fidgit： 〃Only with the very largest ones。 Shellfish have such weak
small voices it is almost impossible for any but their own kind to hear
them。 But with the bigger ones it is different。 They make a sad； booming
noise； rather like an iron pipe being knocked with a stoneonly not nearly
so loud of course。〃
The Doctor： 〃I am most anxious to get down to the bottom of the sea
to study many things。 But we land animals； as you no doubt know； are
unable to breathe under water。 Have you any ideas that might help me？〃
The Fidgit： 〃I think that for both your difficulties the best thing for you
to do would be to try and get hold of the Great Glass Sea Snail。〃
The Doctor： 〃Erwho； or what； is the Great Glass Sea Snail？〃
The Fidgit： 〃He is an enormous salt…water snail； one of the winkle
family； but as large as a big house。 He talks quite loudlywhen he speaks；
but this is not often。 He can go to any part of the ocean； at all depths
because he doesn't have to be afraid of any creature in the sea。 His shell is
made of transparent mother…o'…pearl so that you can see through it； but it's
thick and strong。 When he is out of his shell and he carries it empty on his
back； there is room in it for a wagon and a pair of horses。 He has been
seen carrying his food in it when traveling。〃
The Doctor： 〃I feel that that is just the creature I have been looking for。
He could take me and my assistant inside his shell and we could explore
the deepest depths in safety。 Do you think you could get him for me？〃
The Fidgit： 〃Alas！ no。 I would willingly if I could； but he is hardly
ever seen by ordinary fish。 He lives at the bottom of the Deep Hole； and
seldom comes out And into the Deep Hole； the lower waters of which are
muddy； fishes such as we are afraid to go。〃
The Doctor： 〃Dear me！ That's a terrible disappointment。 Are there
many of this kind of snail in the sea？〃
The Fidgit： 〃Oh no。 He is the only one in existence； since his second
wife died long； long ago。 He is the last of the Giant Shellfish。 He belongs
to past ages when the whales were land…animals and all that。 They say he
is over seventy thousand years old。〃
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The Doctor： 〃Good Gracious； what wonderful things he could tell me！
I do wish I could meet him。〃
The Fidgit： 〃Were there any more questions you wished to ask me？
This water in your tank is getting quite warm and sickly。 I'd like to be put
back into the sea as soon as you can spare me。〃
The Doctor： 〃Just one more thing： when Christopher Columbus
crossed the Atlantic in 1492； he threw overboard two copies of his diary
sealed up in barrels。 One of them was never found。 It must have sunk。 I
would like to get it for my library。 Do you happen to know where it is？〃
The Fidgit： 〃Yes； I do。 That too is in the Deep Hole。 When the barrel
sank the currents drifted it northwards down what we call the Orinoco
Slope； till it finally disappeared into the Deep Hole。 If it was any other part
of the sea I'd try and get it for you； but not there。〃
The Doctor： 〃Well； that is all； I think。 I hate to put you back into the
sea； because I know that as soon as I do； I'll think of a hundred other
questions I wanted to ask you。 But I must keep my promise。 Would you
care for anything before you go？it seems a cold day some cracker…
crumbs or something？〃
The Fidgit： 〃No； I won't stop。 All I want just at present is fresh sea…
water。〃
The Doctor： 〃I cannot thank you enough for all the information you
have given me。 You have been very helpful and patient。〃
The Fidgit： 〃Pray do not mention it。 It has been a real pleasure to be of
assistance to the great John Dolittle。 You are； as of course you know；
already quite famous among the better class of fishes。 Goodbye！and
good luck to you； to your ship and to all your plans！〃
The Doctor carried the listening…tank to a porthole； opened it and
emptied the tank into the sea。 〃Good…bye！〃 he murmured as a faint splash
reached us from without。
I dropped my pencil on th