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Part Three | Hugh Lofting | |
IV Our Troubles Continue |
Page 2 of 3 |
On the morning of the fifth day out, just as I was taking the wheel over from the Doctor, Bumpo appeared and said, "The salt beef is nearly all gone, Sir." "The salt beef!" cried the Doctor. "Why, we brought a hundred and twenty pounds with us. We couldn't have eaten that in five days. What can have become of it?" "I don't know, Sir, I'm sure. Every time I go down to the stores I find another hunk missing. If it is rats that are eating it, then they are certainly colossal rodents." Polynesia who was walking up and down a stay-rope taking her morning exercise, put in, "We must search the hold. If this is allowed to go on we will all be starving before a week is out. Come downstairs with me, Tommy, and we will look into this matter." So we went downstairs into the store-room and Polynesia told us to keep quite still and listen. This we did. And presently we heard from a dark corner of the hold the distinct sound of someone snoring. "Ah, I thought so," said Polynesia. "It's a man--and a big one. Climb in there, both of you, and haul him out. It sounds as though he were behind that barrel--Gosh! We seem to have brought half of Puddleby with us. Anyone would think we were a penny ferry-boat. Such cheek! Haul him out." So Bumpo and I lit a lantern and climbed over the stores. And there, behind the barrel, sure enough, we found an enormous bearded man fast asleep with a well-fed look on his face. We woke him up. |
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The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle Hugh Lofting |
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