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rats had always been his favorite game。 But
the Doctor told him to stop。
And one big black rat； who seemed to want
to say something to the Doctor； now crept forward
timidly along the rail； watching the dog
out of the corner of his eye。 And after he had
coughed nervously two or three times； and
cleaned his whiskers and wiped his mouth； he
said；
〃Ahemeryou know of course that all
ships have rats in them； Doctor； do you not？〃
And the Doctor said； 〃Yes。〃
〃And you have heard that rats always leave
a sinking ship？〃
〃Yes；〃 said the Doctor〃so I've been told。〃
〃People；〃 said the rat； 〃always speak of it
with a sneeras though it were something dis…
graceful。 But you can't blame us； can you？
After all； who WOULD stay on a sinking ship； if
he could get off it？〃
〃It's very natural；〃 said the Doctor〃very
natural。 I quite understand。。。。 Was there
Was there anything else you wished to say？〃
〃Yes；〃 said the rat。 〃I've come to tell you
that we are leaving this one。 But we wanted to
warn you before we go。 This is a bad ship
you have here。 It isn't safe。 The sides aren't
strong enough。 Its boards are rotten。 Before
to…morrow night it will sink to the bottom of
the sea。〃
〃But how do you know？〃 asked the Doctor。
〃We always know；〃 answered the rat。 〃The
tips of our tails get that tingly feelinglike
when your foot's asleep。 This morning； at six
o'clock； while I was getting breakfast； my tail
suddenly began to tingle。 At first I thought it
was my rheumatism coming back。 So I went
and asked my aunt how she feltyou remember
her？the long； piebald rat； rather skinny； who
came to see you in Puddleby last Spring with
jaundice？ Welland she said HER tail was
tingling like everything！ Then we knew； for
sure； that this boat was going to sink in less than
two days； and we all made up our minds to
leave it as soon as we got near enough to any
land。 It's a bad ship； Doctor。 Don't sail in
it any more； or you'll be surely drowned。。。。
Good…by！ We are now going to look for a good
place to live on this island。〃
〃Good…by！〃 said the Doctor。 〃And thank
you very much for coming to tell me。 Very
considerate of youvery！ Give my regards to
your aunt。 I remember her perfectly。。。。
Leave that rat alone； Jip！ Come here！ Lie down！〃
So then the Doctor and all his animals went
off； carrying pails and saucepans； to look for
water on the island； while the swallows took
their rest。
〃I wonder what is the name of this island；〃
said the Doctor； as he was climbing up the
mountainside。 〃It seems a pleasant place。
What a lot of birds there are！〃
〃Why； these are the Canary Islands；〃 said
Dab…Dab。 〃Don't you hear the canaries singing？〃
The Doctor stopped and listened。
〃Why； to be sureof course！〃 he said。
〃How stupid of me！ I wonder if they can tell
us where to find water。〃
And presently the canaries； who had heard all
about Doctor Dolittle from birds of passage；
came and led him to a beautiful spring of cool；
clear water where the canaries used to take their
bath； and they showed him lovely meadows
where the bird…seed grew and all the other
sights of their island。
And the pushmi…pullyu was glad they had
come； because he liked the green grass so much
better than the dried apples he had been eating
on the ship。 And Gub…Gub squeaked for joy
when he found a whole valley full of wild
sugarcane。
A little later； when they had all had plenty
to eat and drink； and were lying on their backs
while the canaries sang for them； two of the swallows
came hurrying up； very flustered and excited。
〃Doctor！〃 they cried； 〃the pirates have come
into the bay； and they've all got on to your ship。
They are downstairs looking for things to steal。
They have left their own ship with nobody on
it。 If you hurry and come down to the shore；
you can get on to their shipwhich is very fast
and escape。 But you'll have to hurry。〃
〃That's a good idea；〃 said the Doctor〃splendid！〃
And he called his animals together at once；
said Good…by to the canaries and ran down to the beach。
When they reached the shore they saw the
pirate…ship； with the three red sails； standing in
the water； andjust as the swallows had said
there was nobody on it； all the pirates were
downstairs in the Doctor's ship； looking for
things to steal。
So John Dolittle told his animals to walk very
softly and they all crept on to the pirate…ship。
THE FIFTEENTH CHAPTER
THE BARBARY DRAGON
EVERYTHING would have gone all right if the pig had not caught
a cold in his head while eating the damp sugar…cane on the
island。 This is what happened：
After they had pulled up the anchor without a sound；
and were moving the ship very； very carefully out of the bay；
Gub…Gub suddenly sneezed so loud that the pirates
on the other ship came rushing upstairs to see
what the noise was。
As soon as they saw that the Doctor was
escaping； they sailed the other boat right across
the entrance to the bay so that the Doctor could
not get out into the open sea。
Then the leader of these bad men （who called
himself 〃Ben Ali； The Dragon〃） shook his fist
at the Doctor and shouted across the water；
〃Ha！ Ha！ You are caught； my fine friend！
You were going to run off in my ship； eh？ But
you are not a good enough sailor to beat Ben
Ali； the Barbary Dragon。 I want that duck
you've gotand the pig too。 We'll have pork…
chops and roast duck for supper to…night。 And
before I let you go home； you must make your
friends send me a trunk…full of gold。〃
Poor Gub…Gub began to weep； and Dab…Dab
made ready to fly to save her life。 But the owl；
Too…Too； whispered to the Doctor；
〃Keep him talking； Doctor。 Be pleasant to
him。 Our old ship is bound to sink soonthe
rats said it would be at the bottom of the sea
before to…morrow nightand the rats are never
wrong。 Be pleasant； till the ship sinks under
him。 Keep him talking。〃
〃What； until to…morrow night！〃 said the Doctor。
〃Well； I'll do my best。。。。 Let me see
What shall I talk about？〃
〃Oh； let them come on；〃 said Jip。 〃We can
fight the dirty rascals。 There are only six of
them。 Let them come on。 I'd love to tell that
collie next door； when we get home； that I had bitten
a real pirate。 Let 'em come。 We can fight them。〃
〃But they have pistols and swords；〃 said the
Doctor。 〃No； that would never do。 I must
talk to him。。。。 Look here； Ben Ali〃
But before the Doctor could say any more；
the pirates began to sail the ship nearer； laughing
with glee； and saying one to another； 〃Who
shall be the first to catch the pig？〃
Poor Gub…Gub was dreadfully frightened；
and the pushmi…pullyu began to sharpen his
horns for a fight by rubbing them on the mast
of the ship； while Jip kept springing into the
air and ba