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horns for a fight by rubbing them on the mast
of the ship； while Jip kept springing into the
air and barking and calling Ben Ali bad names
in dog…language。
But presently something seemed to go wrong
with the pirates； they stopped laughing and
cracking jokes； they looked puzzled； something
was making them uneasy。
Then Ben Ali； staring down at his feet；
suddenly bellowed out；
〃Thunder and Lightning！Men； THE BOAT'S LEAKING！〃
And then the other pirates peered over the
side and they saw that the boat was indeed getting
lower and lower in the water。 And one
of them said to Ben Ali；
〃But surely if this old boat were sinking we
should see the rats leaving it。〃
And Jip shouted across from the other ship；
〃You great duffers； there are no rats there
to leave！ They left two hours ago！ ‘Ha； ha；'
to you； ‘my fine friends！'〃
But of course the men did not understand him。
Soon the front end of the ship began to go
down and down； faster and fastertill the boat
looked almost as though it were standing on its
head； and the pirates had to cling to the rails
and the masts and the ropes and anything to
keep from sliding off。 Then the sea rushed
roaring in and through all the windows and the
doors。 And at last the ship plunged right down
to the bottom of the sea； making a dreadful
gurgling sound； and the six bad men were left
bobbing about in the deep water of the bay。
Some of them started to swim for the shores
of the island； while others came and tried to get
on to the boat where the Doctor was。 But Jip
kept snapping at their noses； so they were afraid
to climb up the side of the ship。
Then suddenly they all cried out in great fear；
〃THE SHARKS！ The sharks are coming！ Let us
get on to the ship before they eat us！ Help；
help！The sharks！ The sharks！〃
And now the Doctor could see； all over the
bay； the backs of big fishes swimming swiftly
through the water。
And one great shark came near to the ship；
and poking his nose out of the water he said to
the Doctor；
〃Are you John Dolittle； the famous animal… doctor？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Doctor Dolittle。 〃That is my
name。〃
〃Well；〃 said the shark； 〃we know these
pirates to be a bad lotespecially Ben Ali。 If they
are annoying you； we will gladly eat them up
for youand then you won't be troubled any
more。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said the Doctor。 〃This is
really most attentive。 But I don't think it will
be necessary to eat them。 Don't let any of them
reach the shore until I tell youjust keep them
swimming about； will you？ And please make
Ben Ali swim over here that I may talk to
him。〃
So the shark went off and chased Ben Ali over
to the Doctor。
〃Listen； Ben Ali；〃 said John Dolittle；
leaning over the side。 〃You have been a very bad
man； and I understand that you have killed
many people。 These good sharks here have just
offered to eat you up for meand 'twould
indeed be a good thing if the seas were rid of you。
But if you will promise to do as I tell you； I
well let you go in safety。〃
〃What must I do？〃 asked the pirate； looking
down sideways at the big shark who was smelling
his leg under the water。
〃You must kill no more people；〃 said the
Doctor； 〃you must stop stealing； you must
never sink another ship； you must give up being
a pirate altogether。〃
〃But what shall I do then？〃 asked Ben Ali。
〃How shall I live？〃
〃You and all your men must go on to this
island and be bird…seed…farmers；〃 the Doctor
answered。 〃You must grow bird…seed for the
canaries。〃
The Barbary Dragon turned pale with anger。
〃GROW BIRD…SEED！〃 he groaned in disgust。
〃Can't I be a sailor？〃
〃No；〃 said the Doctor； 〃you cannot。 You
have been a sailor long enoughand sent many
stout ships and good men to the bottom of the
sea。 For the rest of your life you must be la
peaceful farmer。 The shark is waiting。 Do
not waste any more of his time。 Make up your
mind。〃
〃Thunder and Lightning！〃 Ben Ali
muttered〃BIRD…SEED！〃 Then he looked down
into the water again and saw the great fish
smelling his other leg。
〃Very well；〃 he said sadly。 〃We'll be
farmers。〃
〃And remember；〃 said the Doctor； 〃that if
you do not keep your promiseif you start
killing and stealing again； I shall hear of it；
because the canaries will come and tell me。
And be very sure that I will find a way to punish
you。 For though I may not be able to sail
a ship as well as you； so long as the birds and
the beasts and the fishes are my friends； I do not
have to be afraid of a pirate chiefeven though
he call himself ‘The Dragon of Barbary。' Now
go and be a good farmer and live in peace。〃
Then the Doctor turned to the big shark； and
waving his hand he said；
〃All right。 Let them swim safely to the land。〃
THE SIXTEENTH CHAPTER
TOO…TOO； THE LISTENER
HAVING thanked the sharks again for their kindness；
the Doctor and his pets set off once more on their
journey home in the swift ship with the three red sails。
As they moved out into the open sea； the
animals all went downstairs to see what their new
boat was like inside； while the Doctor leant on
the rail at the back of the ship with a pipe in his
mouth； watching the Canary Islands fade away
in the blue dusk of the evening。
While he was standing there； wondering how
the monkeys were getting onand what his
garden would look like when he got back to
Puddleby； Dab…Dab came tumbling up the
stairs； all smiles and full of news。
〃Doctor！〃 she cried。 〃This ship of the pi…
rates is simply beautifulabsolutely。 The beds
downstairs are made of primrose silkwith
hundreds of big pillows and cushions； there are
thick； soft carpets on the floors； the dishes are
made of silver； and there are all sorts of good
things to eat and drinkspecial things； the
larderwell； it's just like a shop； that's all。
You never saw anything like it in your life
Just thinkthey kept five different kinds of
sardines； those men！ Come and look。。。。 Oh；
and we found a little room down there with the
door locked； and we are all crazy to get in and
see what's inside。 Jip says it must be where the
pirates kept their treasure。 But we can't open
the door。 Come down and see if you can let
us in。〃
So the Doctor went downstairs and he saw
that it was indeed a beautiful ship。 He found
the animals gathered round a little door； all
talking at once； trying to guess what was inside。
The Doctor turned the handle but it wouldn't
open。 Then they all started to hunt for the key。
They looked under the mat； they looked under
all the carpets； they looked in all the cupboards
and drawers and lockersin the big chests in the
ship's dining…room； they looked everywhere。
While they were doing this they discovered
a lot of new and wonderful things that the
pirates m