Doctor Dolittle's Post Office

O Correio do Doutor Dolittle

Hugh Lofting

ESL Easy Read

Reading Comprehension B1 • Original Text • Português Support

SAMPLE

Copyright

Fonte original — domínio público

Esta edição ESL Easy Read foi adaptada a partir de Doctor Dolittle's Post Office, de Hugh Lofting, publicado originalmente em 1923.

A obra original encontra-se em domínio público e pode ser utilizada, reproduzida, distribuída e adaptada de acordo com a legislação aplicável.

Autor

Hugh Lofting (1886–1947)

Estados Unidos

Esta obra foi publicada originalmente em 1923.

Nos Estados Unidos, obras publicadas antes de 1930 encontram-se normalmente em domínio público.

Com base no ano de publicação disponível, esta obra encontra-se em domínio público nos Estados Unidos desde 1º de janeiro de 2019.

Brasil

Autor: Hugh Lofting (1886–1947)

De acordo com a Lei nº 9.610/1998, os direitos patrimoniais expiram 70 anos após a morte do autor, contados a partir de 1º de janeiro do ano seguinte ao falecimento.

Hugh Lofting faleceu em 1947.

Situação no Brasil: DOMÍNIO PÚBLICO.

Portugal

Autor: Hugh Lofting (1886–1947)

De acordo com o Código do Direito de Autor e dos Direitos Conexos, a proteção patrimonial dura 70 anos após a morte do autor.

Hugh Lofting faleceu em 1947.

Situação em Portugal: DOMÍNIO PÚBLICO.

Dados da publicação original

Obra original: Doctor Dolittle's Post Office

Autor: Hugh Lofting

Primeira publicação: 1923

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Esta adaptação ESL Easy Read

Nenhum direito autoral é reivindicado sobre o texto original em domínio público. A estrutura editorial desta edição, as versões de leitura simplificada, as traduções de apoio, o layout, a capa e o aparato pedagógico são protegidos por direitos autorais.

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Introdução

Como ler este livro

Cada livro desta coleção é apresentado em um nível de leitura simplificada, de acordo com o CEFR — Quadro Europeu Comum de Referência para Línguas.

A2 — Básico: indicado para leitores que já compreendem frases simples, vocabulário frequente e textos curtos sobre situações do cotidiano.

B1 — Intermediário: indicado para leitores que conseguem compreender as ideias principais de textos claros e acompanhar uma narrativa com vocabulário e estruturas de dificuldade moderada.

B2 — Intermediário avançado: indicado para leitores que já conseguem compreender textos mais complexos, acompanhar descrições detalhadas e reconhecer uma variedade maior de vocabulário e estruturas gramaticais.

Este livro foi adaptado para o nível B1.

Assim, você pode começar a lê-lo mesmo sem dominar completamente o inglês. O texto foi simplificado para facilitar a compreensão, preservando a história, os personagens e os acontecimentos principais da obra original.

Como usar as notas

No texto de leitura simplificada, cada parágrafo possui um link Pt/En. Esse link abre uma nota com a tradução em português do texto simplificado e o trecho correspondente no texto original em inglês.

No texto original em inglês, o link PT leva diretamente ao parágrafo correspondente na versão em português. Na tradução portuguesa, o link En retorna ao parágrafo correspondente no texto original.

A tradução para o português é feita a partir do texto em inglês simplificado, e não diretamente do texto original. O objetivo é ajudar você a compreender com precisão a frase simplificada que está estudando naquele momento.

O texto original em inglês é apresentado separadamente para a etapa seguinte do aprendizado, quando você já estiver preparado para ler e comparar a obra em sua forma original.

Cada nota contém links que permitem retornar exatamente ao parágrafo que você estava lendo.

Como usar o glossário

Na última parte do livro, o Glossary: New Words reúne, em ordem alfabética, palavras mais complexas ou menos frequentes presentes no texto simplificado de nível B1. Essas palavras aparecem em itálico no texto.

Cada entrada apresenta pronúncia, tradução em português, explicação simples em inglês, frase de exemplo e até cinco frases reais do livro.

O link Back to B1 retorna exatamente à frase correspondente na versão simplificada.

Depois do texto simplificado, o livro apresenta também o texto original completo em inglês e a versão completa em português.

Sobre este livro

A Agência de Correios do Doutor Dolittle, o terceiro livro da amada série de Hugh Lofting, acompanha o excêntrico médico que fala com animais enquanto embarca em uma série de aventuras na costa oeste da África. A história começa quando o Doutor Dolittle ajuda a capturar um navio de traficantes de escravos, ganhando a gratidão do Rei Koko de Fantippo. O rei então pede que o médico organize o serviço postal de seu pequeno reino africano. Dolittle cria um sistema engenhoso usando aves migratórias para transportar correspondência entre continentes, antecipando a invenção do correio aéreo no século XX. À medida que o serviço postal cresce, torna-se uma rede mundial para animais, incluindo uma editora. Ao longo do livro, Dolittle e seus companheiros animais — incluindo a papagaia Polinésia, o cão Jip e a pata Dab-Dab — enfrentam vários desafios. Eles descobrem uma ilha escondida habitada por criaturas pré-históricas, são presos em uma cadeia africana, inventam alfabetos animais e derrotam dois exércitos. Cada animal também conta uma história pessoal. O livro culmina na jornada de Dolittle para encontrar Mudface, a Tartaruga, o ser vivo mais antigo, que sobreviveu ao Grande Dilúvio. O tom é caprichoso e episódico, misturando humor com aventura e uma crítica suave às instituições humanas. O cenário muda da costa africana para ilhas fantásticas, mantendo um senso de maravilha. Os conflitos centrais envolvem superar a ganância e a ignorância humanas enquanto promovem o bem-estar animal. A progressão é vagamente conectada, com cada capítulo apresentando uma nova escapada. O livro evita revelar a história completa do Grande Dilúvio, que é reservada para um volume posterior.

Nota editorial

A tradução para o português e a versão Reading Comprehension B1 foram geradas com apoio de inteligência artificial e submetidas a revisão editorial.

Em caso de dúvida ou observações, fale conosco.

MicMac from Las Vegas LLC
Contato: admin@micmacfromlasvegas.com

Outros livros e materiais

Materiais e outros livros da série ESL Easy Read:

Coleção Doctor Dolittle

Doctor Dolittle in the Moon

Doctor Dolittle's Caravan

Doctor Dolittle's Circus

Doctor Dolittle's Garden

Doctor Dolittle's Post Office

Doctor Dolittle's Zoo

The Story of Doctor Dolittle

The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle

Outras coleções disponíveis

Anne of Green Gables / L. M. Montgomery

Gothic and Terror Classics

A Selva de Burroughs

Marte de Burroughs

Sherlock Holmes

The Land of Oz

www.micmacfromlasvegas.com

Reading Comprehension B1

1 - PROLOGUE

2 - ZUZANA

3 - THE DOCTOR'S RECEPTION ON THE WARSHIP

4 - A GREAT GUNNER

5 - THE ROYAL MAILS OF FANTIPPO

6 - THE VOYAGE DELAYED

7 - NO-MAN'S-LAND

PROLOGUE

Pt/En Most of the story about Doctor Dolittle's post office happened when he was returning from a trip to West Africa. The narrator will begin the story from the moment he turned his ship towards home and sailed back to Puddleby-on-the-Marsh.

Pt/En Before this, the pushmi-pullyu had been in England for a long time and missed Africa. Even though it liked Doctor Dolittle very much, it asked him one cold winter day if he would go to Africa for a short holiday, perhaps for a week or two.

Pt/En Doctor Dolittle agreed quickly. He had not travelled for a long time and felt he also needed a break from the cold English days.

Pt/En So, he started his journey. He took the pushmi-pullyu and his usual animal friends: Dab-Dab the duck, Jip the dog, Gub-Gub the pig, Too-Too the owl, and the white mouse. For this trip, Doctor Dolittle bought a small sailing boat. It was old and worn, but it was a strong boat for bad weather.

Pt/En They sailed south to the Bight of Benin in Africa. There, they visited many different kingdoms and tribes. While they were on land, the pushmi-pullyu could walk freely in its old home areas. It really enjoyed its holiday.

Pt/En One morning, Doctor Dolittle was pleased to see his swallow friends gathering near his ship. They were preparing for their annual flight to England. The swallows asked the Doctor if he was also returning. They said they would be happy to fly with him, as they had done before when he escaped from Jolliginki.

Pt/En The pushmi-pullyu was ready to depart. The Doctor thanked the swallows and told them he would be glad to have them join him. For the rest of that day, everyone was busy preparing the ship and getting supplies for the long journey back to England.

Pt/En By the next morning, the ship was ready to sail. The anchor was lifted, and with all sails open, the Doctor's ship sailed north with a good wind. My story begins from this moment.

ZUZANA

Pt/En During the first week of their return journey, Doctor Dolittle and his animals were eating breakfast together in the cabin. A swallow arrived and told the Doctor that he wished to speak with him.

Pt/En Doctor Dolittle immediately left the table and went to the passage. There he met the leader of the swallows, a small, neat bird with long wings and dark eyes. This bird was known as Speedy-the-Skimmer and was famous among all birds. He was the best at catching insects and performing aerial tricks in Europe, Africa, Asia, and America. He had won all the flying races every summer, and the previous year he had flown across the Atlantic in just eleven and a half hours, traveling at over two hundred miles per hour.

Pt/En John Dolittle asked Speedy what the matter was.

Pt/En A little bird told Doctor Dolittle that they had seen a canoe about a mile away. A black woman was in the canoe, crying a lot and not paddling. The bird explained that the canoe was very far from land, about ten miles, near the Bay of Fantippo, and close to Africa. The bird was worried because the woman was in a small boat in deep water and seemed not to care about her situation. The bird asked the Doctor to speak to her, as they thought she was in serious trouble.

Pt/En Doctor Dolittle agreed. He told the bird to fly slowly towards the canoe, and he would steer the ship to follow it.

Pt/En John Dolittle went on deck and followed the birds. Soon, he saw a small, dark canoe on the waves. It looked very tiny on the large sea, almost like a log, and could easily be missed. A woman sat in the canoe with her head resting on her knees.

Pt/En When the Doctor was close enough to be heard, he shouted to the woman. He asked her what was wrong and why she had travelled so far from land. He also warned her that she was in great danger if a storm were to start.

Pt/En The woman slowly lifted her head.

Pt/En She told him to leave her alone with her sadness. She asked if white men had already caused her enough harm.

Pt/En John Dolittle moved his boat nearer and spoke kindly to the woman. At first, she did not trust him because he was a white man. However, the Doctor gradually gained her trust. While still crying a lot, she finally told him her story.

Pt/En John Dolittle spoke with the woman.

Pt/En During this time, slavery was being stopped. Most governments had made it illegal to capture, buy, or sell slaves. However, some bad people still travelled to the west coast of Africa. They secretly caught or bought slaves and took them away on ships to other countries to work on farms growing cotton and tobacco. Some African kings sold prisoners they had captured in wars to these men, making a lot of money.

Pt/En The woman in the canoe was from a tribe that was fighting a war with the King of Fantippo. Fantippo is a kingdom in Africa, located on the coast. The swallows had seen the canoe near this place.

Pt/En During the war, the King of Fantippo captured many people, including the woman's husband. After the war, some sailors arrived in a ship. They wanted to buy people to work on tobacco farms. The king decided to sell them the prisoners he had taken, because they offered a lot of money.

Pt/En The woman's name was Zuzana, and her husband was a strong and good-looking man. The King of Fantippo liked strong men and might have kept Zuzana's husband. However, the people who bought slaves also wanted strong men for hard work on the farms. They offered the king a very high price for Zuzana's husband, so the king sold him.

Pt/En Zuzana told the Doctor that she had followed the ship in her canoe for a long time. She begged them to return her husband. But the sailors just laughed and continued their journey. Soon, the ship disappeared from view.

Pt/En Zuzana explained that this was why she disliked all white men. She had not wanted to speak to the Doctor when he had called out to her canoe.

Pt/En The Doctor became very angry after hearing the story. He asked Zuzana when the ship carrying her husband had departed.

Pt/En Zuzana explained that the ship had left only thirty minutes before. She felt her life had no meaning without her husband. After the ship disappeared, sailing north along the coast, she started crying. She allowed her canoe to float without paddling back to shore.

Pt/En The Doctor promised Zuzana he would help her, no matter the cost. He wanted to quickly follow the slave ship. However, Dab-Dab the duck warned him that his boat was too slow. The slavers would easily see its sails and would not let it get close.

Pt/En So, the Doctor stopped his ship and got into Zuzana's canoe. He asked the swallows to guide him. He then traveled north along the coast, searching in all the bays and behind every island for the slave ship that had taken Zuzana's husband.

Pt/En He searched in all the bays.

Pt/En They searched for a long time without success. It started to get dark. The swallows, who were helping to guide them, could not see very far because there was no moon.

Pt/En Zuzana started crying again when the Doctor told her that he had to stop searching for the night.

Pt/En She explained that by morning the ship carrying the slave dealers would be very far away. She worried she would never get her husband back.

Pt/En The Doctor tried to comfort her. He promised that if he could not find her husband, he would find her another one who was just as good. However, she did not seem to like this idea and continued to cry.

Pt/En Zuzana's crying was so loud that the Doctor could not sleep in the canoe. He had to sit up and listen. Some swallows and their leader, Skimmer, were with him. They were discussing what they could do when Skimmer suddenly told them to look. He pointed towards the dark, moving sea in the west.

Pt/En Zuzana stopped crying and looked towards the ocean. Far away, on the dark edge of the sea, they saw a small light.

Pt/En The Doctor shouted that it was a ship.

Pt/En Speedy agreed it was a ship and wondered if it was another ship carrying slaves.

Pt/En The Doctor explained that it was not the ship they were looking for because it was going in the wrong direction. The ship they wanted had gone north.

Pt/En Speedy-the-Skimmer suggested he could fly to the ship to find out what kind it was and then report back. He thought it might be able to help them.

Pt/En The Doctor told Speedy that it was all right and thanked him.

Pt/En The Skimmer quickly flew into the dark towards a small light on the sea. Meanwhile, the Doctor started to think about his own ship, which he had left anchored further down the coast.

Pt/En After twenty minutes, John Dolittle began to feel worried. He thought the Skimmer, which was very fast, should have returned by now.

Pt/En Soon, the Skimmer flew in a circle above and landed very lightly on the Doctor's knee.

Pt/En John Dolittle asked what kind of ship it had been.

Pt/En The Skimmer described a large ship to Doctor Dolittle. He said it had tall masts and seemed fast. The ship was sailing towards them carefully, possibly to avoid shallow water. It looked new and smart, with big cannons. The sailors wore smart blue clothes. The Skimmer added that the ship had a name painted on its side, and he could show the Doctor what it looked like on his hand.

Pt/En Using one of his claws, the Skimmer began to draw some letters on Doctor Dolittle's palm. Before he could finish, John Dolittle suddenly stood up, almost tipping over their canoe.

Pt/En The Skimmer explained that the letters meant "Her Majesty's Ship." He identified it as a navy vessel, which was exactly the kind of ship they needed to deal with slave traders.

THE DOCTOR'S RECEPTION ON THE WARSHIP

Pt/En Doctor Dolittle and Zuzana began paddling their canoe as fast as they could towards a light. Although the night was calm, the ocean's large waves made the canoe move up and down like a seesaw. Zuzana had to use all her skill to keep the canoe moving in a straight line.

Pt/En After about an hour, the Doctor noticed that the ship they were heading for had stopped. When they finally reached it in the dark, he understood why: the navy ship had hit his own ship, which he had left anchored without lights. Fortunately, the navy ship had been moving slowly, so it seemed neither ship was seriously damaged.

Pt/En John Dolittle and Zuzana saw a rope ladder on the side of the large ship. They climbed it to go onto the ship and meet the Captain.

Pt/En John found the Captain walking on the main deck of the ship. The Captain was speaking quietly to himself.

Pt/En The Doctor greeted the Captain politely and commented that the weather was good.

Pt/En The Captain walked over to the Doctor and angrily shook his fist near the Doctor's face.

Pt/En The Captain angrily asked John if he was the owner of the other ship that was next to theirs.

Pt/En The Doctor agreed, but explained it was only for a short time. He then asked for the reason.

Pt/En The Captain was very angry and demanded to know why the Doctor's ship was anchored at night without lights. He explained that he was searching for a slave trader and had almost crashed into the Doctor's ship. He had called out but received no answer. When he boarded the ship, he found a pig sleeping in a chair. The Captain questioned if a pig was usually in charge and asked where the Doctor had been.

Pt/En The Captain asked the Doctor where he had been.

Pt/En The Doctor replied that he had been canoeing with a lady. He smiled at Zuzana, who was starting to cry again.

Pt/En The Captain was shocked to hear that the Doctor had been canoeing with a lady.

Pt/En The Doctor agreed and wanted to introduce Zuzana to the Captain. He began to say the Captain's name but stopped.

Pt/En The Captain interrupted the Doctor by calling a sailor who was standing nearby.

Pt/En The Captain was angry with the Doctor. He accused the Doctor of leaving his ship in a dangerous place, where other ships could hit it. He asked the sailor to arrest the Doctor.

Pt/En The sailor agreed and quickly put handcuffs on the Doctor's wrists before he could understand what was happening.

Pt/En The Doctor explained that the lady had been in trouble. He said he was in a hurry and forgot to light the ship, and that it was not yet dark when he left.

Pt/En The Captain shouted loudly. He ordered them to take the person below deck immediately. He also threatened to kill the person.

Pt/En The Master-at-arms took the Doctor towards stairs that went down to the lower parts of the ship. At the top of the stairs, the Doctor held onto the rail. He managed to shout back to the Captain.

Pt/En The Doctor told the Captain that he knew where Jimmie Bones was and could share this information if he wanted to.

Pt/En The Captain was surprised and asked what the Doctor had said. He ordered the Doctor to be brought back and asked him to repeat what he had said.

Pt/En The Doctor repeated that he could tell them where Jimmie Bones was, if he chose to. While saying this, he took out his handkerchief and blew his nose, even though his hands were handcuffed.

Pt/En The Captain asked if the man was Jimmie Bones, who was a slaver. He explained that the government had sent him to find Jimmie Bones and asked where he was.

Pt/En The Doctor quietly said that his memory did not work well when his hands were tied, nodding towards the handcuffs. He suggested that if they were removed, he might be able to remember.

Pt/En The Captain apologized and his attitude changed immediately. He then ordered the Master-at-arms to set the prisoner free.

Pt/En A sailor agreed to the order and removed the handcuffs from the Doctor's wrists. He then turned to leave.

Pt/En As the sailor was leaving, the Captain called out to him. He asked him to bring a chair onto the deck, thinking their visitor might be tired.

Pt/En Doctor Dolittle told the Captain Zuzana's entire story and her problems. All the other ship officers came closer to hear it.

Pt/En The Doctor finished by saying he was certain that the man who had taken the woman's husband was Jimmie Bones, the person they were looking for.

Pt/En The Captain agreed. He knew Jimmie Bones was near the coast but asked where he was now, saying he was difficult to catch.

Pt/En The Doctor said Jimmie Bones had gone north. He thought the Captain's fast ship could catch him. He also explained that if Jimmie Bones hid in bays or creeks, his birds could find him when it was light.

Pt/En The Captain looked at his officers with surprise. They all smiled, but they did not seem to believe what he was saying.

Pt/En The Captain asked Doctor Dolittle what he meant by birds. He wondered if they were pigeons or trained canaries.

Pt/En Doctor Dolittle answered that he meant swallows. He explained that these swallows were going back to England for the summer and had offered to guide his ship home because they were his friends.

Pt/En The officers laughed and touched their foreheads, showing they thought the Doctor was not well. The Captain felt he was being tricked and became very angry. He wanted to arrest the Doctor again.

Pt/En However, the officer who was second in command spoke quietly to the Captain.

Pt/En He suggested letting the Doctor come with them and try to help, as their ship was sailing north anyway. He remembered hearing about a man in the west of England who had special abilities with animals and birds, and he thought this man was Doctor Dolittle. He added that Dolittle seemed harmless and might be useful. He also pointed out that the local people trusted him, which was why the woman had agreed to travel with him, as they were usually afraid to sail with white men.

Pt/En After thinking for a little while, the Captain spoke to the Doctor again.

Pt/En The Captain told the Doctor that he seemed crazy. However, he agreed to help if the Doctor could find Jimmie Bones, the slave trader, no matter how. They would start their journey as soon as it was light. The Captain warned the Doctor that if he was only joking, it would cause serious trouble for him. He ordered the Doctor to put lights on his boat and to make sure the pig did not let them go out, or the pig would be cooked for the officers.

Pt/En There was a lot of joking and laughter when the Doctor went back to his ship to get the lights ready. But the next morning, when the Doctor returned with about a thousand swallows, the officers on the warship were not amused.

Pt/En The sun was just beginning to rise over the distant coast of Africa, creating a very beautiful morning.

Pt/En Speedy-the-Skimmer and the Doctor had made plans during the night. Long before the large warship raised its anchor and turned, the skilled swallow leader was already far ahead. He was with a group of chosen hunters, searching along the coast's small rivers and hidden areas where the slave trader might be hiding.

Pt/En Speedy and the Doctor made a plan for swallows to carry messages. Many swallows flew in a line along the coast, filling the sky. They whistled to each other to send news from the front scouts back to the Doctor on the warship. This told him how the hunt was going.

Pt/En The birds spread out in a line along the coast.

Pt/En Around noon, they received news that Bones's slave ship had been seen behind a long, high cape. The message warned them to be very careful because the ship was ready to sail at any moment. The people on the ship had only stopped to get water, and look-outs were watching to warn them if they needed to leave quickly.

Pt/En When the Doctor told the Captain this news, the warship changed its direction and moved closer to the shore, hiding behind the long cape. All the sailors were told to be very quiet so the navy ship could approach the slaver without being seen.

Pt/En The Captain expected the slavers to fight, so he ordered the guns to be made ready. Just as they were about to go around the long cape, one of the gunners accidentally fired a gun.

Pt/En A loud noise, like a shot, was heard. It echoed over the quiet sea and sounded like angry thunder.

Pt/En Birds quickly sent a message that the slave traders had been warned and were escaping. When the warship arrived, the slave ship was already sailing away, with a ten-mile head start.

A GREAT GUNNER

Pt/En An exciting sea race began. It was two o'clock in the afternoon, and there were not many hours of daylight left.

Pt/En The Captain was angry with the gunner who fired the shot by mistake. He knew they had to catch the slave ship before dark, or they would lose it. The slaver, Jim Bones, was very clever and knew the West African coast well. If it became dark, he could easily hide or escape.

Pt/En The Captain ordered his ship, H.M.S. Violet, to go as fast as possible. Steam engines were used with sails to help ships move faster. The Captain was proud of his ship and wanted it to catch Jim Bones, who was illegally trading slaves. The Violet's engines worked hard, producing thick, black smoke that covered the sea and sails.

Pt/En The engine boy wanted his ship to be the one to catch Bones. To make the ship go faster, he tied down the safety valve on the steam engine. Soon after, one of the ship's new boilers exploded with a loud noise, making a big mess in the engine room.

Pt/En However, the Violet was a large sailing ship and still quite fast. It sailed powerfully through the waves and was slowly getting closer to the slave ship.

Pt/En But Bones had a big head start, so it was difficult to catch. As the sun began to set, the Captain became angry. He knew that if it got dark, his enemy would be safe.

Pt/En Below deck, the crew was very upset with the man who had accidentally fired the gun. They blamed him for warning Bones, which meant Bones would probably escape. The ships were still too far apart to use their cannons effectively. Nevertheless, seeing the darkness approaching and his enemy getting away, the Captain ordered the guns to be prepared, even though he did not expect his shots to hit the slave ship from such a distance.

Pt/En Speedy-the-Skimmer had come aboard the warship earlier to rest. He was talking with the Doctor when the Captain's order to prepare the guns was given. So, the Doctor and Speedy went below to watch the cannons being fired.

Pt/En The atmosphere was calm but full of excitement. The soldiers operating the guns were all prepared. They were aiming their weapons at the enemy ship in the distance and waiting for the command to shoot. One soldier was still very sad because he had made a silly mistake, and his colleagues had made fun of him.

Pt/En Suddenly, an officer gave the order to fire. The ship shook strongly from front to back. Eight large cannon balls flew quickly across the water.

Pt/En However, none of the cannon balls hit the slave ship. They fell into the water with splashes and caused no harm.

Pt/En The gunners complained that the light was too poor. They said it was impossible to hit a target two miles away in such bad light.

Pt/En Then, Speedy spoke quietly to the Doctor.

Pt/En He asked them to allow him to shoot a gun because he could see better in the dark than they could.

Pt/En However, at that exact moment, the Captain gave the command to stop shooting, and the men moved away from their positions.

Pt/En As soon as the men turned away, Speedy climbed onto one of the guns. He looked along the sights and used his wings to guide the Doctor, showing him how to move the gun left and right to aim it correctly.

Pt/En Speedy told the Doctor to fire, and the Doctor shot the gun.

Pt/En Speedy instructed the Doctor to fire.

Pt/En The Captain shouted from the deck, asking what was happening because a shot had just been fired. He also asked if he had told them to stop shooting.

Pt/En The second in command stopped the Captain and showed him across the water. A cannon ball from Speedy had hit the other ship. It broke the main mast and made the sails fall down onto the deck.

Pt/En The Captain was very surprised. He said they had hit the ship and pointed out that Bones was showing a signal that meant surrender.

Pt/En The Captain, who had been angry about the shot fired without orders, now wanted to know who had made the excellent shot that stopped the other ship. The Doctor was about to say it was Speedy, but the Skimmer whispered to him.

Pt/En The Skimmer told the Doctor not to say anything, because the Captain would not believe him. The Skimmer suggested they should let the man who made a mistake earlier take the credit for the shot. He thought this would make that man feel better, perhaps even get him a medal.

Pt/En The ship Violet was excited as they got close to a damaged slave boat. Captain Bones and his eleven men were captured and put in the warship's cells. Doctor Dolittle, Zuzana, some sailors, and an officer then went onto the slave ship. Inside the ship's storage area, they found many slaves who were chained. Zuzana quickly saw her husband and cried with happiness.

Pt/En The captured men were immediately freed from their chains and brought onto the warship. The Violet then started pulling the slave ship. This was the end of Mr. Bones's work trading slaves.

Pt/En There was a lot of happiness, hand-shaking, and congratulations on the warship. A large dinner was prepared for the freed slaves on the main deck. However, Doctor Dolittle, Zuzana, and her husband were invited to eat with the officers. They drank port wine, and the Captain and the Doctor gave speeches.

Pt/En The next day, as soon as it was light, the warship sailed along the coast again. They took the black people back to their own countries.

Pt/En This took a long time because Captain Bones had captured slaves from many different tribes. It was after midday when Doctor Dolittle, Zuzana, and her husband returned to John Dolittle's ship. The ship's lights were still on, even though it was daytime.

Pt/En The Captain shook hands with Doctor Dolittle and thanked him for helping the Navy. He asked for the Doctor's address in England because he wanted to tell the government about him. He thought the Queen might want to give the Doctor a medal or make him a knight. However, the Doctor said he would prefer a pound of tea. He had not had tea for many months and thought the tea served to the officers was very good.

Pt/En The Captain then gave Doctor Dolittle five pounds of the best China tea. He thanked the Doctor again on behalf of the Queen and the government.

Pt/En The ship, named the Violet, turned north and sailed back towards England. The sailors stood at the edge of the ship and shouted three loud cheers for the Doctor across the sea.

Pt/En The sailors gathered at the side of the ship.

Pt/En Jip, Dab-Dab, Gub-Gub, Too-Too, and the other animals came to Doctor Dolittle. They wanted to hear about his adventures. He told them stories until it was time for tea. The Doctor then invited Zuzana and her husband to have tea with him before they went ashore.

Pt/En They were happy to help. Doctor Dolittle made the tea himself, and it was very good. While they drank the tea, Zuzana and her husband, Begwe, talked about the Kingdom of Fantippo.

Pt/En Begwe told Zuzana that he did not want to go back to Fantippo. He said he did not mind being a soldier, but he was worried that another slave trader might come and the king might sell him again. He asked Zuzana if she had sent the letter to their cousin.

Pt/En Zuzana replied that she had sent the letter, but she did not think their cousin had received it because they had not heard back.

Pt/En Doctor Dolittle asked Zuzana how she had sent the letter. She explained that when Bones offered a lot of money for Begwe, and the king was tempted to sell him, she told the king she would get twelve oxen and thirty goats from a rich cousin if he waited. The King of Fantippo loved oxen and goats, as they were valuable. He promised Zuzana that if she brought the animals within two days, her husband would be free instead of being sold.

Pt/En So, Zuzana quickly went to a professional writer because most people in that area could not write. She had a letter written, asking her cousin to send the oxen and goats to the king right away. Then, she took the letter to the Fantippo post office and sent it.

Pt/En Two days passed, but there was no reply and no cattle arrived. Sadly, Begwe was then sold to Bones's men.

THE ROYAL MAILS OF FANTIPPO

Pt/En The Fantippo post office that Zuzana had told the Doctor about was quite strange. It was unusual to find a post office or regular mail service in a wild African kingdom. This is how it happened:

Pt/En Some years before the Doctor's journey, people in many parts of the world discussed mail services and the cost of sending letters between countries. In England, a man named Rowland Hill introduced "The Penny Postage." It was agreed that one penny would be the standard price for a letter within Britain. Heavier letters cost more. Then, stamps were created in different values, such as one penny, two pence, and six pence. They were all different colors and had detailed pictures, often of the Queen, sometimes with her crown.

Pt/En Other countries, like France and the United States, started similar systems. Their stamps were priced in their own money and featured pictures of their own rulers or presidents.

Pt/En One day, a ship arrived on the coast of West Africa and delivered a letter for Koko, the King of Fantippo. King Koko had never seen a stamp before. He asked a white merchant who lived in his town to explain whose face was on the stamp that the letter carried.

Pt/En The merchant explained the postal system. He told the person that in England, to send a letter anywhere in the world, you just needed to put a stamp with the queen's picture on the envelope. Then, you would place it in a street letter-box, and it would be delivered to the address written on it.

Pt/En The King thought this was a new kind of magic. He decided that his kingdom, Fantippo, would also have its own post office. He announced that his own face would be on all the stamps, and his letters would travel using a faster magic.

Pt/En A special stamp from Fantippo.

Pt/En King Koko of Fantippo was a very proud man. He had many stamps made with his picture on them. Some showed him with his crown, some smiling, and some on a horse or bicycle. He was most proud of a tenpenny stamp showing him playing golf, a game he had recently learned.

Pt/En The King also had letter-boxes made, similar to those in England. He placed them at street corners. He instructed his people to put one of his stamps on their letters and place them in these boxes, and the letters would be sent to any part of the world they wanted.

Pt/En Soon, people started to complain that they had been robbed. They explained that they had paid money for stamps, believing they had magic powers. They had put their letters in the street boxes as instructed. However, a cow accidentally broke open one of the letter boxes. When it opened, all the people's letters were found inside, and they had not moved at all.

Pt/En The king became very angry. He called for the white trader and told him that he had been deceived.

Pt/En The king told the trader that the stamps had no magic power and demanded an explanation.

Pt/En The trader explained that the magic was not in the stamps or boxes. He told the king that proper post offices have mail-men, or postmen, who collect letters from the boxes. He then explained all the other jobs a post office does to make letters travel.

Pt/En The king, who was determined, decided that Fantippo should have a post office. He ordered many postmen's uniforms and caps from England. When they arrived, he dressed many local men in them and assigned them to work as postmen.

Pt/En The men found the heavy uniforms too hot for the weather in Fantippo, where people usually wear only beads. They decided to stop wearing the uniforms and only wear the caps. This is how the Fantippo postman's uniform became a smart cap, a string of beads, and a mail bag.

Pt/En After King Koko hired his mail-men, the Royal Fantippo post office started to operate properly. Letters were collected from street boxes and sent out when ships arrived. Mail was delivered to houses three times daily. The post office became the busiest place in town.

Pt/En People in West Africa liked colourful clothing. A fashionable person in Fantippo began the idea of using old stamps from letters to make suits of clothes. These stamp suits looked very stylish and became valuable possessions for the local people.

Pt/En Around this time, in developed countries, collecting stamps became a popular hobby. People in places like England and America started buying stamp albums to put their stamps in. A rare stamp could become quite valuable.

Pt/En One day, two men who collected stamps arrived in Fantippo on a ship. They were both very eager to find a specific stamp for their collections, called the "twopenny-halfpenny Fantippo red." The King had stopped printing this stamp because he did not like the picture of himself on it. Since it was no longer being printed, it became very rare.

Pt/En When two men arrived in Fantippo, a porter offered to carry their bags. They noticed a special red stamp on the porter's chest. Both men wanted this stamp for their collections and began to bid against each other, offering increasingly high prices.

Pt/En King Koko heard about the collectors' interest in the stamp. He asked one of them why people would pay a lot for an old, used stamp. The collector explained the growing popularity of stamp collecting around the world.

Pt/En Although King Koko thought the idea of stamp collecting was strange, he decided it would be a good business opportunity. He began selling stamps for collections instead of just for sending letters. Whenever a ship arrived, he sent his Postmaster-General, who was dressed in a special uniform, to sell stamps to the visitors.

Pt/En This new business was very successful. The King ordered the stamp printing machines to work faster to produce a new set of Fantippo stamps. He wanted to have them ready for sale by the time the same ship returned on its way back to England.

Pt/En However, because the King was focused on selling stamps for collections, the regular mail service in Fantippo was neglected and became very poor.

Pt/En While Zuzana was speaking about her letter, Doctor Dolittle suddenly recalled something. On a previous journey, his ship had stopped near Fantippo. A postman came onto the ship and offered many new stamps. Because Doctor Dolittle collected stamps, he bought three full sets.

Pt/En Listening to Zuzana, the Doctor understood the problem with the Fantippo post office. He realized why Zuzana's letter had not reached her cousin and why her husband could not be saved from slavery.

Pt/En As Zuzana and Begwe prepared to leave because it was getting dark, Doctor Dolittle saw a canoe moving from the shore towards his ship. He saw that King Koko was in the canoe and was coming to the ship to sell stamps.

Pt/En Doctor Dolittle spoke with King Koko. He told the King that he should be ashamed of his post office. After giving the King some tea, he explained how Zuzana's letter had likely never been delivered to her cousin.

Pt/En The Doctor gave the King a cup of China tea.

Pt/En The King listened carefully and understood the problems with his post office. He invited the Doctor to come ashore with Zuzana and Begwe to organize and fix the post office so it would function correctly.

THE VOYAGE DELAYED

Pt/En After some convincing, the Doctor agreed to the King's plan, thinking he might be able to help. He did not realize the difficult tasks and unusual journeys he was starting. He got into a canoe with the King, Begwe, and Zuzana to be taken to the town of Fantippo.

Pt/En The Doctor found this place very different from other African villages he had visited. It was quite large, almost like a city. It looked bright and cheerful, and the people, like their King, seemed very friendly and happy.

Pt/En The Doctor was introduced to all the important leaders of the Fantippo people. Later, he was taken to see the post office.

Pt/En He found the post office in a very bad condition. Letters were scattered everywhere, on the floors, in drawers, on desks, and even outside the door. The Doctor explained to the King that this was unacceptable. He stated that in well-managed post offices, letters with stamps were handled with care. He added that it was not surprising Zuzana's letter had not reached her cousin if this was how they managed the mail.

Pt/En King Koko asked Doctor Dolittle to manage the post office and make it work correctly. Doctor Dolittle agreed to try his best. He went into the post office, took off his coat, and began working.

Pt/En After working very hard for many hours to sort letters and organize the post office, Doctor Dolittle realized that fixing it would take many weeks, not just a day or two. He told this to the King. Then, his ship was brought to the harbor and anchored safely. His animals were brought ashore. The Doctor and his pets were given a nice new house on the main street to live in while he worked on the Fantippo post office.

Pt/En After ten days, Doctor Dolittle had made good progress with the Domestic Mails, which are letters sent within the same country or city. However, he found it difficult to establish a good service for Foreign Mails, which go to other countries. This was because ships that could carry mail abroad did not visit Fantippo very often. Even though King Koko was proud of Fantippo, it was not considered an important country by other nations, and only two or three ships a year stopped there.

Pt/En One morning, while Doctor Dolittle was in bed thinking about how to improve the Foreign Mail Service, his pets Dab-Dab and Jip brought him breakfast. They told him a swallow was waiting outside with a message from Speedy-the-Skimmer. Doctor Dolittle invited the swallow in, and the bird sat on his bed while he ate his breakfast.

Pt/En While eating his breakfast, the Doctor greeted the swallow and asked how he could help it.

Pt/En A person greeted them and asked how they could help.

Pt/En The swallow told the Doctor that Speedy wanted to know how long he would stay. The swallow explained that their journey was taking too long because of past delays and the current post office work. They needed to return to England soon to prepare nests for the new season, and the delay was making things difficult for them, though they said they were not complaining.

Pt/En The Doctor said he understood perfectly and was very sorry. He asked why Speedy had not brought the message himself.

Pt/En The swallow thought that Speedy probably did not want to come because he was worried the Doctor might be offended.

Pt/En The Doctor assured them he would not be offended and thanked the birds for their help. He asked the swallow to tell Speedy that he would visit him as soon as he was ready, and he was sure they could arrange a solution.

Pt/En The swallow told the Doctor that it was very good. It then turned to leave and said it would inform the Skimmer of the Doctor's message.

Pt/En Doctor Dolittle mentioned that he was trying to remember where he had seen the swallow before. He asked if it had ever built its nest in his stable in Puddleby.

Pt/En The bird replied that it had not built its nest there. However, it identified itself as the swallow that had brought Doctor Dolittle a message from the monkeys when they were ill.

Pt/En Doctor Dolittle then remembered, exclaiming that he knew he had seen the swallow before and never forgot faces. He commented that the swallow must have had a difficult journey to England during the winter, facing snow and cold, and called it very brave for undertaking the trip.

Pt/En The swallow confirmed that it was a hard journey and that it had nearly frozen to death several times. It described flying against the strong, cold wind as terrible, but explained that it was necessary. The swallow added that the monkeys would likely have perished if they had not managed to get help from Doctor Dolittle.

Pt/En The Doctor asked why the swallow had been chosen to deliver the message.

Pt/En The swallow explained that Speedy wanted to do the job himself because he was very brave and fast. However, the other swallows did not allow him. They believed he was too important as their leader. They thought the job was dangerous, and if Speedy died, they would not find another leader as good as him. He was the cleverest leader they had, always finding solutions when the swallows were in trouble. He was a natural leader who could fly and think quickly.

Pt/En The Doctor thought about the swallow's explanation. He asked again why they had chosen the swallow to bring the message.

Pt/En The swallow said that they had not chosen him directly. Many swallows had offered to do the job to protect Speedy. The Skimmer suggested drawing lots to be fair. They used small leaves, taking the stalks off all but one. They mixed the leaves in a coconut shell and picked them with their eyes closed. The swallow who picked the leaf with a stalk was to take the message to England. The swallow picked that leaf. He said goodbye to his wife because he did not expect to survive the journey. However, he was glad that he was the one chosen.

Pt/En The Doctor asked why the swallow was glad about being chosen.

Pt/En The swallow lifted his leg to show a small red ribbon made of corn silk tied around his ankle. He explained that he received it for doing something.

Pt/En The Doctor asked what the ribbon was.

Pt/En The swallow replied that the ribbon showed he had done something brave and special.

Pt/En The Doctor understood and asked if the ribbon was like a medal.

Pt/En The bird confirmed it was like a medal. He said his name was Quip, and he used to be just Quip, but now he was called Quip the Carrier. He looked proudly at his short, white leg.

Pt/En The Doctor told Jip that he was excellent and congratulated him. He explained that he had a lot of work to do and needed to get up. He asked Jip to remind Speedy that they would meet on the ship at ten o'clock. The Doctor also asked Jip to tell Dab-Dab to clear away the breakfast dishes. He was happy Jip had visited because it gave him an idea.

Pt/En Dab-Dab and Jip found the Doctor while he was shaving.

Pt/En When Dab-Dab and Jip came to remove the breakfast tray, they saw the Doctor shaving. He was looking into a mirror, holding his nose, and speaking to himself.

Pt/En The Doctor had an idea for a new mail service called the Fantippo Foreign Mail. He thought it would be the fastest overseas mail service in the world and decided to name it The Swallow Mail.

NO-MAN'S-LAND

Pt/En After getting dressed and shaving, the Doctor went down to his ship. There, he met Speedy.

Pt/En The Doctor told Speedy he was very sorry for the trouble his delay had caused the birds. He explained that the post office business was very important and needed to be dealt with because it was in a terrible state.

Pt/En Speedy replied that he understood. He said that they would have stayed in that country to help the Doctor and would not have minded missing a summer in the North. However, he explained that swallows cannot build nests easily in trees; they need houses and buildings for their nests.

Pt/En The Doctor asked if they could use the houses in Fantippo for their nests.

Pt/En Speedy said that the Fantippo houses were not very suitable because they were small and noisy with children playing all day, making it unsafe for eggs and young birds. He also mentioned that the houses were not built correctly for swallows, with wrong roof slopes and low eaves. He preferred quiet, solid buildings like old barns or stables, where people behaved in a calm and respectful way, as nesting birds need peace.

Pt/En The Doctor understood Speedy's point, even though he personally enjoyed the liveliness of Fantippo. He then suggested his old ship as a possible nesting place, believing it would be quiet enough. He pointed out that nobody lived on the ship anymore and that it had many cracks and holes suitable for building nests, and asked for Speedy's opinion.

Pt/En Speedy thought it would be a good idea if the Doctor did not need the boat for several weeks. He explained that it would be a problem if the Doctor sailed away after the nests were built and eggs were laid, because the young birds would get seasick.

Pt/En The Doctor replied that he would not leave for some time. He assured Speedy that the swallows could use the whole ship for themselves without anyone disturbing them.

Pt/En Speedy agreed and said he would tell the swallows to start building their nests immediately. He also mentioned that they would travel to England with the Doctor when he was ready, to guide him and to teach the young birds the way. He explained that each year, the new birds make their first journey from England to Africa with the older, experienced birds, and they need guidance for this first trip.

Pt/En The Doctor confirmed that the plan was settled. He said he needed to return to the post office and that the ship was now theirs. He asked Speedy to inform him as soon as the nesting was finished, because he had a special idea he wanted to share.

Pt/En The Doctor's boat was then transformed into a nesting ship for the swallows. It remained anchored peacefully in the calm waters of Fantippo harbor. Thousands of swallows began building their nests everywhere on the ship, including in the rigging, ventilators, portholes, and every available space.

Original English Text

1 - PROLOGUE

2 - ZUZANA

3 - THE DOCTOR'S RECEPTION ON THE WARSHIP

4 - A GREAT GUNNER

5 - THE ROYAL MAILS OF FANTIPPO

6 - THE VOYAGE DELAYED

7 - NO-MAN'S-LAND

PROLOGUE

PT NEARLY ALL OF the history of Doctor Dolittle's post office took place when he was returning from a voyage to West Africa. Therefore I will begin (as soon as I have told you a little about how he came to take the journey) from where he turned his ship towards home again and set sail for Puddleby-on-the-Marsh.

PT Some time before this the pushmi-pullyu, after a long stay in England, had grown a little homesick for Africa. And although he was tremendously fond of the Doctor and never wanted to leave him altogether, he asked him one winter day when the weather was particularly cold and disagreeable if he would mind running down to Africa for a holiday — just for a week or two.

PT The Doctor readily agreed because he hadn't been on a voyage in a long while and he felt he too needed a change from the chilly December days of England.

PT So he started off. Besides the pushmi-pullyu he took Dab-Dab the duck, Jip the dog, Gub-Gub the pig, Too-Too the owl, and the white mouse — the same good company he had had with him on his adventurous return from the Land of the Monkeys. For this trip the Doctor bought a little sailing boat — very old and battered and worn, but a good sound craft for bad weather.

PT They sailed away down to the south coast of the Bight of Benin. There they visited many African kingdoms and strange tribes. And while they were ashore the pushmi-pullyu had a chance to wander freely through his old grazing grounds. And he enjoyed his holiday thoroughly.

PT One morning the Doctor was delighted to see his old friends the swallows gathering once more about his ship at anchor for their yearly flight to England. They asked him whether he too was returning; because if so, they said, they would accompany him, the same as they had done when he was escaping from the Kingdom of Jolliginki.

PT As the pushmi-pullyu was now quite ready to leave, the Doctor thanked the swallows and told them he would be delighted to have their company. Then for the remainder of that day all was hustle and hurry and bustle, getting the ship provisioned and making preparations for the long trip back to England.

PT By the following morning everything was in readiness to put to sea. The anchor was drawn up and with all sail set the Doctor's ship moved northward before a favorable wind. And it is from this point that my story begins.

ZUZANA

PT ONE MORNING IN the first week of the return voyage when John Dolittle and his animals were all sitting at breakfast round the big table in the cabin, one of the swallows came down and said that he wanted to speak to the Doctor.

PT John Dolittle at once left the table and went out into the passage where he found the swallow-leader himself, a very neat, trim, little bird with long, long wings and sharp, snappy, black eyes. Speedy-the-Skimmer he was called — a name truly famous throughout the whole of the feathered world. He was the champion flycatcher and aerial acrobat of Europe, Africa, Asia, and America. For years every summer he had won all the flying races, having broken his own record only last year by crossing the Atlantic in eleven and a half hours — at a speed of over two hundred miles an hour.

PT "Well, Speedy," said John Dolittle. "What is it?"

PT "Doctor," said the little bird in a mysterious whisper, "we have sighted a canoe about a mile ahead of the ship and a little to the eastward, with only a black woman in it. She is weeping bitterly and isn't paddling the canoe at all. She is several miles from land — ten, at least, I should say — because at the moment we are crossing the Bay of Fantippo and can only just see the shore of Africa. She is really in dangerous straits, with such a little bit of a boat that far out at sea. But she doesn't seem to care. She's just sitting in the bottom of the canoe, crying as if she didn't mind what happens to her. I wish you would come and speak to her, for we fear she is in great trouble."

PT "All right," said the Doctor. "Fly slowly on to where the canoe is and I will steer the ship to follow you."

PT So John Dolittle went up on deck and by steering the boat after the guiding swallows he presently saw a small, dark canoe rising and falling on the waves. It looked so tiny on the wide face of the waters that it could be taken for a log or a stick — or, indeed, missed altogether, unless you were close enough to see it. In the canoe sat a woman with her head bowed down upon her knees.

PT "What's the matter?" shouted the Doctor, as soon as he was near enough to make the woman hear. "Why have you come so far from the land? Don't you know that you are in great danger if a storm should come up?"

PT Slowly the woman raised her head.

PT "Go away," said she, "and leave me to my sorrow. Haven't you white men done me enough harm?"

PT John Dolittle steered the boat up closer still and continued to talk to the woman in a kindly way. But she seemed for a long time to mistrust him because he was a white man. Little by little, however, the Doctor won her confidence and at last, still weeping bitterly, she told him her story.

PT "John Dolittle talked to the woman"

PT These were the days, you must understand, when slavery was being done away with. To capture, to buy or to sell slaves had, in fact, been strictly forbidden by most governments. But certain bad men still came down to the west coast of Africa and captured or bought slaves secretly and took them away in ships to other lands to work on cotton and tobacco plantations. Some African kings sold prisoners they had taken in war to these men and made a great deal of money that way.

PT Well, this woman in the canoe belonged to a tribe which had been at war with the king of Fantippo — an African kingdom situated on the coast near which the swallows had seen the canoe.

PT And in this war the King of Fantippo had taken many prisoners, among whom was the woman's husband. Shortly after the war was over some white men in a ship had called at the Kingdom of Fantippo to see if they could buy slaves for tobacco plantations. And when the king heard how much money they were willing to give for black slaves he thought he would sell them the prisoners he had taken in the war.

PT This woman's name was Zuzana and her husband was a very strong and fine-looking man. The King of Fantippo would have kept Zuzana's husband for this reason, because he liked to have strong men at his court. But the slave traders also wanted strong men, for they could do a lot of work on the plantations. And they offered the King of Fantippo a specially high price for Zuzana's husband. And the king had sold him.

PT Zuzana described to the Doctor how she had followed the white man's ship a long way out in a canoe, imploring them to give her back her husband. But they had only laughed at her and gone on their way. And their ship had soon passed out of sight.

PT That was why, she said, she hated all white men and had not wanted to speak to the Doctor when he had hailed her canoe.

PT The Doctor was dreadfully angry when he had heard the story. And he asked Zuzana how long ago was it that the slaver's ship bearing her husband had left.

PT She told him it was half an hour ago. Without her husband, she said, life meant nothing to her, and when the ship had passed from view, going northward along the coast, she had burst into tears and just let the canoe drift, not even having the heart to paddle back to land.

PT The Doctor told the woman that no matter what it cost he was going to help her. And he was all for speeding up his ship and going in chase of the slave boat right away. But Dab-Dab the duck warned him that his boat was very slow and that its sails could be easily seen by the slavers, who would never allow it to come near them.

PT So the Doctor put down his anchor and, leaving the ship where it was, got into the woman's canoe. Then, calling to the swallows to help him as guides, he set off northward along the coast, looking into all the bays and behind all the islands for the slave ship which had taken Zuzana's husband.

PT "Looking into all the bays"

PT But after many hours of fruitless search night began to come on and the swallows who were acting as guides could no longer see big distances, for there was no moon.

PT Poor Zuzana began weeping some more when the Doctor said he would have to give up for the night.

PT "By morning," said she, "the ship of the wicked slave dealers will be many miles away and I shall never get my husband back. Alas! Alas!"

PT The Doctor comforted her as best he could, saying that if he failed he would get her another husband, just as good. But she didn't seem to care for that idea and went on wailing, "Alas! Alas!"

PT She made such a noise that the Doctor couldn't get to sleep on the bottom of the canoe — which wasn't very comfortable, anyway. So he had to sit up and listen. Some of the swallows were still with him, sitting on the edge of the canoe. And the famous Skimmer, the leader, was also there. They and the Doctor were talking over what they could do, when suddenly the Skimmer said, "Sh! Look!" and pointed out to the westward over the dark, heaving sea.

PT Even Zuzana stopped her wailing and turned to look. And there, away out on the dim, black edge of the ocean, they could see a tiny light.

PT "A ship!" cried the Doctor.

PT "Yes," said Speedy, "that's a ship, sure enough. I wonder if it's another slave ship."

PT "Well, if it's a slave ship, it's not the one we're looking for," said the Doctor, "because it's in the wrong direction. The one we're after went northward."

PT "Listen, Doctor," said Speedy-the-Skimmer, "suppose I fly over to it and see what kind of a ship it is and come back and tell you. Who knows? It might be able to help us."

PT "All right, Speedy. Thank you," said the Doctor.

PT So the Skimmer sped off into the darkness toward the tiny light far out to sea, while the Doctor fell to wondering how his own ship was getting on which he had left at anchor some miles down the coast to the southward.

PT After twenty minutes had gone by John Dolittle began to get worried, because the Skimmer, with his tremendous speed, should have had time to get there and back long ago.

PT But soon with a flirt of the wings the famous leader made a neat circle in the darkness overhead and dropped, light as a feather, on to the Doctor's knee.

PT "Well," said John Dolittle, "what kind of a ship was it?"

PT "It's a big ship," panted the Skimmer, "with tall, high masts and, I should judge, a fast one. But it is coming this way and it is sailing with great care, afraid, I imagine, of shallows and sandbars. It is a very neat ship, smart and new-looking all over. And there are great big guns — cannons — looking out of little doors in her sides. The men on her, too, are all well dressed in smart blue clothes — not like ordinary seamen at all. And on the ship's hull was painted some lettering — her name, I suppose. Of course, I couldn't read it. But I remember what it looked like. Give me your hand and I'll show you."

PT Then the Skimmer, with one of his claws, began tracing out some letters on the Doctor's palm. Before he had got very far John Dolittle sprang up, nearly overturning the canoe.

PT "H. M. S.!" he cried. "That means Her Majesty's Ship. It's a man-o'-war — a navy vessel. The very thing we want to deal with slave traders!"

THE DOCTOR'S RECEPTION ON THE WARSHIP

PT T HEN THE D OCTOR and Zuzana started to paddle their canoe for all they were worth in the direction of the light. The night was calm, but the long swell of the ocean swung the little canoe up and down like a seesaw and it needed all Zuzana's skill to keep it in a straight line.

PT After about an hour had gone by the Doctor noticed that the ship they were trying to reach was no longer coming toward them, but seemed to have stopped. And when he finally came up beneath its towering shape in the darkness he saw the reason why — the man-o'-war had run into his own ship, which he had left at anchor with no lights. However, the navy vessel had fortunately been going so carefully that no serious damage, it seemed, had been done to either ship.

PT Finding a rope ladder hanging on the side of the man-o'-war, John Dolittle climbed up it, with Zuzana, and went aboard to see the Captain.

PT He found the Captain strutting the quarterdeck, mumbling to himself.

PT "Good evening," said the Doctor politely. "Nice weather we're having."

PT The Captain came up to him and shook his fist in his face.

PT "Are you the owner of that Noah's Ark down there?" he stormed, pointing to the other ship alongside.

PT "Er — yes — temporarily," said the Doctor. "Why?"

PT "Well, will you be so good," snarled the Captain, his face all out of shape with rage, "as to tell me what in thunder you mean by leaving your old junk at anchor on a dark night without any lights? What kind of a sailor are you? Here I bring Her Majesty's latest cruiser after Jimmie Bones, the slave trader — been hunting him for weeks, I have — and, as though the beastly coast wasn't difficult enough as it is, I bump into a craft riding at anchor with no lights. Luckily, I was going slow, taking soundings, or we might have gone down with all hands. I hallooed to your ship and got no answer. So I go aboard her, with pistols ready, thinking maybe she's a slaver, trying to play tricks on me. I creep all over the ship, but not a soul do I meet. At last in the cabin I find a pig — asleep in an armchair ! Do you usually leave your craft in the charge of a pig, with orders to go to sleep? If you own the ship, why aren't you on her? Where have you been?"

PT "'Where have you been?'"

PT "I was out canoeing with a lady," said the Doctor, and he smiled comfortingly at Zuzana, who was beginning to weep again.

PT " Canoeing with a lady! " spluttered the Captain. "Well, I'll be — —"

PT "Yes," said the Doctor. "Let me introduce you. This is Zuzana, Captain — er — —"

PT But the Captain interrupted him by calling for a sailor, who stood near.

PT "I'll teach you to leave Noah's arks at anchor on the high seas for the navy to bump into, my fine deep-sea philanderer! Think the shipping laws are made for a joke? Here," he turned to the sailor, who had come in answer to his call, "Master-at-arms, put this man under arrest."

PT "Aye, aye, sir," said the master-at-arms. And before the Doctor knew it he had handcuffs fastened firmly on his wrists.

PT "But this lady was in distress," said the Doctor. "I was in such a hurry I forgot all about lighting the ship. In fact, it wasn't dark yet when I left."

PT "Take him below!" roared the Captain. "Take him below before I kill him."

PT And the poor Doctor was dragged away by the Master-at-arms toward a stair leading to the lower decks. But at the head of the stairs he caught hold of the handrail and hung on long enough to shout back to the Captain:

PT "I could tell you where Jimmie Bones is, if I wanted to."

PT "What's that?" snorted the Captain. "Here, bring him back! What was that you said?"

PT "I said," murmured the Doctor, getting his handkerchief out and blowing his nose with his handcuffed hands, "that I could tell you where Jimmie Bones is — if I wanted to."

PT "Jimmie Bones, the slaver?" cried the Captain. "That's the man the government has sent me after. Where is he?"

PT "My memory doesn't work very well while my hands are tied," said the Doctor quietly, nodding toward the handcuffs. "Possibly if you took these things off I might remember."

PT "Oh, excuse me," said the Captain, his manner changing at once. "Master-at-arms, release the prisoner."

PT "Aye, aye, sir," said the sailor, removing the handcuffs from the Doctor's wrists and turning to go.

PT "Oh, and by the way," the Captain called after him, "bring a chair up on deck. Perhaps our visitor is tired."

PT Then John Dolittle told the Captain the whole story of Zuzana and her troubles. And all the other officers on the ship gathered around to listen.

PT "And I have no doubt," the Doctor ended, "that this slaver who took away the woman's husband was no other than Jimmie Bones, the man you are after."

PT "Quite so," said the Captain. "I know he is somewhere around the coast. But where is he now? He's a difficult fish to catch."

PT "He has gone northward," said the Doctor. "But your ship is fast and should be able to overtake him. If he hides in some of these bays and creeks I have several birds here with me who can, as soon as it is light, seek him out for us and tell us where he is."

PT The Captain looked with astonishment into the faces of his listening officers, who all smiled unbelievingly.

PT "What do you mean — birds?" the Captain asked. "Pigeons — trained canaries, or something?"

PT "No," said the Doctor, "I mean the swallows who are going back to England for the summer. They very kindly offered to guide my ship home. They're friends of mine, you see."

PT This time the officers all burst out laughing and tapped their foreheads knowingly, to show they thought the Doctor was crazy. And the Captain, thinking he was being made a fool of, flew into a rage once more and was all for having the Doctor arrested again.

PT But the officer who was second in command whispered in the Captain's ear:

PT "Why not take the old fellow along and let him try, Sir? Our course was northward, anyway. I seem to remember hearing something, when I was attached to the Home Fleet, about an old chap in the west counties who had some strange powers with beasts and birds. I have no doubt this is he. Dolittle, he was called. He seems harmless enough. There's just a chance he may be of some assistance to us. The natives evidently trust him or the woman wouldn't have come with him — you know how scared they are of putting to sea with a white man."

PT After a moment's thought the Captain turned to the Doctor again.

PT "You sound clean crazy to me, my good man. But if you can put me in the way of capturing Jimmie Bones the slaver I don't care what means you use to do it. As soon as the day breaks we will get under way. But if you are just amusing yourself at the expense of Her Majesty's Navy I warn you it will be the worst day's work for yourself you ever did. Now go and put riding lights on that ark of yours and tell the pig that if he lets them go out he shall be made into rashers of bacon for the officers' mess."

PT There was much laughter and joking as the Doctor climbed over the side and went back to his own ship to get his lights lit. But the next morning when he came back to the man-o'-war — and about a thousand swallows came with him — the officers of Her Majesty's Navy were not nearly so inclined to make fun of him.

PT The sun was just rising over the distant coast of Africa and it was as beautiful a morning as you could wish to see.

PT Speedy-the-Skimmer had arranged plans with the Doctor overnight. And long before the great warship pulled up her anchor and swung around upon her course the famous swallow leader was miles ahead, with a band of picked hunters, exploring up creeks and examining all the hollows of the coast where the slave trader might be hiding.

PT Speedy had agreed with the Doctor upon a sort of overhead telegraph system to be carried on by the swallows. And as soon as the millions of little birds had spread themselves out in a line along the coast, so that the sky was speckled with them as far as the eye could reach, they began passing messages, by whistling to one another, all the way from the scouts in front back to the Doctor on the warship, to give news of how the hunt was progressing.

PT "The birds spread themselves out along the coast"

PT And somewhere about noon word came through that Bones's slave ship had been sighted behind a long, high cape. Great care must be taken, the message said, because the slave ship was in all readiness to sail at a moment's notice. The slavers had only stopped to get water and look-outs were posted to warn them to return at once, if necessary.

PT When the Doctor told this to the Captain the man-o'-war changed her course still closer inshore, to keep behind the cover of the long cape. All the sailors were warned to keep very quiet, so the navy ship could sneak up on the slaver unawares.

PT Now, the Captain, expecting the slavers to put up a fight, also gave orders to get the guns ready. And just as they were about to round the long cape one of the silly gunners let a gun off by accident.

PT " Boom! "... The shot went rolling and echoing over the silent sea like angry thunder.

PT Instantly back came word over the swallows' telegraph line that the slavers were warned and were escaping. And, sure enough, when the warship rounded the cape at last, there was the slave ship putting out to sea, with all sail set and a good ten-mile start on the man-o'-war.

A GREAT GUNNER

PT AND THEN BEGAN a most exciting sea race. It was now two o'clock in the afternoon and there were not many hours of daylight left.

PT The Captain (after he had done swearing at the stupid gunner who had let off the gun by accident) realized that if he did not catch up to the slaver before dark came on he would probably lose him altogether. For this Jim Bones was a very sly and clever rascal and he knew the West Coast of Africa (it is sometimes called to this day The Slave Coast ) very well. After dark by running without lights he would easily find some nook or corner to hide in — or double back on his course and be miles away before morning came.

PT So the Captain gave orders that all possible speed was to be made. These were the days when steam was first used on ships. But at the beginning it was only used together with the sails, to help the power of the wind. Of this vessel, H. M. S. Violet, the Captain was very proud. And he was most anxious that the Violet should have the honor of catching Bones the slaver, who for so long had been defying the navy by carrying on slave trade after it had been forbidden. So the Violet's steam engines were put to work their hardest. And thick, black smoke rolled out of her funnels and darkened the blue sea and smudged up her lovely white sails humming tight in the breeze.

PT Then the engine boy, also anxious that his ship should have the honor of capturing Bones, tied down the safety valve on the steam engine, to make her go faster, and then went up on deck to see the show. And soon, of course, one of the Violet's brand new boilers burst with a terrific bang and made an awful mess of the engine room.

PT But, being a full-rigged man-o'-war, the Violet was still a pretty speedy sailer. And on she went, furiously plowing the waves and slowly gaining on the slave ship.

PT However, the crafty Bones, with so big a start, was not easy to overtake. And soon the sun began to set and the Captain frowned and stamped his feet. For with darkness he knew his enemy would be safe.

PT Down below among the crew, the man who had fired the gun by accident was having a terrible time. All his companions were setting on him and mobbing him for being such a duffer as to warn Bones — who would now almost certainly escape. The distance from the slaver was still too great to use the kind of guns they had in those days. But when the Captain saw darkness creeping over the sea and his enemy escaping, he gave orders to man the guns, anyway — although he hadn't the least hope that his shots would hit the slaver at that distance.

PT Now, Speedy-the-Skimmer, as soon as the race had begun, had come on to the warship to take a rest. And he happened to be talking to the Doctor when the order to man the guns came down from the Captain. So the Doctor and Speedy went below to watch the guns being fired.

PT They found an air of quiet but great excitement there. Each gunner was leaning on his gun, aiming it, watching the enemy's ship in the distance and waiting for the order to fire. The poor man who had been mobbed by his fellows was still almost in tears at his own stupid mistake.

PT Suddenly an officer shouted " Fire! " And with a crash that shook the ship from stem to stern eight big cannon balls went whistling out across the water.

PT But not one hit the slave ship. Splash! Splash! Splash! They fell harmlessly into the water.

PT "The light's too bad," grumbled the gunners. "Who could hit anything two miles away in this rotten light?"

PT Then Speedy whispered in the Doctor's ear:

PT "Ask them to let me fire a gun. My sight is better than theirs for bad light."

PT But just at that moment the order came from the Captain, " Cease firing! " And the men left their places.

PT As soon as their backs were turned Speedy jumped on top of one of the guns and, straddling his short, white legs apart, he cast his beady little black eyes along the aiming sights. Then with his wings he signaled to the Doctor behind him to swing the gun this way and that, so as to aim it the way he wanted.

PT " Fire! " said Speedy. And the Doctor fired.

PT "'Fire!' said Speedy"

PT "What in thunder's this?" roared the Captain from the quarterdeck as the shot rang out. "Didn't I give the order to cease firing?"

PT But the second in command plucked him by the sleeve and pointed across the water. Speedy's cannon ball had cut the slaver's mainmast clean in two and brought the sails down in a heap upon the deck!

PT "Holy smoke!" cried the Captain. "We've hit him! Look, Bones is flying the signal of surrender!"

PT Then the Captain, who a moment before was all for punishing the man who had fired without orders, wanted to know who it was that aimed that marvelous shot which brought the slaver to a standstill. And the Doctor was going to tell him it was Speedy. But the Skimmer whispered in his ear:

PT "Don't bother, Doctor. He would never believe you, anyway. It was the gun of the man that made the mistake before that we used. Let him take the credit. They'll likely give him a medal, and then he'll feel better."

PT And now all was excitement aboard the Violet as they approached the slave boat lying crippled in the sea. Bones, the captain, with his crew of eleven other ruffians, was taken prisoner and put down in the cells of the warship. Then the Doctor, with Zuzana, some sailors and an officer, went on to the slave ship. Entering the hold, they found the place packed with slaves with chains on them. And Zuzana immediately recognized her husband and wept all over him with joy.

PT The black men were at once freed from their chains and brought on to the man-o'-war. Then the slave ship was taken in tow by the Violet. And that was the end of Mr. Bones's slave trading.

PT Then there was much rejoicing and hand-shaking and congratulation on board the warship. And a grand dinner was prepared for the slaves on the main deck. But John Dolittle, Zuzana and her husband were invited to the officers' mess, where their health was drunk in port wine and speeches were made by the Captain and the Doctor.

PT The next day, as soon as it was light, the warship went cruising down the coast again, putting the black people ashore in their own particular countries.

PT This took considerable time, because Bones, it seemed, had collected slaves from a great many different tribes. And it was after noon before the Doctor, with Zuzana and her husband, were returned to John Dolittle's ship, who still had her lights faithfully burning in the middle of the day.

PT Then the Captain shook hands with the Doctor and thanked him for the great assistance he had given Her Majesty's Navy. And he asked him for his address in England, because he said he was going to tell the government about him and the Queen would most likely want to make him a knight or give him a medal or something. But the Doctor said he would rather have a pound of tea instead. He hadn't tasted tea in several months and the kind they had in the officers' mess was very good.

PT So the Captain gave him five pounds of the best China tea and thanked him again in the name of the Queen and the government.

PT Then the Violet swung her great bow around to the north once more and sailed away for England, while the bluejackets crowded the rail and sent three hearty cheers for the Doctor ringing across the sea.

PT "The bluejackets crowded to the rail"

PT And now Jip, Dab-Dab, Gub-Gub, Too-Too and the rest of them gathered around John Dolittle and wanted to hear all about his adventures. And it was tea time before he had done telling them. So the Doctor asked Zuzana and her husband to take tea with him before they went ashore.

PT This they were glad to do. And the Doctor made the tea himself and it was very excellent. Over the tea Zuzana and her husband (whose name was Begwe) were conversing about the Kingdom of Fantippo.

PT "I don't think we ought to go back there," said Begwe. "I don't mind being a soldier in the Fantippo army, but suppose some other slaver comes along. Maybe the king would sell me again. Did you send that letter to our cousin?"

PT "Yes," said Zuzana. "But I don't think he ever got it. Because no answer came."

PT The Doctor asked Zuzana how she had sent the letter. And then she explained to him that when Bones had offered a big price for Begwe and the king had been tempted to sell him she had told the king she would get twelve oxen and thirty goats from a rich cousin in their own country if he would only wait till she had written to him. Now, the King of Fantippo was very fond of oxen and goats — cattle being considered as good as money in his land. And he promised Zuzana that if she got the twelve oxen and thirty goats in two days' time her husband should be a free man, instead of being sold to the slavers.

PT So Zuzana had hurried to a professional letter writer (the common people of those tribes couldn't write for themselves, you see) and had a letter written, begging their cousin to send the goats and oxen to the king without delay. Then she had taken the letter to the Fantippo post office and sent it off.

PT But the two days went by and no answer came — and no cattle. Then poor Begwe had been sold to Bones's men.

THE ROYAL MAILS OF FANTIPPO

PT N OW, THIS F ANTIPPO post office of which Zuzana had spoken to the Doctor was rather peculiar. For one thing, it was, of course, quite unusual to find a post office or regular mails of any kind in a savage African kingdom. And the way such a thing had come about was this:

PT A few years before this voyage of the Doctor's there had been a great deal of talk in most civilized parts of the world about mails and how much it should cost for a letter to go from one country to another. And in England a man called Rowland Hill had started what was called "The Penny Postage," and it had been agreed that a penny a letter should be the regular rate charge for mails from one part of the British Isles to another. Of course, for specially heavy letters you had to pay more. Then stamps were made, penny stamps, twopenny stamps, twopence-halfpenny stamps, sixpenny stamps and shilling stamps. And each was a different color and they were beautifully engraved and most of them had a picture of the Queen on them — some with her crown on her head and some without.

PT And France and the United States and all the other countries started doing the same thing — only their stamps were counted in their own money, of course, and had different kings or queens or presidents on them.

PT Very well, then. Now, it happened one day that a ship called at the coast of West Africa, and delivered a letter for Koko, the King of Fantippo. King Koko had never seen a stamp before and, sending for a white merchant who lived in his town, he asked him what queen's face was this on the stamp which the letter bore.

PT Then the white merchant explained to him the whole idea of penny postage and government mails. And he told him that in England all you had to do when you wanted to send a letter to any part of the world was to put a stamp on the envelope with the queen's head on it and place it in a letter-box on the street corner, and it would be carried to the place to which you addressed it.

PT "Ah, hah!" said the King. "A new kind of magic. I understand. Very good. The High Kingdom of Fantippo shall have a post office of its own. And my serene and beautiful face shall be on all the stamps and my letters shall travel by faster magic than any of them."

PT "A rare Fantippo stamp"

PT Then King Koko of Fantippo, being a very vain man, had a fine lot of stamps made with his pictures on them, some with his crown on and some without; some smiling, some frowning; some with himself on horseback, some with himself on a bicycle. But the stamp which he was most proud of was the tenpenny stamp which bore a picture of himself playing golf — a game which he had just recently learned from some Scotchmen who were mining for gold in his kingdom.

PT And he had letter-boxes made, just the way the white trader had told him they had in England, and he set them up at the corners of the streets and told his people that all they had to do was to put one of his stamps on their letters, poke them into these boxes and they would travel to any corner of the earth they wished.

PT But presently the people began complaining that they had been robbed. They had paid good money for the stamps, they said, trusting in their magic power, and they had put their letters in the boxes at the corners of the streets as they had been told. But one day a cow had rubbed her neck against one of the letter boxes and burst it open, and inside there were all the people's letters, which had not traveled one inch from where they put them!

PT Then the king was very angry and, calling for the white trader, he said:

PT "You have been fooling My Majesty. These stamps you speak of have no magic power at all. Explain!"

PT Then the trader told him that it was not through magic in the stamps or boxes that letters traveled by mail. But proper post offices had mail-men, or postmen, who collected the letters out of these boxes. And he went on to explain to the King all the other duties of a post office and the things that made letters go.

PT So then the King, who was a persevering man, said that Fantippo should have its post office, anyway. And he sent to England for hundreds of postmen's uniforms and caps. And when these arrived he dressed a lot of black men up in them and set them to work as postmen.

PT But the black men found the heavy uniforms dreadfully hot for Fantippo weather, where they wear only a string of beads. And they left off the uniforms and wore only the caps. That is how the Fantippo postman's uniform came to be a smart cap, a string of beads and a mail bag.

PT Then when King Koko had got his mail-men, the Royal Fantippo post office began really working. Letters were collected from the boxes at street corners and sent off when ships called; and incoming mail was delivered at the doors of the houses in Fantippo three times a day. The post office became the busiest place in town.

PT Now, the peoples of West Africa have curious tastes in dress. They love bright things. And some Fantippo dandy started the idea of using up old stamps off letters by making suits of clothes out of them. They looked very showy and smart and a suit of this kind made of stamps became a valuable possession among the natives.

PT About this time, too, in the civilized parts of the world one of the things that arose out of all this penny-postage business was the craze or hobby for collecting stamps. In England and America and other countries people began buying stamp albums and pasting stamps in them. A rare stamp became quite valuable.

PT And it happened that one day two men, whose hobby was collecting stamps, came to Fantippo in a ship. The one stamp they were both most anxious to get for their collections was the "twopenny-halfpenny Fantippo red," a stamp which the King had given up printing — for the reason that the picture of himself on it wasn't handsome enough. And because he had given up printing it, it became very rare.

PT As soon as these two men stepped ashore at Fantippo a porter came up to them to carry their bags. And right in the middle of the porter's chest the collectors spied the twopenny-halfpenny Fantippo red! Then both of the stamp collectors offered to buy the stamp. And as each was anxious to have it for his collection, before long they were offering high prices for it, bidding against one another.

PT King Koko got to hear of this and he called up one of these stamp collectors and asked him why men should offer high prices for one old used stamp. And the white man explained to him this new craze for stamp collecting that was sweeping over the civilized world.

PT So King Koko, although he thought that the civilized world must be crazy, decided it would be a good idea if he sold stamps for collections — much better business than selling them at his post office for letters. And after that whenever a ship came into the harbor of Fantippo he sent his Postmaster-General — a very grand man, who wore two strings of beads, a postman's cap and no mail bag — out to the ship with stamps to sell for collections.

PT Such a roaring trade was done in this way that the King set the stamp printing presses to work more busily than ever, so that a whole new set of Fantippo stamps should be ready for sale by the time the same ship called again on her way home to England.

PT But with this new trade in selling stamps for stamp collections, and not for proper mailing purposes, the Fantippo mail service was neglected and became very bad.

PT Now, Doctor Dolittle, while Zuzana was talking over the tea about her letter which she had sent to her cousin — and to which no answer had ever come — suddenly remembered something. On one of his earlier voyages the passenger ship by which he had been traveling had stopped outside this same harbor of Fantippo, although no passengers had gone ashore. And a postman had come aboard to sell a most elegant lot of new green and violet stamps. The Doctor, being at the time a great stamp collector, had bought three whole sets.

PT And he realized now, as he listened to Zuzana, what was wrong with the Fantippo post office and why she had never got an answer to the letter which would have saved her husband from slavery.

PT As Zuzana and Begwe rose to go, for it was beginning to get dark, the Doctor noticed a canoe setting out toward his ship from the shore. And in it, when it got near, he saw King Koko himself, coming to the white man's boat with stamps to sell.

PT So the Doctor got talking to the King and he told him in plain language that he ought to be ashamed of his post office. Then, giving him a cup of China tea, he explained to him how Zuzana's letter had probably never been delivered to her cousin.

PT "The Doctor gave the king a cup of China tea"

PT The King listened attentively and understood how his post office had been at fault. And he invited the Doctor to come ashore with Zuzana and Begwe and arrange the post office for him and put it in order so it would work properly.

THE VOYAGE DELAYED

PT A FTER SOME PERSUASION the Doctor consented to this proposal feeling that perhaps he could do some good. Little did he realize what great labors and strange adventures he was taking upon himself as he got into the canoe with the King, Begwe and Zuzana to be paddled to the town of Fantippo.

PT This place he found very different from any of the African villages or settlements he had ever visited. It was quite large, almost a city. It was bright and cheerful to look at and the people, like their King, all seemed very kind and jolly.

PT The Doctor was introduced to all the chief men of the Fantippo nation and later he was taken to see the post office.

PT This he found in a terrible state. There were letters everywhere — on the floors, in old drawers, knocking about on desks, even lying on the pavement outside the post office door. The Doctor explained to the King that this would never do, that in properly-run post offices the letters that had stamps on were treated with respect and care. It was no wonder, he said, that Zuzana's letter had never been delivered to her cousin if this was the way they took care of the mails.

PT Then King Koko again begged him to take charge of the post office and try to get it running in proper order. And the Doctor said he would see what he could do. And, going into the post office, he took off his coat and set to work.

PT But after many hours of terrific labor, trying to get letters sorted and the place in order, John Dolittle saw that such a tremendous job as setting the Fantippo post office to rights would not be a matter of a day or two. It would take weeks at least. So he told this to the King. Then the Doctor's ship was brought into the harbor and put safely at anchor and the animals were all taken ashore. And a nice, new house on the main street was given over to the Doctor for himself and his pets to live in while the work of straightening out the Fantippo mails was going on.

PT Well, after ten days John Dolittle got what is called the Domestic Mails in pretty good shape. Domestic mails are those that carry letters from one part of a country to another part of the same country, or from one part of a city to another. The mails that carry letters outside the country to foreign lands are called Foreign Mails. To have a regular and good service of foreign mails in the Fantippo post office the Doctor found a hard problem, because the mail ships which could carry letters abroad did not come very often to this port. Fantippo, although King Koko was most proud of it, was not considered a very important country among the regular civilized nations and two or three ships a year were all that ever called there.

PT Now, one day, very early in the morning, when the Doctor was lying in bed, wondering what he could do about the Foreign Mail Service, Dab-Dab and Jip brought him in his breakfast on a tray and told him there was a swallow outside who wanted to give him a message from Speedy-the-Skimmer. John Dolittle had the swallow brought in and the little bird sat on the foot of his bed while he ate his breakfast.

PT "Good morning," said the Doctor, cracking open the top of a hard-boiled egg. "What can I do for you?"

PT "'Good morning! What can I do for you?'"

PT "Speedy would like to know," said the swallow, "how long you expect to stay in this country. He doesn't want to complain, you understand — nor do any of us — but this journey of yours is taking longer than we thought it would. You see, there was the delay while we hunted out Bones the slaver, and now it seems likely you will be busy with this post office for some weeks yet. Ordinarily we would have been in England long before this, getting the nests ready for the new season's families. We cannot put off the nesting season, you know. Of course, you understand we are not complaining, don't you? But this delay is making things rather awkward for us."

PT "Oh, quite, quite. I understand perfectly," said the Doctor, poking salt into his egg with a bone egg-spoon. "I am dreadfully sorry. But why didn't Speedy bring the message himself?"

PT "I suppose he didn't like to," said the swallow. "Thought you'd be offended, perhaps."

PT "Oh, not in the least," said the Doctor. "You birds have been most helpful to me. Tell Speedy I'll come to see him as soon as I've got my trousers on and we'll talk it over. Something can be arranged, I have no doubt."

PT "Very good, Doctor," said the swallow, turning to go. "I'll tell the Skimmer what you say."

PT "By the way," said John Dolittle, "I've been trying to think where I've seen your face before. Did you ever build your nest in my stable in Puddleby?"

PT "No," said the bird. "But I am the swallow that brought you the message from the monkeys that time they were sick."

PT "Oh, to be sure — of course," cried the Doctor. "I knew I had seen you somewhere. I never forget faces. You had a pretty hard time coming to England in the winter, didn't you — snow on the ground and all that sort of thing. Very plucky of you to undertake it."

PT "Yes, it was a hard trip," said the swallow. "I came near freezing to death more than once. Flying into the teeth of that frosty wind was just awful. But something had to be done. The monkeys would most likely have been wiped right out if we hadn't got you."

PT "How was it that you were the one chosen to bring the message?" asked the Doctor.

PT "Well," said the swallow, "Speedy did want to do it himself. He's frightfully brave, you know — and fast as lightning. But the other swallows wouldn't let him. They said he was too valuable as a leader. It was a risky job. And if he had lost his life from the frost we'd never be able to get another leader like him. Because, besides being brave and fast, he's the cleverest leader we ever had. Whenever the swallows are in trouble he always thinks of a way out. He's a born leader. He flies quick and he thinks quick."

PT "Humph!" murmured the Doctor, as he thoughtfully brushed the toast crumbs off the bed clothes. "But why did they pick you to bring the message?"

PT "They didn't," said the swallow. "We nearly all of us volunteered for the job, so as not to have Speedy risk his life. But the Skimmer said the only fair way was to draw lots. So we got a number of small leaves and we took the stalks off all of them except one. And we put the leaves in an old cocoanut shell and shook them up. Then, with our eyes shut, we began picking them out. The swallow who picked the leaf with the stalk on it was to carry the message to England — and I picked the leaf with the stalk on. Before I started off on the trip I kissed my wife good-bye, because I really never expected to get back alive. Still, I'm kind of glad the lot fell to me."

PT "Why?" asked the Doctor, pushing the breakfast tray off his knees and punching the pillows into shape.

PT "Well, you see," said the swallow, lifting his right leg and showing a tiny red ribbon made of corn silk tied about his ankle, "I got this for it."

PT "What's that?" asked the Doctor.

PT "That's to show I've done something brave — and special," said the swallow modestly.

PT "Oh, I see," said the Doctor. "Like a medal, eh?"

PT "Yes. My name is Quip. It used to be just plain Quip. Now I'm called Quip the Carrier," said the small bird proudly gazing down at his little, stubby white leg.

PT "Splendid, Quip," said the Doctor. "I congratulate you. Now I must be getting up. I've a frightful lot of work to do. Don't forget to tell Speedy I'll meet him on the ship at ten. Good-bye! Oh, and would you mind asking Dab-Dab, as you go out, to clear away the breakfast things? I'm glad you came. You've given me an idea. Good-bye!"

PT "They found the Doctor shaving"

PT And when Dab-Dab and Jip came to take away the tray they found the Doctor shaving. He was peering into a looking glass, holding the end of his nose and muttering to himself:

PT " That's the idea for the Fantippo Foreign Mail service — I wonder why I never thought of it before. I'll have the fastest overseas mail the world ever saw. Why, of course! That's the idea — The Swallow Mail !"

NO-MAN'S-LAND

PT A S SOON AS he was dressed and shaved the Doctor went down to his ship and met the Skimmer.

PT "I am terribly sorry, Speedy," said he, "to hear what a lot of trouble I have been giving you birds by my delay here. But I really feel that the business of the post office ought to be attended to, you know. It's in a shocking state — honestly, it is."

PT "I know," said Speedy. "And if we could we would have nested right here in this country to oblige you, and not bothered about going to England this year. It wouldn't have mattered terribly much to miss one summer in the North. But, you see, we swallows can't nest very well in trees. We like houses and barns and buildings to nest in."

PT "Couldn't you use the houses of Fantippo?" asked the Doctor.

PT "Not very well," said Speedy. "They're so small and noisy — with the native children playing around them all day. The eggs and young ones wouldn't be safe for a minute. And, then, they're not built right for us — mostly made of grass, the roofs sloping wrong, the eaves too near the ground, and all that. What we like are solid English buildings, where the people don't shriek and whoop and play drums all day — quiet buildings, like old barns and stables, where, if people come at all, they come in a proper, dignified manner, arriving and leaving at regular hours. We like people, you understand — in their right place. But nesting mother birds must have quiet."

PT "Humph! I see," said the Doctor. "Of course, myself, I rather enjoy the jolliness of these Fantippos. But I can quite see your point. By the way, how would my old ship do? This ought to be quiet enough for you here. There's nobody living on it now. And, look, it has heaps of cracks and holes and corners in it where you could build your nests. What do you think?"

PT "That would be splendid," said Speedy— "if you think you won't be needing the boat for some weeks. Of course, it would never do if, after we had the nests built and the eggs laid, you were to pull up the anchor and sail away — the young ones would get seasick."

PT "No, of course not," said the Doctor. "But there will be no fear of my leaving for some time yet. You could have the whole ship to yourselves and nobody will disturb you."

PT "All right," said Speedy. "Then I'll tell the swallows to get on with the nest building right away. But, of course, we'll go on to England with you when you are ready, to show you the way — and also to teach the young birds how to get there, too. You see, each year's new birds make their first trip back from England to Africa with us grown ones. They have to make the first journey under our guidance."

PT "Very good," said the Doctor. "Then that settles that. Now I must get back to the post office. The ship is yours. But as soon as the nesting is over come and let me know, because I have a very special idea I want to tell you about."

PT So the Doctor's boat was now turned into a nesting ship for the swallows. Calmly she stood at anchor in the quiet waters of Fantippo harbor, while thousands and thousands of swallows built their nests in her rigging, in her ventilators, in her portholes and in every crack and corner of her.

Versão em Português

1 - PRÓLOGO

2 - ZUZANA

3 - A RECEPÇÃO DO DOUTOR NO NAVIO DE GUERRA

4 - UM GRANDE ARTILHEIRO

5 - OS CORREIOS REAIS DE FANTIPPO

6 - A VIAGEM ATRASADA

7 - TERRA DE NINGUÉM

PRÓLOGO

En A maior parte da história sobre o correio do Doutor Dolittle aconteceu quando ele estava voltando de uma viagem à África Ocidental. O narrador começará a história a partir do momento em que ele virou seu navio em direção a casa e navegou de volta para Puddleby-on-the-Marsh.

En Antes disso, o pushmi-pullyu estava na Inglaterra há muito tempo e sentia falta da África. Mesmo gostando muito do Doutor Dolittle, ele perguntou a ele em um dia frio de inverno se ele iria para a África por um curto feriado, talvez por uma ou duas semanas.

En O Doutor Dolittle concordou rapidamente. Ele não viajava há muito tempo e sentiu que também precisava de uma pausa dos dias frios ingleses.

En Então, ele começou sua jornada. Ele levou o pushmi-pullyu e seus amigos animais de sempre: Dab-Dab a pata, Jip o cachorro, Gub-Gub o porco, Too-Too a coruja e o rato branco. Para essa viagem, o Doutor Dolittle comprou um pequeno barco à vela. Era velho e desgastado, mas era um barco forte para mau tempo.

En Eles navegaram para o sul até o Golfo do Benim na África. Lá, visitaram muitos reinos e tribos diferentes. Enquanto estavam em terra, o pushmi-pullyu podia andar livremente em suas antigas áreas de casa. Ele realmente aproveitou seu feriado.

En Certa manhã, o Doutor Dolittle ficou contente ao ver seus amigos andorinhas se reunindo perto de seu navio. Elas estavam se preparando para o voo anual para a Inglaterra. As andorinhas perguntaram ao Doutor se ele também estava voltando. Disseram que ficariam felizes em voar com ele, como já haviam feito antes, quando ele escapou de Jolliginki.

En O empurra-puxa estava pronto para partir. O Doutor agradeceu às andorinhas e disse a elas que ficaria feliz em tê-las como companhia. Pelo resto daquele dia, todos estavam ocupados preparando o navio e conseguindo suprimentos para a longa viagem de volta à Inglaterra.

En Na manhã seguinte, o navio estava pronto para zarpar. A âncora foi levantada e, com todas as velas abertas, o navio do Doutor navegou para o norte com um bom vento. Minha história começa a partir deste momento.

ZUZANA

En Durante a primeira semana de sua viagem de volta, o Doutor Dolittle e seus animais estavam tomando café da manhã juntos na cabine. Uma andorinha chegou e disse ao Doutor que queria falar com ele.

En O Doutor Dolittle imediatamente deixou a mesa e foi para o corredor. Lá ele encontrou o líder das andorinhas, um pássaro pequeno e elegante com asas longas e olhos escuros. Esse pássaro era conhecido como Veloz-Deslizador e era famoso entre todas as aves. Ele era o melhor em capturar insetos e realizar acrobacias aéreas na Europa, África, Ásia e América. Ele havia vencido todas as corridas de voo todo verão, e no ano anterior havia cruzado o Atlântico em apenas onze horas e meia, viajando a mais de duzentas milhas por hora.

En John Dolittle perguntou a Speedy qual era o problema.

En Um passarinho disse ao Doutor Dolittle que eles tinham visto uma canoa a cerca de um quilômetro de distância. Uma mulher negra estava na canoa, chorando muito e não remando. O pássaro explicou que a canoa estava muito longe da terra, cerca de dez milhas, perto da Baía de Fantippo, e perto da África. O pássaro estava preocupado porque a mulher estava em um barco pequeno em águas profundas e parecia não se importar com a situação. O pássaro pediu ao Doutor que falasse com ela, pois eles achavam que ela estava em sérios problemas.

En O Doutor Dolittle concordou. Ele disse ao pássaro para voar lentamente em direção à canoa, e que ele iria guiar o navio para segui-lo.

En John Dolittle subiu no convés e seguiu os pássaros. Logo, ele viu uma canoa pequena e escura nas ondas. Ela parecia muito pequena no mar grande, quase como um tronco, e poderia facilmente passar despercebida. Uma mulher estava sentada na canoa com a cabeça apoiada nos joelhos.

En Quando o Doutor chegou perto o suficiente para ser ouvido, ele gritou para a mulher. Ele perguntou o que havia de errado e por que ela tinha viajado tão longe da terra. Ele também a avisou que ela estava em grande perigo se uma tempestade começasse.

En A mulher levantou lentamente a cabeça.

En Ela disse a ele para deixá-la sozinha com sua tristeza. Ela perguntou se os homens brancos já tinham causado dano suficiente a ela.

En John Dolittle aproximou seu barco e falou gentilmente com a mulher. No início, ela não confiava nele porque ele era um homem branco. No entanto, o Doutor gradualmente ganhou a confiança dela. Enquanto ainda chorava muito, ela finalmente contou a ele sua história.

En John Dolittle falou com a mulher.

En Durante esse período, a escravidão estava sendo interrompida. A maioria dos governos havia tornado ilegal capturar, comprar ou vender escravos. No entanto, algumas pessoas más ainda viajavam para a costa oeste da África. Elas secretamente capturavam ou compravam escravos e os levavam em navios para outros países para trabalhar em fazendas de cultivo de algodão e tabaco. Alguns reis africanos vendiam prisioneiros que haviam capturado em guerras para esses homens, ganhando muito dinheiro.

En A mulher na canoa era de uma tribo que estava lutando uma guerra contra o Rei de Fantippo. Fantippo é um reino na África, localizado na costa. As andorinhas tinham visto a canoa perto deste lugar.

En Durante a guerra, o Rei de Fantippo capturou muitas pessoas, incluindo o marido da mulher. Após a guerra, alguns marinheiros chegaram em um navio. Eles queriam comprar pessoas para trabalhar em fazendas de tabaco. O rei decidiu vender a eles os prisioneiros que havia capturado, porque eles ofereceram muito dinheiro.

En O nome da mulher era Zuzana, e seu marido era um homem forte e bonito. O Rei de Fantippo gostava de homens fortes e poderia ter mantido o marido de Zuzana. No entanto, as pessoas que compravam escravos também queriam homens fortes para trabalho pesado nas fazendas. Eles ofereceram ao rei um preço muito alto pelo marido de Zuzana, então o rei o vendeu.

En Zuzana contou ao Doutor que ela havia seguido o navio em sua canoa por um longo tempo. Ela implorou a eles que devolvessem seu marido. Mas os marinheiros apenas riram e continuaram sua jornada. Logo, o navio desapareceu de vista.

En Zuzana explicou que era por isso que ela não gostava de todos os homens brancos. Ela não tinha querido falar com o Doutor quando ele chamou sua canoa.

En O Doutor ficou muito irritado após ouvir a história. Ele perguntou a Zuzana quando o navio que levava seu marido havia partido.

En Zuzana explicou que o navio havia partido apenas trinta minutos antes. Ela sentia que sua vida não tinha sentido sem o marido. Depois que o navio desapareceu, navegando para o norte ao longo da costa, ela começou a chorar. Ela deixou sua canoa flutuar sem remar de volta para a costa.

En O Doutor prometeu a Zuzana que a ajudaria, não importasse o custo. Ele queria seguir rapidamente o navio negreiro. No entanto, Dab-Dab, a pata, o alertou que seu barco era muito lento. Os traficantes veriam facilmente suas velas e não o deixariam se aproximar.

En Então, o Doutor parou seu navio e entrou na canoa de Zuzana. Ele pediu às andorinhas que o guiassem. Depois, viajou para o norte ao longo da costa, procurando em todas as baías e atrás de cada ilha pelo navio negreiro que havia levado o marido de Zuzana.

En Ele procurou em todas as baías.

En Eles procuraram por muito tempo sem sucesso. Começou a escurecer. As andorinhas, que estavam ajudando a guiá-los, não conseguiam ver muito longe porque não havia lua.

En Zuzana começou a chorar novamente quando o Doutor disse a ela que ele tinha que parar de procurar pela noite.

En Ela explicou que pela manhã o navio que transportava os traficantes de escravos estaria muito longe. Ela se preocupou que nunca mais teria seu marido de volta.

En O Doutor tentou confortá-la. Ele prometeu que se não conseguisse encontrar o marido dela, encontraria outro que fosse igualmente bom. No entanto, ela não pareceu gostar da ideia e continuou a chorar.

En O choro de Zuzana era tão alto que o Doutor não conseguia dormir na canoa. Ele teve que se sentar e ouvir. Algumas andorinhas e seu líder, Skimmer, estavam com ele. Eles estavam discutindo o que poderiam fazer quando Skimmer de repente disse a eles para olhar. Ele apontou para o mar escuro e agitado a oeste.

En Zuzana parou de chorar e olhou para o oceano. Longe, na borda escura do mar, eles viram uma pequena luz.

En O Doutor gritou que era um navio.

En Speedy concordou que era um navio e se perguntou se era outro navio transportando escravos.

En O Doutor explicou que não era o navio que procuravam porque estava indo na direção errada. O navio que queriam tinha ido para o norte.

En Speedy-the-Skimmer sugeriu que ele poderia voar até o navio para descobrir que tipo era e depois voltar para contar. Ele achou que poderia ajudá-los.

En O Doutor disse ao Speedy que estava tudo bem e agradeceu-lhe.

En O Skimmer voou rapidamente para o escuro em direção a uma pequena luz no mar. Enquanto isso, o Doutor começou a pensar sobre seu próprio navio, que ele havia deixado ancorado mais adiante na costa.

En Após vinte minutos, John Dolittle começou a se sentir preocupado. Ele pensou que o Skimmer, que era muito rápido, já deveria ter voltado.

En Logo, o Skimmer voou em um círculo acima e pousou muito levemente no joelho do Doutor.

En John Dolittle perguntou que tipo de navio tinha sido.

En O Skimmer descreveu um grande navio para o Doutor Dolittle. Ele disse que tinha mastros altos e parecia rápido. O navio navegava em direção a eles com cuidado, possivelmente para evitar águas rasas. Parecia novo e elegante, com grandes canhões. Os marinheiros usavam roupas azuis elegantes. O Skimmer acrescentou que o navio tinha um nome pintado em seu lado, e ele podia mostrar ao Doutor como era na sua mão.

En Usando uma de suas garras, o Skimmer começou a desenhar algumas letras na palma do Doutor Dolittle. Antes que ele pudesse terminar, John Dolittle se levantou de repente, quase virando a canoa.

En O Skimmer explicou que as letras significavam "Navio de Sua Majestade". Ele identificou como um navio da marinha, exatamente o tipo de navio de que precisavam para lidar com traficantes de escravos.

A RECEPÇÃO DO DOUTOR NO NAVIO DE GUERRA

En O Doutor Dolittle e Zuzana começaram a remar sua canoa o mais rápido que podiam em direção a uma luz. Embora a noite estivesse calma, as grandes ondas do oceano faziam a canoa subir e descer como uma gangorra. Zuzana teve que usar toda sua habilidade para manter a canoa em linha reta.

En Após cerca de uma hora, o Doutor percebeu que o navio para o qual estavam indo havia parado. Quando finalmente o alcançaram no escuro, ele entendeu o porquê: o navio da marinha havia colidido com seu próprio navio, que ele havia deixado ancorado sem luzes. Felizmente, o navio da marinha estava se movendo lentamente, então parece que nenhum dos dois navios foi seriamente danificado.

En John Dolittle e Zuzana viram uma escada de corda na lateral do grande navio. Eles subiram para entrar no navio e encontrar o Capitão.

En John encontrou o Capitão andando no convés principal do navio. O Capitão estava falando baixinho consigo mesmo.

En O Doutor cumprimentou o Capitão educadamente e comentou que o tempo estava bom.

En O Capitão se aproximou do Doutor e, com raiva, agitou o punho perto do rosto do Doutor.

En O Capitão perguntou com raiva a John se ele era o dono do outro navio que estava ao lado do deles.

En O Doutor concordou, mas explicou que era apenas por pouco tempo. Ele então perguntou o motivo.

En O Capitão estava muito irritado e exigiu saber por que o navio do Doutor estava ancorado à noite sem luzes. Ele explicou que estava procurando um traficante de escravos e quase colidiu com o navio do Doutor. Ele chamou, mas não obteve resposta. Quando embarcou no navio, encontrou um porco dormindo em uma cadeira. O Capitão questionou se um porco normalmente estava no comando e perguntou onde o Doutor estava.

En O Capitão perguntou ao Doutor onde ele tinha estado.

En O Doutor respondeu que tinha ido andar de canoa com uma senhora. Ele sorriu para Zuzana, que estava começando a chorar novamente.

En O Capitão ficou chocado ao ouvir que o Doutor tinha ido andar de canoa com uma senhora.

En O Doutor concordou e quis apresentar Zuzana ao Capitão. Ele começou a dizer o nome do Capitão, mas parou.

En O Capitão interrompeu o Doutor chamando um marinheiro que estava por perto.

En O Capitão estava bravo com o Doutor. Ele acusou o Doutor de deixar o navio em um lugar perigoso, onde outros navios poderiam bater nele. Ele pediu ao marinheiro que prendesse o Doutor.

En O marinheiro concordou e rapidamente colocou algemas nos pulsos do Doutor antes que ele pudesse entender o que estava acontecendo.

En O Doutor explicou que a senhora estava em apuros. Ele disse que estava com pressa e esqueceu de iluminar o navio, e que ainda não estava escuro quando ele saiu.

En O capitão gritou alto. Ele ordenou que levassem a pessoa para o convés inferior imediatamente. Ele também ameaçou matar a pessoa.

En O contramestre levou o Doutor em direção a uma escada que descia para as partes inferiores do navio. No topo da escada, o Doutor segurou o corrimão. Ele conseguiu gritar de volta para o capitão.

En O Doutor disse ao capitão que sabia onde Jimmie Bones estava e poderia compartilhar essa informação se quisesse.

En O capitão ficou surpreso e perguntou o que o Doutor tinha dito. Ele ordenou que o Doutor fosse trazido de volta e pediu que ele repetisse o que havia dito.

En O Doutor repetiu que poderia dizer a eles onde Jimmie Bones estava, se quisesse. Enquanto dizia isso, ele tirou o lenço e assoou o nariz, mesmo com as mãos algemadas.

En O Capitão perguntou se o homem era Jimmie Bones, que era um traficante de escravos. Ele explicou que o governo o havia enviado para encontrar Jimmie Bones e perguntou onde ele estava.

En O Doutor disse calmamente que sua memória não funcionava bem quando suas mãos estavam amarradas, acenando com a cabeça em direção às algemas. Ele sugeriu que, se fossem removidas, ele poderia se lembrar.

En O Capitão se desculpou e sua atitude mudou imediatamente. Ele então ordenou ao Sargento-de-armas que libertasse o prisioneiro.

En Um marinheiro concordou com a ordem e removeu as algemas dos pulsos do Doutor. Ele então se virou para sair.

En Enquanto o marinheiro saía, o Capitão o chamou. Ele pediu que ele trouxesse uma cadeira para o convés, pensando que o visitante poderia estar cansado.

En O Doutor Dolittle contou ao Capitão toda a história de Zuzana e seus problemas. Todos os outros oficiais do navio se aproximaram para ouvir.

En O Doutor terminou dizendo que tinha certeza de que o homem que havia levado o marido da mulher era Jimmie Bones, a pessoa que eles estavam procurando.

En O Capitão concordou. Ele sabia que Jimmie Bones estava perto da costa, mas perguntou onde ele estava agora, dizendo que era difícil de capturar.

En O Doutor disse que Jimmie Bones tinha ido para o norte. Ele achava que o navio rápido do Capitão poderia alcançá-lo. Ele também explicou que se Jimmie Bones se escondesse em baías ou riachos, seus pássaros poderiam encontrá-lo quando amanhecesse.

En O Capitão olhou para seus oficiais com surpresa. Todos sorriram, mas não pareciam acreditar no que ele estava dizendo.

En O Capitão perguntou ao Doutor Dolittle o que ele queria dizer com pássaros. Ele imaginou se eram pombos ou canários treinados.

En O Doutor Dolittle respondeu que se referia a andorinhas. Ele explicou que essas andorinhas estavam voltando para a Inglaterra para o verão e se ofereceram para guiar seu navio para casa porque eram suas amigas.

En Os oficiais riram e tocaram suas testas, mostrando que achavam que o Doutor não estava bem. O Capitão sentiu que estava sendo enganado e ficou muito irritado. Ele queria prender o Doutor novamente.

En No entanto, o oficial que era o segundo no comando falou baixinho com o Capitão.

En Ele sugeriu deixar o Doutor vir com eles e tentar ajudar, já que o navio estava indo para o norte de qualquer forma. Ele se lembrou de ter ouvido falar de um homem no oeste da Inglaterra que tinha habilidades especiais com animais e pássaros, e achou que esse homem era o Doutor Dolittle. Ele acrescentou que Dolittle parecia inofensivo e poderia ser útil. Ele também apontou que os locais confiavam nele, por isso a mulher concordou em viajar com ele, já que eles geralmente tinham medo de navegar com homens brancos.

En Depois de pensar por um tempo, o Capitão falou com o Doutor novamente.

En O Capitão disse ao Doutor que ele parecia louco. No entanto, ele concordou em ajudar se o Doutor pudesse encontrar Jimmie Bones, o traficante de escravos, de qualquer maneira. Eles começariam a viagem assim que amanhecesse. O Capitão avisou o Doutor que se ele estivesse apenas brincando, isso lhe traria sérios problemas. Ele ordenou que o Doutor colocasse luzes em seu barco e garantisse que o porco não as deixasse apagar, ou o porco seria cozido para os oficiais.

En Houve muitas piadas e risadas quando o Doutor voltou ao seu navio para preparar as luzes. Mas na manhã seguinte, quando o Doutor retornou com cerca de mil andorinhas, os oficiais no navio de guerra não acharam graça.

En O sol estava começando a nascer sobre a costa distante da África, criando uma manhã muito bonita.

En Speedy-the-Skimmer e o Doutor haviam feito planos durante a noite. Muito antes de o grande navio de guerra levantar âncora e mudar de direção, o habilidoso líder das andorinhas já estava muito à frente. Ele estava com um grupo de caçadores selecionados, procurando ao longo dos pequenos rios da costa e áreas escondidas onde o traficante de escravos poderia estar se escondendo.

En Speedy e o Doutor fizeram um plano para as andorinhas levarem mensagens. Muitas andorinhas voaram em fila ao longo da costa, enchendo o céu. Elas assobiavam umas para as outras para enviar notícias dos batedores da frente de volta ao Doutor no navio de guerra. Isso lhe contava como estava indo a caçada.

En Os pássaros se espalharam em fila ao longo da costa.

En Por volta do meio-dia, eles receberam a notícia de que o navio negreiro de Bones tinha sido avistado atrás de um cabo longo e alto. A mensagem os avisou para terem muito cuidado, pois o navio estava pronto para zarpar a qualquer momento. As pessoas no navio só tinham parado para pegar água, e os vigias estavam observando para avisá-las se precisassem partir rapidamente.

En Quando o Doutor contou essa notícia ao Capitão, o navio de guerra mudou de direção e se aproximou da costa, escondendo-se atrás do longo cabo. Todos os marinheiros foram instruídos a ficar muito quietos para que o navio da marinha pudesse se aproximar do negreiro sem ser visto.

En O Capitão esperava que os negreiros lutassem, então ordenou que os canhões fossem preparados. Exatamente quando estavam prestes a contornar o longo cabo, um dos artilheiros acidentalmente disparou um canhão.

En Um barulho alto, como um tiro, foi ouvido. Ele ecoou sobre o mar calmo e soou como um trovão furioso.

En Pássaros rapidamente enviaram uma mensagem de que os traficantes de escravos haviam sido avisados e estavam escapando. Quando o navio de guerra chegou, o navio negreiro já estava navegando para longe, com uma vantagem de dez milhas.

UM GRANDE ARTILHEIRO

En Uma emocionante corrida no mar começou. Eram duas horas da tarde e não restavam muitas horas de luz do dia.

En O capitão estava zangado com o artilheiro que disparou o tiro por engano. Ele sabia que precisavam pegar o navio negreiro antes do anoitecer, ou o perderiam. O traficante, Jim Bones, era muito esperto e conhecia bem a costa da África Ocidental. Se escurecesse, ele poderia facilmente se esconder ou escapar.

En O capitão ordenou que seu navio, H.M.S. Violet, fosse o mais rápido possível. Motores a vapor eram usados com velas para ajudar os navios a se moverem mais rápido. O capitão estava orgulhoso de seu navio e queria que ele capturasse Jim Bones, que estava traficando escravos ilegalmente. Os motores do Violet trabalharam duro, produzindo uma fumaça preta e espessa que cobriu o mar e as velas.

En O ajudante de máquinas queria que seu navio fosse o único a capturar Bones. Para fazer o navio ir mais rápido, ele amarrou a válvula de segurança do motor a vapor. Pouco depois, uma das caldeiras novas do navio explodiu com um barulho alto, causando uma grande bagunça na sala de máquinas.

En No entanto, o Violet era um grande navio à vela e ainda bastante rápido. Ele navegava poderosamente através das ondas e se aproximava lentamente do navio negreiro.

En Mas Bones tinha uma grande vantagem inicial, então era difícil alcançá-lo. Quando o sol começou a se pôr, o Capitão ficou irritado. Ele sabia que se escurecesse, seu inimigo estaria seguro.

En No convés inferior, a tripulação estava muito irritada com o homem que acidentalmente disparou o canhão. Eles o culparam por alertar Bones, o que significava que Bones provavelmente escaparia. Os navios ainda estavam muito distantes para usar seus canhões com eficácia. No entanto, vendo a escuridão se aproximar e seu inimigo fugindo, o Capitão ordenou que os canhões fossem preparados, embora não esperasse que seus tiros acertassem o navio negreiro a tal distância.

En Rápido-o-Espalmador tinha vindo a bordo do navio de guerra mais cedo para descansar. Ele estava conversando com o Doutor quando a ordem do Capitão para preparar os canhões foi dada. Então, o Doutor e Rápido foram para baixo ver os canhões sendo disparados.

En O clima estava calmo, mas cheio de empolgação. Os soldados que operavam os canhões estavam todos preparados. Eles estavam apontando suas armas para o navio inimigo ao longe e esperando o comando para atirar. Um soldado ainda estava muito triste porque havia cometido um erro bobo, e seus colegas haviam zombado dele.

En De repente, um oficial deu a ordem de fogo. O navio tremeu fortemente da frente para trás. Oito grandes balas de canhão voaram rapidamente sobre a água.

En No entanto, nenhuma das balas de canhão acertou o navio negreiro. Elas caíram na água com respingos e não causaram danos.

En Os artilheiros reclamaram que a luz estava muito ruim. Eles disseram que era impossível acertar um alvo a dois quilômetros de distância com uma luz tão ruim.

En Então, Speedy falou baixinho com o Doutor.

En Ele pediu a eles que o deixassem atirar com uma arma porque ele enxergava melhor no escuro do que eles.

En No entanto, naquele exato momento, o Capitão deu a ordem para parar de atirar, e os homens se afastaram de suas posições.

En Assim que os homens se viraram, Speedy subiu em um dos canhões. Ele olhou ao longo da mira e usou suas asas para guiar o Doutor, mostrando a ele como mover o canhão para a esquerda e para a direita para mirá-lo corretamente.

En Speedy disse ao Doutor para atirar, e o Doutor disparou a arma.

En Speedy instruiu o Doutor a atirar.

En O capitão gritou do convés, perguntando o que estava acontecendo porque um tiro acabara de ser disparado. Ele também perguntou se havia dito a eles para pararem de atirar.

En O segundo no comando parou o capitão e mostrou a ele do outro lado da água. Uma bala de canhão do Speedy tinha atingido o outro navio. Ela quebrou o mastro principal e fez as velas caírem sobre o convés.

En O capitão ficou muito surpreso. Ele disse que eles tinham acertado o navio e apontou que Bones estava mostrando um sinal de rendição.

En O capitão, que estava irritado com o tiro disparado sem ordens, agora queria saber quem tinha feito o excelente tiro que parou o outro navio. O doutor estava prestes a dizer que foi o Speedy, mas o Skimmer sussurrou para ele.

En O Skimmer disse ao doutor para não dizer nada, porque o capitão não acreditaria nele. O Skimmer sugeriu que deixassem o homem que tinha errado antes levar o crédito pelo tiro. Ele pensou que isso faria aquele homem se sentir melhor, talvez até ganhasse uma medalha.

En O navio Violet estava animado enquanto se aproximavam de um barco de escravos danificado. O Capitão Bones e seus onze homens foram capturados e colocados nas celas do navio de guerra. O Doutor Dolittle, Zuzana, alguns marinheiros e um oficial então foram para o navio negreiro. Dentro da área de armazenamento do navio, encontraram muitos escravos acorrentados. Zuzana viu rapidamente seu marido e chorou de felicidade.

En Os homens capturados foram imediatamente libertados de suas correntes e levados para o navio de guerra. O Violet então começou a rebocar o navio negreiro. Esse foi o fim do trabalho do Sr. Bones de comércio de escravos.

En Houve muita felicidade, apertos de mão e congratulações no navio de guerra. Um grande jantar foi preparado para os escravos libertados no convés principal. No entanto, o Doutor Dolittle, Zuzana e seu marido foram convidados para comer com os oficiais. Beberam vinho do Porto, e o Capitão e o Doutor fizeram discursos.

En No dia seguinte, assim que amanheceu, o navio de guerra navegou novamente ao longo da costa. Eles levaram os negros de volta para seus próprios países.

En Isso levou muito tempo porque o Capitão Bones havia capturado escravos de muitas tribos diferentes. Foi depois do meio-dia quando o Doutor Dolittle, Zuzana e seu marido retornaram ao navio de John Dolittle. As luzes do navio ainda estavam acesas, mesmo sendo dia.

En O capitão apertou a mão do Doutor Dolittle e agradeceu-lhe por ajudar a Marinha. Ele pediu o endereço do Doutor na Inglaterra porque queria contar ao governo sobre ele. Ele pensou que a Rainha poderia querer dar ao Doutor uma medalha ou torná-lo um cavaleiro. No entanto, o Doutor disse que preferiria uma libra de chá. Ele não tomava chá há muitos meses e achou o chá servido aos oficiais muito bom.

En O capitão então deu ao Doutor Dolittle cinco libras do melhor chá da China. Ele agradeceu ao Doutor novamente em nome da Rainha e do governo.

En O navio, chamado Violet, virou para o norte e navegou de volta para a Inglaterra. Os marinheiros ficaram na borda do navio e gritaram três vivas altos para o Doutor através do mar.

En Os marinheiros se reuniram ao lado do navio.

En Jip, Dab-Dab, Gub-Gub, Too-Too e os outros animais vieram até o Doutor Dolittle. Eles queriam ouvir sobre suas aventuras. Ele contou histórias até a hora do chá. O Doutor então convidou Zuzana e o marido dela para tomarem chá com ele antes de irem para a costa.

En Eles ficaram felizes em ajudar. O Doutor Dolittle fez o chá ele mesmo, e estava muito bom. Enquanto tomavam o chá, Zuzana e seu marido, Begwe, conversaram sobre o Reino de Fantippo.

En Begwe disse a Zuzana que não queria voltar para Fantippo. Ele disse que não se importava em ser soldado, mas estava preocupado que outro traficante de escravos pudesse vir e o rei pudesse vendê-lo novamente. Ele perguntou a Zuzana se ela tinha enviado a carta para o primo deles.

En Zuzana respondeu que tinha enviado a carta, mas não achava que o primo deles a tivesse recebido porque não tiveram resposta.

En O Doutor Dolittle perguntou a Zuzana como ela tinha enviado a carta. Ela explicou que, quando Bones ofereceu muito dinheiro por Begwe e o rei ficou tentado a vendê-lo, ela disse ao rei que conseguiria doze bois e trinta cabras de um primo rico se ele esperasse. O Rei de Fantippo amava bois e cabras, pois eram valiosos. Ele prometeu a Zuzana que se ela trouxesse os animais em dois dias, seu marido seria livre em vez de ser vendido.

En Então, Zuzana foi rapidamente a um escritor profissional porque a maioria das pessoas naquela área não sabia escrever. Ela mandou escrever uma carta, pedindo ao primo que enviasse os bois e as cabras ao rei imediatamente. Depois, ela levou a carta ao correio de Fantippo e a enviou.

En Dois dias se passaram, mas não houve resposta e nenhum gado chegou. Infelizmente, Begwe foi então vendido aos homens de Bones.

OS CORREIOS REAIS DE FANTIPPO

En O correio de Fantippo sobre o qual Zuzana havia falado ao Doutor era bastante estranho. Era incomum encontrar um correio ou serviço postal regular em um reino africano selvagem. Foi assim que aconteceu:

En Alguns anos antes da viagem do Doutor, pessoas em muitas partes do mundo discutiam serviços postais e o custo de enviar cartas entre países. Na Inglaterra, um homem chamado Rowland Hill introduziu o Penny Postage. Foi acordado que um centavo seria o preço padrão para uma carta dentro da Grã-Bretanha. Cartas mais pesadas custavam mais. Depois, selos foram criados em diferentes valores, como um centavo, dois centavos e seis centavos. Todos eram de cores diferentes e tinham imagens detalhadas, muitas vezes da Rainha, às vezes com sua coroa.

En Outros países, como França e Estados Unidos, começaram sistemas semelhantes. Seus selos eram precificados em sua própria moeda e apresentavam imagens de seus próprios governantes ou presidentes.

En Um dia, um navio chegou à costa da África Ocidental e entregou uma carta para Koko, o Rei de Fantippo. O Rei Koko nunca tinha visto um selo antes. Ele pediu a um comerciante branco que morava em sua cidade que explicasse de quem era o rosto no selo que a carta carregava.

En O comerciante explicou o sistema postal. Ele disse à pessoa que, na Inglaterra, para enviar uma carta a qualquer lugar do mundo, era necessário apenas colocar um selo com a imagem da rainha no envelope. Em seguida, a carta era colocada em uma caixa de correio na rua e entregue no endereço escrito.

En O rei achou que aquilo era um novo tipo de magia. Ele decidiu que seu reino, Fantippo, também teria seu próprio serviço postal. Ele anunciou que seu próprio rosto estaria em todos os selos e que suas cartas viajariam usando uma magia mais rápida.

En Um selo especial de Fantippo.

En O rei Koko de Fantippo era um homem muito vaidoso. Ele mandou fazer muitos selos com sua imagem. Alguns mostravam ele com sua coroa, alguns sorrindo, e alguns a cavalo ou de bicicleta. Ele se orgulhava mais de um selo de dez pence que o mostrava jogando golfe, um jogo que ele havia aprendido recentemente.

En O rei também mandou fazer caixas de correio, semelhantes às da Inglaterra. Ele as colocou em esquinas. Ele instruiu seu povo a colocar um de seus selos nas cartas e depositá-las nessas caixas, e as cartas seriam enviadas para qualquer parte do mundo que desejassem.

En Logo, as pessoas começaram a reclamar que tinham sido roubadas. Elas explicaram que haviam pago dinheiro pelos selos, acreditando que tinham poderes mágicos. Elas haviam colocado suas cartas nas caixas de rua conforme instruído. No entanto, uma vaca acidentalmente quebrou uma das caixas de correio. Quando ela se abriu, todas as cartas das pessoas foram encontradas dentro, e não haviam se movido nem um pouco.

En O rei ficou muito irritado. Ele chamou o comerciante branco e disse a ele que havia sido enganado.

En O rei disse ao comerciante que os selos não tinham poder mágico e exigiu uma explicação.

En O comerciante explicou que a mágica não estava nos selos ou nas caixas. Ele disse ao rei que os correios adequados têm carteiros, que coletam as cartas das caixas. Em seguida, explicou todos os outros trabalhos que um correio faz para fazer as cartas viajarem.

En O rei, que era determinado, decidiu que Fantippo deveria ter um correio. Ele encomendou muitos uniformes e bonés de carteiros da Inglaterra. Quando chegaram, vestiu muitos homens locais com eles e os designou para trabalhar como carteiros.

En Os homens acharam os uniformes pesados quentes demais para o clima de Fantippo, onde as pessoas geralmente usam apenas contas. Eles decidiram parar de usar os uniformes e usar apenas os bonés. Foi assim que o uniforme do carteiro de Fantippo se tornou um boné elegante, uma fileira de contas e uma bolsa de correio.

En Depois que o Rei Koko contratou seus carteiros, a agência de correios Real de Fantippo começou a operar corretamente. As cartas eram coletadas das caixas nas ruas e enviadas quando os navios chegavam. A correspondência era entregue nas casas três vezes ao dia. A agência de correios se tornou o lugar mais movimentado da cidade.

En As pessoas na África Ocidental gostavam de roupas coloridas. Uma pessoa elegante em Fantippo teve a ideia de usar selos velhos de cartas para fazer ternos. Esses ternos de selos pareciam muito elegantes e se tornaram posses valiosas para os moradores locais.

En Por volta dessa época, em países desenvolvidos, colecionar selos se tornou um hobby popular. Pessoas em lugares como Inglaterra e América começaram a comprar álbuns de selos para guardar seus selos. Um selo raro poderia se tornar bastante valioso.

En Um dia, dois homens que colecionavam selos chegaram a Fantippo em um navio. Ambos estavam muito ansiosos para encontrar um selo específico para suas coleções, chamado "Fantippo vermelho de dois pennies e meio." O Rei havia parado de imprimir este selo porque não gostava da sua própria imagem nele. Como não era mais impresso, tornou-se muito raro.

En Quando dois homens chegaram a Fantippo, um carregador se ofereceu para levar suas malas. Eles notaram um selo vermelho especial no peito do carregador. Ambos os homens queriam esse selo para suas coleções e começaram a dar lances um contra o outro, oferecendo preços cada vez mais altos.

En O Rei Koko soube do interesse dos colecionadores pelo selo. Ele perguntou a um deles por que as pessoas pagariam muito por um selo velho e usado. O colecionador explicou a crescente popularidade da filatelia ao redor do mundo.

En Embora o Rei Koko achasse a ideia de colecionar selos estranha, ele decidiu que seria uma boa oportunidade de negócio. Ele começou a vender selos para coleções, em vez de apenas para enviar cartas. Sempre que um navio chegava, ele enviava seu Diretor-Geral dos Correios, que vestia um uniforme especial, para vender selos aos visitantes.

En Esse novo negócio foi muito bem-sucedido. O Rei ordenou que as máquinas de imprimir selos trabalhassem mais rápido para produzir uma nova série de selos de Fantippo. Ele queria tê-los prontos para venda quando o mesmo navio retornasse a caminho da Inglaterra.

En No entanto, como o Rei estava focado em vender selos para coleções, o serviço postal regular em Fantippo foi negligenciado e tornou-se muito ruim.

En Enquanto Zuzana falava sobre sua carta, o Doutor Dolittle de repente se lembrou de algo. Em uma viagem anterior, seu navio havia parado perto de Fantippo. Um carteiro veio a bordo e ofereceu muitos selos novos. Como o Doutor Dolittle colecionava selos, ele comprou três conjuntos completos.

En Ouvindo Zuzana, o Doutor entendeu o problema com o correio de Fantippo. Ele percebeu por que a carta de Zuzana não havia chegado ao primo e por que seu marido não pôde ser salvo da escravidão.

En Enquanto Zuzana e Begwe se preparavam para ir embora porque estava escurecendo, o Doutor Dolittle viu uma canoa se movendo da costa em direção ao seu navio. Ele viu que o Rei Koko estava na canoa e vinha ao navio para vender selos.

En O Doutor Dolittle conversou com o Rei Koko. Ele disse ao Rei que ele deveria se envergonhar de seu serviço postal. Depois de dar um pouco de chá ao Rei, ele explicou como a carta de Zuzana provavelmente nunca foi entregue ao primo.

En O Doutor deu ao Rei uma xícara de chá chinês.

En O rei ouviu com atenção e entendeu os problemas de seu correio. Ele convidou o Doutor a desembarcar com Zuzana e Begwe para organizar e consertar o correio, de modo que funcionasse corretamente.

A VIAGEM ATRASADA

En Após alguma persuasão, o Doutor concordou com o plano do Rei, pensando que poderia ajudar. Ele não percebeu as tarefas difíceis e as viagens incomuns que estava começando. Ele entrou em uma canoa com o Rei, Begwe e Zuzana para ser levado à cidade de Fantippo.

En O Doutor achou este lugar muito diferente de outras aldeias africanas que visitara. Era bem grande, quase uma cidade. Parecia claro e alegre, e as pessoas, assim como o Rei, pareciam muito amigáveis e felizes.

En O Doutor foi apresentado a todos os líderes importantes do povo de Fantippo. Depois, foi levado para ver o correio.

En Ele encontrou o correio em péssimas condições. Cartas estavam espalhadas por toda parte, no chão, em gavetas, em mesas e até do lado de fora da porta. O Doutor explicou ao Rei que isso era inaceitável. Ele afirmou que, em correios bem administrados, as cartas com selos eram tratadas com cuidado. Ele acrescentou que não era surpreendente que a carta de Zuzana não tivesse chegado ao primo, se era assim que eles cuidavam da correspondência.

En O Rei Koko pediu ao Doutor Dolittle que administrasse a agência dos correios e a fizesse funcionar corretamente. O Doutor Dolittle concordou em dar o seu melhor. Ele foi para a agência dos correios, tirou o casaco e começou a trabalhar.

En Depois de trabalhar muito duro por muitas horas para separar cartas e organizar a agência dos correios, o Doutor Dolittle percebeu que consertá-la levaria muitas semanas, não apenas um ou dois dias. Ele contou isso ao Rei. Então, seu navio foi trazido ao porto e ancorado com segurança. Seus animais foram trazidos para terra. O Doutor e seus animais de estimação receberam uma bela casa nova na rua principal para morar enquanto ele trabalhava na agência dos correios de Fantippo.

En Após dez dias, o Doutor Dolittle havia feito um bom progresso com as Correspondências Domésticas, que são cartas enviadas dentro do mesmo país ou cidade. No entanto, ele achou difícil estabelecer um bom serviço para as Correspondências Internacionais, que vão para outros países. Isso porque os navios que podiam transportar correspondência para o exterior não visitavam Fantippo com frequência. Embora o Rei Koko se orgulhasse de Fantippo, ela não era considerada um país importante por outras nações, e apenas dois ou três navios por ano paravam lá.

En Uma manhã, enquanto o Doutor Dolittle estava na cama pensando em como melhorar o Serviço de Correspondências Internacionais, seus animais de estimação Dab-Dab e Jip lhe trouxeram o café da manhã. Eles lhe disseram que uma andorinha estava esperando do lado de fora com uma mensagem de Speedy-the-Skimmer. O Doutor Dolittle convidou a andorinha para entrar, e o pássaro sentou em sua cama enquanto ele comia seu café da manhã.

En Enquanto comia seu café da manhã, o Doutor cumprimentou a andorinha e perguntou como poderia ajudá-la.

En Uma pessoa os cumprimentou e perguntou como poderia ajudá-los.

En A andorinha disse ao Doutor que Speedy queria saber quanto tempo ele ficaria. A andorinha explicou que a viagem estava demorando muito por causa de atrasos anteriores e do trabalho atual nos correios. Eles precisavam voltar para a Inglaterra em breve para preparar os ninhos para a nova estação, e o atraso estava dificultando as coisas para eles, embora tenham dito que não estavam reclamando.

En O Doutor disse que entendia perfeitamente e sentia muito. Ele perguntou por que Speedy não tinha trazido a mensagem ele mesmo.

En A andorinha achou que Speedy provavelmente não quis vir porque estava preocupado que o Doutor pudesse se ofender.

En O Doutor garantiu que não se ofenderia e agradeceu aos pássaros pela ajuda. Ele pediu à andorinha que dissesse a Speedy que o visitaria assim que estivesse pronto, e tinha certeza de que poderiam encontrar uma solução.

En A andorinha disse ao Doutor que estava muito bom. Ela então se virou para sair e disse que informaria o Skimmer da mensagem do Doutor.

En O Doutor Dolittle mencionou que estava tentando se lembrar onde tinha visto a andorinha antes. Ele perguntou se ela já tinha construído seu ninho no estábulo dele em Puddleby.

En O pássaro respondeu que não tinha construído seu ninho lá. No entanto, ele se identificou como a andorinha que havia trazido uma mensagem dos macacos para o Doutor Dolittle quando eles estavam doentes.

En O Doutor Dolittle então se lembrou, exclamando que sabia que tinha visto a andorinha antes e nunca esquecia rostos. Ele comentou que a andorinha deve ter tido uma viagem difícil para a Inglaterra durante o inverno, enfrentando neve e frio, e a chamou de muito corajosa por empreender a viagem.

En A andorinha confirmou que foi uma viagem difícil e que quase congelou até a morte várias vezes. Ela descreveu voar contra o vento forte e frio como terrível, mas explicou que era necessário. A andorinha acrescentou que os macacos provavelmente teriam perecido se não tivessem conseguido ajuda do Doutor Dolittle.

En O médico perguntou por que a andorinha havia sido escolhida para entregar a mensagem.

En A andorinha explicou que Speedy queria fazer o trabalho ele mesmo porque era muito corajoso e rápido. No entanto, as outras andorinhas não permitiram. Elas acreditavam que ele era muito importante como líder. Elas pensavam que o trabalho era perigoso, e se Speedy morresse, não encontrariam outro líder tão bom quanto ele. Ele era o líder mais inteligente que tinham, sempre encontrando soluções quando as andorinhas estavam em apuros. Ele era um líder nato, que voava e pensava rapidamente.

En O médico pensou na explicação da andorinha. Ele perguntou novamente por que haviam escolhido a andorinha para trazer a mensagem.

En A andorinha disse que não o haviam escolhido diretamente. Muitas andorinhas se ofereceram para fazer o trabalho para proteger Speedy. O Skimmer sugeriu sortear para ser justo. Elas usaram pequenas folhas, retirando os caules de todas, exceto uma. Misturaram as folhas em uma casca de coco e as pegaram de olhos fechados. A andorinha que pegasse a folha com caule deveria levar a mensagem para a Inglaterra. A andorinha pegou aquela folha. Ela se despediu da esposa porque não esperava sobreviver à viagem. No entanto, ela ficou feliz por ter sido a escolhida.

En O médico perguntou por que a andorinha estava feliz por ter sido escolhida.

En A andorinha levantou a perna para mostrar uma pequena fita vermelha feita de seda de milho amarrada em seu tornozelo. Ela explicou que a recebeu por fazer algo.

En O Doutor perguntou o que era a fita.

En A andorinha respondeu que a fita mostrava que ele tinha feito algo corajoso e especial.

En O Doutor entendeu e perguntou se a fita era como uma medalha.

En O pássaro confirmou que era como uma medalha. Ele disse que seu nome era Quip, e que antes era apenas Quip, mas agora era chamado de Quip o Mensageiro. Ele olhou orgulhosamente para sua perna curta e branca.

En O Doutor disse ao Jip que ele era excelente e o parabenizou. Ele explicou que tinha muito trabalho a fazer e precisava se levantar. Pediu ao Jip que lembrasse ao Speedy que eles se encontrariam no navio às dez horas. O Doutor também pediu ao Jip que dissesse à Dab-Dab para retirar os pratos do café da manhã. Ele ficou feliz que Jip tinha visitado porque isso lhe deu uma ideia.

En Dab-Dab e Jip encontraram o Doutor enquanto ele estava fazendo a barba.

En Quando Dab-Dab e Jip vieram retirar a bandeja do café da manhã, eles viram o Doutor fazendo a barba. Ele estava olhando no espelho, segurando o nariz e falando consigo mesmo.

En O Doutor teve uma ideia para um novo serviço de correio chamado Correio Estrangeiro de Fantippo. Ele pensou que seria o serviço de correio ultramarino mais rápido do mundo e decidiu chamá-lo de O Correio Andorinha.

TERRA DE NINGUÉM

En Depois de se vestir e fazer a barba, o Doutor desceu até seu navio. Lá, ele encontrou o Speedy.

En O Doutor disse a Speedy que estava muito arrependido pelo problema que seu atraso havia causado aos pássaros. Ele explicou que o negócio dos correios era muito importante e precisava ser resolvido porque estava em um estado terrível.

En Speedy respondeu que entendia. Ele disse que eles teriam ficado naquele país para ajudar o Doutor e não se importariam em perder um verão no Norte. No entanto, ele explicou que as andorinhas não conseguem construir ninhos facilmente em árvores; elas precisam de casas e edifícios para seus ninhos.

En O Doutor perguntou se eles poderiam usar as casas em Fantippo para seus ninhos.

En Speedy disse que as casas de Fantippo não eram muito adequadas porque eram pequenas e barulhentas, com crianças brincando o dia todo, tornando os ovos e os filhotes inseguros. Ele também mencionou que as casas não eram construídas corretamente para andorinhas, com inclinações de telhado erradas e beirais baixos. Ele preferia edifícios silenciosos e sólidos, como celeiros ou estábulos antigos, onde as pessoas se comportavam de maneira calma e respeitosa, pois os pássaros que nidificam precisam de paz.

En O Doutor entendeu o ponto de Speedy, embora pessoalmente gostasse da animação de Fantippo. Ele então sugeriu seu velho navio como um possível local de nidificação, acreditando que seria silencioso o suficiente. Ele destacou que ninguém mais morava no navio e que ele tinha muitas rachaduras e buracos adequados para construir ninhos, e pediu a opinião de Speedy.

En Speedy achou que seria uma boa ideia se o Doutor não precisasse do barco por várias semanas. Ele explicou que seria um problema se o Doutor navegasse depois que os ninhos fossem construídos e os ovos fossem postos, porque os filhotes ficariam enjoados.

En O Doutor respondeu que não partiria por algum tempo. Ele garantiu a Speedy que as andorinhas poderiam usar o navio inteiro para si mesmas sem que ninguém as incomodasse.

En Speedy concordou e disse que diria às andorinhas para começarem a construir seus ninhos imediatamente. Ele também mencionou que viajariam para a Inglaterra com o Doutor quando ele estivesse pronto, para guiá-lo e ensinar o caminho aos filhotes. Ele explicou que, a cada ano, as novas aves fazem sua primeira viagem da Inglaterra para a África com as aves mais velhas e experientes, e precisam de orientação para essa primeira viagem.

En O Doutor confirmou que o plano estava resolvido. Ele disse que precisava voltar ao correio e que o navio agora era deles. Ele pediu a Speedy que o informasse assim que a nidificação terminasse, porque tinha uma ideia especial que queria compartilhar.

En O barco do Doutor foi então transformado em um navio de nidificação para as andorinhas. Ele permaneceu ancorado pacificamente nas águas calmas do porto de Fantippo. Milhares de andorinhas começaram a construir seus ninhos em todo o navio, incluindo no cordame, nos ventiladores, nas vigias e em todos os espaços disponíveis.

PROLOGUE

Português

A maior parte da história sobre o correio do Doutor Dolittle aconteceu quando ele estava voltando de uma viagem à África Ocidental. O narrador começará a história a partir do momento em que ele virou seu navio em direção a casa e navegou de volta para Puddleby-on-the-Marsh.

Original English

NEARLY ALL OF the history of Doctor Dolittle's post office took place when he was returning from a voyage to West Africa. Therefore I will begin (as soon as I have told you a little about how he came to take the journey) from where he turned his ship towards home again and set sail for Puddleby-on-the-Marsh.

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Português

Antes disso, o pushmi-pullyu estava na Inglaterra há muito tempo e sentia falta da África. Mesmo gostando muito do Doutor Dolittle, ele perguntou a ele em um dia frio de inverno se ele iria para a África por um curto feriado, talvez por uma ou duas semanas.

Original English

Some time before this the pushmi-pullyu, after a long stay in England, had grown a little homesick for Africa. And although he was tremendously fond of the Doctor and never wanted to leave him altogether, he asked him one winter day when the weather was particularly cold and disagreeable if he would mind running down to Africa for a holiday — just for a week or two.

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Português

O Doutor Dolittle concordou rapidamente. Ele não viajava há muito tempo e sentiu que também precisava de uma pausa dos dias frios ingleses.

Original English

The Doctor readily agreed because he hadn't been on a voyage in a long while and he felt he too needed a change from the chilly December days of England.

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Português

Então, ele começou sua jornada. Ele levou o pushmi-pullyu e seus amigos animais de sempre: Dab-Dab a pata, Jip o cachorro, Gub-Gub o porco, Too-Too a coruja e o rato branco. Para essa viagem, o Doutor Dolittle comprou um pequeno barco à vela. Era velho e desgastado, mas era um barco forte para mau tempo.

Original English

So he started off. Besides the pushmi-pullyu he took Dab-Dab the duck, Jip the dog, Gub-Gub the pig, Too-Too the owl, and the white mouse — the same good company he had had with him on his adventurous return from the Land of the Monkeys. For this trip the Doctor bought a little sailing boat — very old and battered and worn, but a good sound craft for bad weather.

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Português

Eles navegaram para o sul até o Golfo do Benim na África. Lá, visitaram muitos reinos e tribos diferentes. Enquanto estavam em terra, o pushmi-pullyu podia andar livremente em suas antigas áreas de casa. Ele realmente aproveitou seu feriado.

Original English

They sailed away down to the south coast of the Bight of Benin. There they visited many African kingdoms and strange tribes. And while they were ashore the pushmi-pullyu had a chance to wander freely through his old grazing grounds. And he enjoyed his holiday thoroughly.

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Português

Certa manhã, o Doutor Dolittle ficou contente ao ver seus amigos andorinhas se reunindo perto de seu navio. Elas estavam se preparando para o voo anual para a Inglaterra. As andorinhas perguntaram ao Doutor se ele também estava voltando. Disseram que ficariam felizes em voar com ele, como já haviam feito antes, quando ele escapou de Jolliginki.

Original English

One morning the Doctor was delighted to see his old friends the swallows gathering once more about his ship at anchor for their yearly flight to England. They asked him whether he too was returning; because if so, they said, they would accompany him, the same as they had done when he was escaping from the Kingdom of Jolliginki.

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Português

O empurra-puxa estava pronto para partir. O Doutor agradeceu às andorinhas e disse a elas que ficaria feliz em tê-las como companhia. Pelo resto daquele dia, todos estavam ocupados preparando o navio e conseguindo suprimentos para a longa viagem de volta à Inglaterra.

Original English

As the pushmi-pullyu was now quite ready to leave, the Doctor thanked the swallows and told them he would be delighted to have their company. Then for the remainder of that day all was hustle and hurry and bustle, getting the ship provisioned and making preparations for the long trip back to England.

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Português

Na manhã seguinte, o navio estava pronto para zarpar. A âncora foi levantada e, com todas as velas abertas, o navio do Doutor navegou para o norte com um bom vento. Minha história começa a partir deste momento.

Original English

By the following morning everything was in readiness to put to sea. The anchor was drawn up and with all sail set the Doctor's ship moved northward before a favorable wind. And it is from this point that my story begins.

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ZUZANA

Português

Durante a primeira semana de sua viagem de volta, o Doutor Dolittle e seus animais estavam tomando café da manhã juntos na cabine. Uma andorinha chegou e disse ao Doutor que queria falar com ele.

Original English

ONE MORNING IN the first week of the return voyage when John Dolittle and his animals were all sitting at breakfast round the big table in the cabin, one of the swallows came down and said that he wanted to speak to the Doctor.

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Português

O Doutor Dolittle imediatamente deixou a mesa e foi para o corredor. Lá ele encontrou o líder das andorinhas, um pássaro pequeno e elegante com asas longas e olhos escuros. Esse pássaro era conhecido como Veloz-Deslizador e era famoso entre todas as aves. Ele era o melhor em capturar insetos e realizar acrobacias aéreas na Europa, África, Ásia e América. Ele havia vencido todas as corridas de voo todo verão, e no ano anterior havia cruzado o Atlântico em apenas onze horas e meia, viajando a mais de duzentas milhas por hora.

Original English

John Dolittle at once left the table and went out into the passage where he found the swallow-leader himself, a very neat, trim, little bird with long, long wings and sharp, snappy, black eyes. Speedy-the-Skimmer he was called — a name truly famous throughout the whole of the feathered world. He was the champion flycatcher and aerial acrobat of Europe, Africa, Asia, and America. For years every summer he had won all the flying races, having broken his own record only last year by crossing the Atlantic in eleven and a half hours — at a speed of over two hundred miles an hour.

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Português

John Dolittle perguntou a Speedy qual era o problema.

Original English

"Well, Speedy," said John Dolittle. "What is it?"

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Português

Um passarinho disse ao Doutor Dolittle que eles tinham visto uma canoa a cerca de um quilômetro de distância. Uma mulher negra estava na canoa, chorando muito e não remando. O pássaro explicou que a canoa estava muito longe da terra, cerca de dez milhas, perto da Baía de Fantippo, e perto da África. O pássaro estava preocupado porque a mulher estava em um barco pequeno em águas profundas e parecia não se importar com a situação. O pássaro pediu ao Doutor que falasse com ela, pois eles achavam que ela estava em sérios problemas.

Original English

"Doctor," said the little bird in a mysterious whisper, "we have sighted a canoe about a mile ahead of the ship and a little to the eastward, with only a black woman in it. She is weeping bitterly and isn't paddling the canoe at all. She is several miles from land — ten, at least, I should say — because at the moment we are crossing the Bay of Fantippo and can only just see the shore of Africa. She is really in dangerous straits, with such a little bit of a boat that far out at sea. But she doesn't seem to care. She's just sitting in the bottom of the canoe, crying as if she didn't mind what happens to her. I wish you would come and speak to her, for we fear she is in great trouble."

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Português

O Doutor Dolittle concordou. Ele disse ao pássaro para voar lentamente em direção à canoa, e que ele iria guiar o navio para segui-lo.

Original English

"All right," said the Doctor. "Fly slowly on to where the canoe is and I will steer the ship to follow you."

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Português

John Dolittle subiu no convés e seguiu os pássaros. Logo, ele viu uma canoa pequena e escura nas ondas. Ela parecia muito pequena no mar grande, quase como um tronco, e poderia facilmente passar despercebida. Uma mulher estava sentada na canoa com a cabeça apoiada nos joelhos.

Original English

So John Dolittle went up on deck and by steering the boat after the guiding swallows he presently saw a small, dark canoe rising and falling on the waves. It looked so tiny on the wide face of the waters that it could be taken for a log or a stick — or, indeed, missed altogether, unless you were close enough to see it. In the canoe sat a woman with her head bowed down upon her knees.

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Português

Quando o Doutor chegou perto o suficiente para ser ouvido, ele gritou para a mulher. Ele perguntou o que havia de errado e por que ela tinha viajado tão longe da terra. Ele também a avisou que ela estava em grande perigo se uma tempestade começasse.

Original English

"What's the matter?" shouted the Doctor, as soon as he was near enough to make the woman hear. "Why have you come so far from the land? Don't you know that you are in great danger if a storm should come up?"

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Português

A mulher levantou lentamente a cabeça.

Original English

Slowly the woman raised her head.

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Português

Ela disse a ele para deixá-la sozinha com sua tristeza. Ela perguntou se os homens brancos já tinham causado dano suficiente a ela.

Original English

"Go away," said she, "and leave me to my sorrow. Haven't you white men done me enough harm?"

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Português

John Dolittle aproximou seu barco e falou gentilmente com a mulher. No início, ela não confiava nele porque ele era um homem branco. No entanto, o Doutor gradualmente ganhou a confiança dela. Enquanto ainda chorava muito, ela finalmente contou a ele sua história.

Original English

John Dolittle steered the boat up closer still and continued to talk to the woman in a kindly way. But she seemed for a long time to mistrust him because he was a white man. Little by little, however, the Doctor won her confidence and at last, still weeping bitterly, she told him her story.

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Português

John Dolittle falou com a mulher.

Original English

"John Dolittle talked to the woman"

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Português

Durante esse período, a escravidão estava sendo interrompida. A maioria dos governos havia tornado ilegal capturar, comprar ou vender escravos. No entanto, algumas pessoas más ainda viajavam para a costa oeste da África. Elas secretamente capturavam ou compravam escravos e os levavam em navios para outros países para trabalhar em fazendas de cultivo de algodão e tabaco. Alguns reis africanos vendiam prisioneiros que haviam capturado em guerras para esses homens, ganhando muito dinheiro.

Original English

These were the days, you must understand, when slavery was being done away with. To capture, to buy or to sell slaves had, in fact, been strictly forbidden by most governments. But certain bad men still came down to the west coast of Africa and captured or bought slaves secretly and took them away in ships to other lands to work on cotton and tobacco plantations. Some African kings sold prisoners they had taken in war to these men and made a great deal of money that way.

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Português

A mulher na canoa era de uma tribo que estava lutando uma guerra contra o Rei de Fantippo. Fantippo é um reino na África, localizado na costa. As andorinhas tinham visto a canoa perto deste lugar.

Original English

Well, this woman in the canoe belonged to a tribe which had been at war with the king of Fantippo — an African kingdom situated on the coast near which the swallows had seen the canoe.

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Português

Durante a guerra, o Rei de Fantippo capturou muitas pessoas, incluindo o marido da mulher. Após a guerra, alguns marinheiros chegaram em um navio. Eles queriam comprar pessoas para trabalhar em fazendas de tabaco. O rei decidiu vender a eles os prisioneiros que havia capturado, porque eles ofereceram muito dinheiro.

Original English

And in this war the King of Fantippo had taken many prisoners, among whom was the woman's husband. Shortly after the war was over some white men in a ship had called at the Kingdom of Fantippo to see if they could buy slaves for tobacco plantations. And when the king heard how much money they were willing to give for black slaves he thought he would sell them the prisoners he had taken in the war.

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Português

O nome da mulher era Zuzana, e seu marido era um homem forte e bonito. O Rei de Fantippo gostava de homens fortes e poderia ter mantido o marido de Zuzana. No entanto, as pessoas que compravam escravos também queriam homens fortes para trabalho pesado nas fazendas. Eles ofereceram ao rei um preço muito alto pelo marido de Zuzana, então o rei o vendeu.

Original English

This woman's name was Zuzana and her husband was a very strong and fine-looking man. The King of Fantippo would have kept Zuzana's husband for this reason, because he liked to have strong men at his court. But the slave traders also wanted strong men, for they could do a lot of work on the plantations. And they offered the King of Fantippo a specially high price for Zuzana's husband. And the king had sold him.

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Português

Zuzana contou ao Doutor que ela havia seguido o navio em sua canoa por um longo tempo. Ela implorou a eles que devolvessem seu marido. Mas os marinheiros apenas riram e continuaram sua jornada. Logo, o navio desapareceu de vista.

Original English

Zuzana described to the Doctor how she had followed the white man's ship a long way out in a canoe, imploring them to give her back her husband. But they had only laughed at her and gone on their way. And their ship had soon passed out of sight.

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Português

Zuzana explicou que era por isso que ela não gostava de todos os homens brancos. Ela não tinha querido falar com o Doutor quando ele chamou sua canoa.

Original English

That was why, she said, she hated all white men and had not wanted to speak to the Doctor when he had hailed her canoe.

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Português

O Doutor ficou muito irritado após ouvir a história. Ele perguntou a Zuzana quando o navio que levava seu marido havia partido.

Original English

The Doctor was dreadfully angry when he had heard the story. And he asked Zuzana how long ago was it that the slaver's ship bearing her husband had left.

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Português

Zuzana explicou que o navio havia partido apenas trinta minutos antes. Ela sentia que sua vida não tinha sentido sem o marido. Depois que o navio desapareceu, navegando para o norte ao longo da costa, ela começou a chorar. Ela deixou sua canoa flutuar sem remar de volta para a costa.

Original English

She told him it was half an hour ago. Without her husband, she said, life meant nothing to her, and when the ship had passed from view, going northward along the coast, she had burst into tears and just let the canoe drift, not even having the heart to paddle back to land.

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Português

O Doutor prometeu a Zuzana que a ajudaria, não importasse o custo. Ele queria seguir rapidamente o navio negreiro. No entanto, Dab-Dab, a pata, o alertou que seu barco era muito lento. Os traficantes veriam facilmente suas velas e não o deixariam se aproximar.

Original English

The Doctor told the woman that no matter what it cost he was going to help her. And he was all for speeding up his ship and going in chase of the slave boat right away. But Dab-Dab the duck warned him that his boat was very slow and that its sails could be easily seen by the slavers, who would never allow it to come near them.

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Português

Então, o Doutor parou seu navio e entrou na canoa de Zuzana. Ele pediu às andorinhas que o guiassem. Depois, viajou para o norte ao longo da costa, procurando em todas as baías e atrás de cada ilha pelo navio negreiro que havia levado o marido de Zuzana.

Original English

So the Doctor put down his anchor and, leaving the ship where it was, got into the woman's canoe. Then, calling to the swallows to help him as guides, he set off northward along the coast, looking into all the bays and behind all the islands for the slave ship which had taken Zuzana's husband.

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Português

Ele procurou em todas as baías.

Original English

"Looking into all the bays"

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Português

Eles procuraram por muito tempo sem sucesso. Começou a escurecer. As andorinhas, que estavam ajudando a guiá-los, não conseguiam ver muito longe porque não havia lua.

Original English

But after many hours of fruitless search night began to come on and the swallows who were acting as guides could no longer see big distances, for there was no moon.

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Português

Zuzana começou a chorar novamente quando o Doutor disse a ela que ele tinha que parar de procurar pela noite.

Original English

Poor Zuzana began weeping some more when the Doctor said he would have to give up for the night.

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Português

Ela explicou que pela manhã o navio que transportava os traficantes de escravos estaria muito longe. Ela se preocupou que nunca mais teria seu marido de volta.

Original English

"By morning," said she, "the ship of the wicked slave dealers will be many miles away and I shall never get my husband back. Alas! Alas!"

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Português

O Doutor tentou confortá-la. Ele prometeu que se não conseguisse encontrar o marido dela, encontraria outro que fosse igualmente bom. No entanto, ela não pareceu gostar da ideia e continuou a chorar.

Original English

The Doctor comforted her as best he could, saying that if he failed he would get her another husband, just as good. But she didn't seem to care for that idea and went on wailing, "Alas! Alas!"

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Português

O choro de Zuzana era tão alto que o Doutor não conseguia dormir na canoa. Ele teve que se sentar e ouvir. Algumas andorinhas e seu líder, Skimmer, estavam com ele. Eles estavam discutindo o que poderiam fazer quando Skimmer de repente disse a eles para olhar. Ele apontou para o mar escuro e agitado a oeste.

Original English

She made such a noise that the Doctor couldn't get to sleep on the bottom of the canoe — which wasn't very comfortable, anyway. So he had to sit up and listen. Some of the swallows were still with him, sitting on the edge of the canoe. And the famous Skimmer, the leader, was also there. They and the Doctor were talking over what they could do, when suddenly the Skimmer said, "Sh! Look!" and pointed out to the westward over the dark, heaving sea.

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Português

Zuzana parou de chorar e olhou para o oceano. Longe, na borda escura do mar, eles viram uma pequena luz.

Original English

Even Zuzana stopped her wailing and turned to look. And there, away out on the dim, black edge of the ocean, they could see a tiny light.

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Português

O Doutor gritou que era um navio.

Original English

"A ship!" cried the Doctor.

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Português

Speedy concordou que era um navio e se perguntou se era outro navio transportando escravos.

Original English

"Yes," said Speedy, "that's a ship, sure enough. I wonder if it's another slave ship."

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Português

O Doutor explicou que não era o navio que procuravam porque estava indo na direção errada. O navio que queriam tinha ido para o norte.

Original English

"Well, if it's a slave ship, it's not the one we're looking for," said the Doctor, "because it's in the wrong direction. The one we're after went northward."

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Português

Speedy-the-Skimmer sugeriu que ele poderia voar até o navio para descobrir que tipo era e depois voltar para contar. Ele achou que poderia ajudá-los.

Original English

"Listen, Doctor," said Speedy-the-Skimmer, "suppose I fly over to it and see what kind of a ship it is and come back and tell you. Who knows? It might be able to help us."

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Português

O Doutor disse ao Speedy que estava tudo bem e agradeceu-lhe.

Original English

"All right, Speedy. Thank you," said the Doctor.

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Português

O Skimmer voou rapidamente para o escuro em direção a uma pequena luz no mar. Enquanto isso, o Doutor começou a pensar sobre seu próprio navio, que ele havia deixado ancorado mais adiante na costa.

Original English

So the Skimmer sped off into the darkness toward the tiny light far out to sea, while the Doctor fell to wondering how his own ship was getting on which he had left at anchor some miles down the coast to the southward.

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Português

Após vinte minutos, John Dolittle começou a se sentir preocupado. Ele pensou que o Skimmer, que era muito rápido, já deveria ter voltado.

Original English

After twenty minutes had gone by John Dolittle began to get worried, because the Skimmer, with his tremendous speed, should have had time to get there and back long ago.

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Português

Logo, o Skimmer voou em um círculo acima e pousou muito levemente no joelho do Doutor.

Original English

But soon with a flirt of the wings the famous leader made a neat circle in the darkness overhead and dropped, light as a feather, on to the Doctor's knee.

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Português

John Dolittle perguntou que tipo de navio tinha sido.

Original English

"Well," said John Dolittle, "what kind of a ship was it?"

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Português

O Skimmer descreveu um grande navio para o Doutor Dolittle. Ele disse que tinha mastros altos e parecia rápido. O navio navegava em direção a eles com cuidado, possivelmente para evitar águas rasas. Parecia novo e elegante, com grandes canhões. Os marinheiros usavam roupas azuis elegantes. O Skimmer acrescentou que o navio tinha um nome pintado em seu lado, e ele podia mostrar ao Doutor como era na sua mão.

Original English

"It's a big ship," panted the Skimmer, "with tall, high masts and, I should judge, a fast one. But it is coming this way and it is sailing with great care, afraid, I imagine, of shallows and sandbars. It is a very neat ship, smart and new-looking all over. And there are great big guns — cannons — looking out of little doors in her sides. The men on her, too, are all well dressed in smart blue clothes — not like ordinary seamen at all. And on the ship's hull was painted some lettering — her name, I suppose. Of course, I couldn't read it. But I remember what it looked like. Give me your hand and I'll show you."

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Português

Usando uma de suas garras, o Skimmer começou a desenhar algumas letras na palma do Doutor Dolittle. Antes que ele pudesse terminar, John Dolittle se levantou de repente, quase virando a canoa.

Original English

Then the Skimmer, with one of his claws, began tracing out some letters on the Doctor's palm. Before he had got very far John Dolittle sprang up, nearly overturning the canoe.

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Português

O Skimmer explicou que as letras significavam "Navio de Sua Majestade". Ele identificou como um navio da marinha, exatamente o tipo de navio de que precisavam para lidar com traficantes de escravos.

Original English

"H. M. S.!" he cried. "That means Her Majesty's Ship. It's a man-o'-war — a navy vessel. The very thing we want to deal with slave traders!"

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THE DOCTOR'S RECEPTION ON THE WARSHIP

Português

O Doutor Dolittle e Zuzana começaram a remar sua canoa o mais rápido que podiam em direção a uma luz. Embora a noite estivesse calma, as grandes ondas do oceano faziam a canoa subir e descer como uma gangorra. Zuzana teve que usar toda sua habilidade para manter a canoa em linha reta.

Original English

T HEN THE D OCTOR and Zuzana started to paddle their canoe for all they were worth in the direction of the light. The night was calm, but the long swell of the ocean swung the little canoe up and down like a seesaw and it needed all Zuzana's skill to keep it in a straight line.

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Português

Após cerca de uma hora, o Doutor percebeu que o navio para o qual estavam indo havia parado. Quando finalmente o alcançaram no escuro, ele entendeu o porquê: o navio da marinha havia colidido com seu próprio navio, que ele havia deixado ancorado sem luzes. Felizmente, o navio da marinha estava se movendo lentamente, então parece que nenhum dos dois navios foi seriamente danificado.

Original English

After about an hour had gone by the Doctor noticed that the ship they were trying to reach was no longer coming toward them, but seemed to have stopped. And when he finally came up beneath its towering shape in the darkness he saw the reason why — the man-o'-war had run into his own ship, which he had left at anchor with no lights. However, the navy vessel had fortunately been going so carefully that no serious damage, it seemed, had been done to either ship.

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Português

John Dolittle e Zuzana viram uma escada de corda na lateral do grande navio. Eles subiram para entrar no navio e encontrar o Capitão.

Original English

Finding a rope ladder hanging on the side of the man-o'-war, John Dolittle climbed up it, with Zuzana, and went aboard to see the Captain.

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Português

John encontrou o Capitão andando no convés principal do navio. O Capitão estava falando baixinho consigo mesmo.

Original English

He found the Captain strutting the quarterdeck, mumbling to himself.

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Português

O Doutor cumprimentou o Capitão educadamente e comentou que o tempo estava bom.

Original English

"Good evening," said the Doctor politely. "Nice weather we're having."

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Português

O Capitão se aproximou do Doutor e, com raiva, agitou o punho perto do rosto do Doutor.

Original English

The Captain came up to him and shook his fist in his face.

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Português

O Capitão perguntou com raiva a John se ele era o dono do outro navio que estava ao lado do deles.

Original English

"Are you the owner of that Noah's Ark down there?" he stormed, pointing to the other ship alongside.

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Português

O Doutor concordou, mas explicou que era apenas por pouco tempo. Ele então perguntou o motivo.

Original English

"Er — yes — temporarily," said the Doctor. "Why?"

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Português

O Capitão estava muito irritado e exigiu saber por que o navio do Doutor estava ancorado à noite sem luzes. Ele explicou que estava procurando um traficante de escravos e quase colidiu com o navio do Doutor. Ele chamou, mas não obteve resposta. Quando embarcou no navio, encontrou um porco dormindo em uma cadeira. O Capitão questionou se um porco normalmente estava no comando e perguntou onde o Doutor estava.

Original English

"Well, will you be so good," snarled the Captain, his face all out of shape with rage, "as to tell me what in thunder you mean by leaving your old junk at anchor on a dark night without any lights? What kind of a sailor are you? Here I bring Her Majesty's latest cruiser after Jimmie Bones, the slave trader — been hunting him for weeks, I have — and, as though the beastly coast wasn't difficult enough as it is, I bump into a craft riding at anchor with no lights. Luckily, I was going slow, taking soundings, or we might have gone down with all hands. I hallooed to your ship and got no answer. So I go aboard her, with pistols ready, thinking maybe she's a slaver, trying to play tricks on me. I creep all over the ship, but not a soul do I meet. At last in the cabin I find a pig — asleep in an armchair ! Do you usually leave your craft in the charge of a pig, with orders to go to sleep? If you own the ship, why aren't you on her? Where have you been?"

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Português

O Capitão perguntou ao Doutor onde ele tinha estado.

Original English

"'Where have you been?'"

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Português

O Doutor respondeu que tinha ido andar de canoa com uma senhora. Ele sorriu para Zuzana, que estava começando a chorar novamente.

Original English

"I was out canoeing with a lady," said the Doctor, and he smiled comfortingly at Zuzana, who was beginning to weep again.

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Português

O Capitão ficou chocado ao ouvir que o Doutor tinha ido andar de canoa com uma senhora.

Original English

" Canoeing with a lady! " spluttered the Captain. "Well, I'll be — —"

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Português

O Doutor concordou e quis apresentar Zuzana ao Capitão. Ele começou a dizer o nome do Capitão, mas parou.

Original English

"Yes," said the Doctor. "Let me introduce you. This is Zuzana, Captain — er — —"

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Português

O Capitão interrompeu o Doutor chamando um marinheiro que estava por perto.

Original English

But the Captain interrupted him by calling for a sailor, who stood near.

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Português

O Capitão estava bravo com o Doutor. Ele acusou o Doutor de deixar o navio em um lugar perigoso, onde outros navios poderiam bater nele. Ele pediu ao marinheiro que prendesse o Doutor.

Original English

"I'll teach you to leave Noah's arks at anchor on the high seas for the navy to bump into, my fine deep-sea philanderer! Think the shipping laws are made for a joke? Here," he turned to the sailor, who had come in answer to his call, "Master-at-arms, put this man under arrest."

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Português

O marinheiro concordou e rapidamente colocou algemas nos pulsos do Doutor antes que ele pudesse entender o que estava acontecendo.

Original English

"Aye, aye, sir," said the master-at-arms. And before the Doctor knew it he had handcuffs fastened firmly on his wrists.

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Português

O Doutor explicou que a senhora estava em apuros. Ele disse que estava com pressa e esqueceu de iluminar o navio, e que ainda não estava escuro quando ele saiu.

Original English

"But this lady was in distress," said the Doctor. "I was in such a hurry I forgot all about lighting the ship. In fact, it wasn't dark yet when I left."

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Português

O capitão gritou alto. Ele ordenou que levassem a pessoa para o convés inferior imediatamente. Ele também ameaçou matar a pessoa.

Original English

"Take him below!" roared the Captain. "Take him below before I kill him."

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Português

O contramestre levou o Doutor em direção a uma escada que descia para as partes inferiores do navio. No topo da escada, o Doutor segurou o corrimão. Ele conseguiu gritar de volta para o capitão.

Original English

And the poor Doctor was dragged away by the Master-at-arms toward a stair leading to the lower decks. But at the head of the stairs he caught hold of the handrail and hung on long enough to shout back to the Captain:

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Português

O Doutor disse ao capitão que sabia onde Jimmie Bones estava e poderia compartilhar essa informação se quisesse.

Original English

"I could tell you where Jimmie Bones is, if I wanted to."

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Português

O capitão ficou surpreso e perguntou o que o Doutor tinha dito. Ele ordenou que o Doutor fosse trazido de volta e pediu que ele repetisse o que havia dito.

Original English

"What's that?" snorted the Captain. "Here, bring him back! What was that you said?"

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Português

O Doutor repetiu que poderia dizer a eles onde Jimmie Bones estava, se quisesse. Enquanto dizia isso, ele tirou o lenço e assoou o nariz, mesmo com as mãos algemadas.

Original English

"I said," murmured the Doctor, getting his handkerchief out and blowing his nose with his handcuffed hands, "that I could tell you where Jimmie Bones is — if I wanted to."

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Português

O Capitão perguntou se o homem era Jimmie Bones, que era um traficante de escravos. Ele explicou que o governo o havia enviado para encontrar Jimmie Bones e perguntou onde ele estava.

Original English

"Jimmie Bones, the slaver?" cried the Captain. "That's the man the government has sent me after. Where is he?"

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Português

O Doutor disse calmamente que sua memória não funcionava bem quando suas mãos estavam amarradas, acenando com a cabeça em direção às algemas. Ele sugeriu que, se fossem removidas, ele poderia se lembrar.

Original English

"My memory doesn't work very well while my hands are tied," said the Doctor quietly, nodding toward the handcuffs. "Possibly if you took these things off I might remember."

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Português

O Capitão se desculpou e sua atitude mudou imediatamente. Ele então ordenou ao Sargento-de-armas que libertasse o prisioneiro.

Original English

"Oh, excuse me," said the Captain, his manner changing at once. "Master-at-arms, release the prisoner."

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Português

Um marinheiro concordou com a ordem e removeu as algemas dos pulsos do Doutor. Ele então se virou para sair.

Original English

"Aye, aye, sir," said the sailor, removing the handcuffs from the Doctor's wrists and turning to go.

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Português

Enquanto o marinheiro saía, o Capitão o chamou. Ele pediu que ele trouxesse uma cadeira para o convés, pensando que o visitante poderia estar cansado.

Original English

"Oh, and by the way," the Captain called after him, "bring a chair up on deck. Perhaps our visitor is tired."

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Português

O Doutor Dolittle contou ao Capitão toda a história de Zuzana e seus problemas. Todos os outros oficiais do navio se aproximaram para ouvir.

Original English

Then John Dolittle told the Captain the whole story of Zuzana and her troubles. And all the other officers on the ship gathered around to listen.

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Português

O Doutor terminou dizendo que tinha certeza de que o homem que havia levado o marido da mulher era Jimmie Bones, a pessoa que eles estavam procurando.

Original English

"And I have no doubt," the Doctor ended, "that this slaver who took away the woman's husband was no other than Jimmie Bones, the man you are after."

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Português

O Capitão concordou. Ele sabia que Jimmie Bones estava perto da costa, mas perguntou onde ele estava agora, dizendo que era difícil de capturar.

Original English

"Quite so," said the Captain. "I know he is somewhere around the coast. But where is he now? He's a difficult fish to catch."

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Português

O Doutor disse que Jimmie Bones tinha ido para o norte. Ele achava que o navio rápido do Capitão poderia alcançá-lo. Ele também explicou que se Jimmie Bones se escondesse em baías ou riachos, seus pássaros poderiam encontrá-lo quando amanhecesse.

Original English

"He has gone northward," said the Doctor. "But your ship is fast and should be able to overtake him. If he hides in some of these bays and creeks I have several birds here with me who can, as soon as it is light, seek him out for us and tell us where he is."

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Português

O Capitão olhou para seus oficiais com surpresa. Todos sorriram, mas não pareciam acreditar no que ele estava dizendo.

Original English

The Captain looked with astonishment into the faces of his listening officers, who all smiled unbelievingly.

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Português

O Capitão perguntou ao Doutor Dolittle o que ele queria dizer com pássaros. Ele imaginou se eram pombos ou canários treinados.

Original English

"What do you mean — birds?" the Captain asked. "Pigeons — trained canaries, or something?"

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Português

O Doutor Dolittle respondeu que se referia a andorinhas. Ele explicou que essas andorinhas estavam voltando para a Inglaterra para o verão e se ofereceram para guiar seu navio para casa porque eram suas amigas.

Original English

"No," said the Doctor, "I mean the swallows who are going back to England for the summer. They very kindly offered to guide my ship home. They're friends of mine, you see."

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Português

Os oficiais riram e tocaram suas testas, mostrando que achavam que o Doutor não estava bem. O Capitão sentiu que estava sendo enganado e ficou muito irritado. Ele queria prender o Doutor novamente.

Original English

This time the officers all burst out laughing and tapped their foreheads knowingly, to show they thought the Doctor was crazy. And the Captain, thinking he was being made a fool of, flew into a rage once more and was all for having the Doctor arrested again.

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Português

No entanto, o oficial que era o segundo no comando falou baixinho com o Capitão.

Original English

But the officer who was second in command whispered in the Captain's ear:

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Português

Ele sugeriu deixar o Doutor vir com eles e tentar ajudar, já que o navio estava indo para o norte de qualquer forma. Ele se lembrou de ter ouvido falar de um homem no oeste da Inglaterra que tinha habilidades especiais com animais e pássaros, e achou que esse homem era o Doutor Dolittle. Ele acrescentou que Dolittle parecia inofensivo e poderia ser útil. Ele também apontou que os locais confiavam nele, por isso a mulher concordou em viajar com ele, já que eles geralmente tinham medo de navegar com homens brancos.

Original English

"Why not take the old fellow along and let him try, Sir? Our course was northward, anyway. I seem to remember hearing something, when I was attached to the Home Fleet, about an old chap in the west counties who had some strange powers with beasts and birds. I have no doubt this is he. Dolittle, he was called. He seems harmless enough. There's just a chance he may be of some assistance to us. The natives evidently trust him or the woman wouldn't have come with him — you know how scared they are of putting to sea with a white man."

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Português

Depois de pensar por um tempo, o Capitão falou com o Doutor novamente.

Original English

After a moment's thought the Captain turned to the Doctor again.

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Português

O Capitão disse ao Doutor que ele parecia louco. No entanto, ele concordou em ajudar se o Doutor pudesse encontrar Jimmie Bones, o traficante de escravos, de qualquer maneira. Eles começariam a viagem assim que amanhecesse. O Capitão avisou o Doutor que se ele estivesse apenas brincando, isso lhe traria sérios problemas. Ele ordenou que o Doutor colocasse luzes em seu barco e garantisse que o porco não as deixasse apagar, ou o porco seria cozido para os oficiais.

Original English

"You sound clean crazy to me, my good man. But if you can put me in the way of capturing Jimmie Bones the slaver I don't care what means you use to do it. As soon as the day breaks we will get under way. But if you are just amusing yourself at the expense of Her Majesty's Navy I warn you it will be the worst day's work for yourself you ever did. Now go and put riding lights on that ark of yours and tell the pig that if he lets them go out he shall be made into rashers of bacon for the officers' mess."

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Português

Houve muitas piadas e risadas quando o Doutor voltou ao seu navio para preparar as luzes. Mas na manhã seguinte, quando o Doutor retornou com cerca de mil andorinhas, os oficiais no navio de guerra não acharam graça.

Original English

There was much laughter and joking as the Doctor climbed over the side and went back to his own ship to get his lights lit. But the next morning when he came back to the man-o'-war — and about a thousand swallows came with him — the officers of Her Majesty's Navy were not nearly so inclined to make fun of him.

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Português

O sol estava começando a nascer sobre a costa distante da África, criando uma manhã muito bonita.

Original English

The sun was just rising over the distant coast of Africa and it was as beautiful a morning as you could wish to see.

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Português

Speedy-the-Skimmer e o Doutor haviam feito planos durante a noite. Muito antes de o grande navio de guerra levantar âncora e mudar de direção, o habilidoso líder das andorinhas já estava muito à frente. Ele estava com um grupo de caçadores selecionados, procurando ao longo dos pequenos rios da costa e áreas escondidas onde o traficante de escravos poderia estar se escondendo.

Original English

Speedy-the-Skimmer had arranged plans with the Doctor overnight. And long before the great warship pulled up her anchor and swung around upon her course the famous swallow leader was miles ahead, with a band of picked hunters, exploring up creeks and examining all the hollows of the coast where the slave trader might be hiding.

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Português

Speedy e o Doutor fizeram um plano para as andorinhas levarem mensagens. Muitas andorinhas voaram em fila ao longo da costa, enchendo o céu. Elas assobiavam umas para as outras para enviar notícias dos batedores da frente de volta ao Doutor no navio de guerra. Isso lhe contava como estava indo a caçada.

Original English

Speedy had agreed with the Doctor upon a sort of overhead telegraph system to be carried on by the swallows. And as soon as the millions of little birds had spread themselves out in a line along the coast, so that the sky was speckled with them as far as the eye could reach, they began passing messages, by whistling to one another, all the way from the scouts in front back to the Doctor on the warship, to give news of how the hunt was progressing.

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Português

Os pássaros se espalharam em fila ao longo da costa.

Original English

"The birds spread themselves out along the coast"

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Português

Por volta do meio-dia, eles receberam a notícia de que o navio negreiro de Bones tinha sido avistado atrás de um cabo longo e alto. A mensagem os avisou para terem muito cuidado, pois o navio estava pronto para zarpar a qualquer momento. As pessoas no navio só tinham parado para pegar água, e os vigias estavam observando para avisá-las se precisassem partir rapidamente.

Original English

And somewhere about noon word came through that Bones's slave ship had been sighted behind a long, high cape. Great care must be taken, the message said, because the slave ship was in all readiness to sail at a moment's notice. The slavers had only stopped to get water and look-outs were posted to warn them to return at once, if necessary.

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Português

Quando o Doutor contou essa notícia ao Capitão, o navio de guerra mudou de direção e se aproximou da costa, escondendo-se atrás do longo cabo. Todos os marinheiros foram instruídos a ficar muito quietos para que o navio da marinha pudesse se aproximar do negreiro sem ser visto.

Original English

When the Doctor told this to the Captain the man-o'-war changed her course still closer inshore, to keep behind the cover of the long cape. All the sailors were warned to keep very quiet, so the navy ship could sneak up on the slaver unawares.

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Português

O Capitão esperava que os negreiros lutassem, então ordenou que os canhões fossem preparados. Exatamente quando estavam prestes a contornar o longo cabo, um dos artilheiros acidentalmente disparou um canhão.

Original English

Now, the Captain, expecting the slavers to put up a fight, also gave orders to get the guns ready. And just as they were about to round the long cape one of the silly gunners let a gun off by accident.

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Português

Um barulho alto, como um tiro, foi ouvido. Ele ecoou sobre o mar calmo e soou como um trovão furioso.

Original English

" Boom! "... The shot went rolling and echoing over the silent sea like angry thunder.

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Português

Pássaros rapidamente enviaram uma mensagem de que os traficantes de escravos haviam sido avisados e estavam escapando. Quando o navio de guerra chegou, o navio negreiro já estava navegando para longe, com uma vantagem de dez milhas.

Original English

Instantly back came word over the swallows' telegraph line that the slavers were warned and were escaping. And, sure enough, when the warship rounded the cape at last, there was the slave ship putting out to sea, with all sail set and a good ten-mile start on the man-o'-war.

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A GREAT GUNNER

Português

Uma emocionante corrida no mar começou. Eram duas horas da tarde e não restavam muitas horas de luz do dia.

Original English

AND THEN BEGAN a most exciting sea race. It was now two o'clock in the afternoon and there were not many hours of daylight left.

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Português

O capitão estava zangado com o artilheiro que disparou o tiro por engano. Ele sabia que precisavam pegar o navio negreiro antes do anoitecer, ou o perderiam. O traficante, Jim Bones, era muito esperto e conhecia bem a costa da África Ocidental. Se escurecesse, ele poderia facilmente se esconder ou escapar.

Original English

The Captain (after he had done swearing at the stupid gunner who had let off the gun by accident) realized that if he did not catch up to the slaver before dark came on he would probably lose him altogether. For this Jim Bones was a very sly and clever rascal and he knew the West Coast of Africa (it is sometimes called to this day The Slave Coast ) very well. After dark by running without lights he would easily find some nook or corner to hide in — or double back on his course and be miles away before morning came.

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Português

O capitão ordenou que seu navio, H.M.S. Violet, fosse o mais rápido possível. Motores a vapor eram usados com velas para ajudar os navios a se moverem mais rápido. O capitão estava orgulhoso de seu navio e queria que ele capturasse Jim Bones, que estava traficando escravos ilegalmente. Os motores do Violet trabalharam duro, produzindo uma fumaça preta e espessa que cobriu o mar e as velas.

Original English

So the Captain gave orders that all possible speed was to be made. These were the days when steam was first used on ships. But at the beginning it was only used together with the sails, to help the power of the wind. Of this vessel, H. M. S. Violet, the Captain was very proud. And he was most anxious that the Violet should have the honor of catching Bones the slaver, who for so long had been defying the navy by carrying on slave trade after it had been forbidden. So the Violet's steam engines were put to work their hardest. And thick, black smoke rolled out of her funnels and darkened the blue sea and smudged up her lovely white sails humming tight in the breeze.

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Português

O ajudante de máquinas queria que seu navio fosse o único a capturar Bones. Para fazer o navio ir mais rápido, ele amarrou a válvula de segurança do motor a vapor. Pouco depois, uma das caldeiras novas do navio explodiu com um barulho alto, causando uma grande bagunça na sala de máquinas.

Original English

Then the engine boy, also anxious that his ship should have the honor of capturing Bones, tied down the safety valve on the steam engine, to make her go faster, and then went up on deck to see the show. And soon, of course, one of the Violet's brand new boilers burst with a terrific bang and made an awful mess of the engine room.

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Português

No entanto, o Violet era um grande navio à vela e ainda bastante rápido. Ele navegava poderosamente através das ondas e se aproximava lentamente do navio negreiro.

Original English

But, being a full-rigged man-o'-war, the Violet was still a pretty speedy sailer. And on she went, furiously plowing the waves and slowly gaining on the slave ship.

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Português

Mas Bones tinha uma grande vantagem inicial, então era difícil alcançá-lo. Quando o sol começou a se pôr, o Capitão ficou irritado. Ele sabia que se escurecesse, seu inimigo estaria seguro.

Original English

However, the crafty Bones, with so big a start, was not easy to overtake. And soon the sun began to set and the Captain frowned and stamped his feet. For with darkness he knew his enemy would be safe.

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Português

No convés inferior, a tripulação estava muito irritada com o homem que acidentalmente disparou o canhão. Eles o culparam por alertar Bones, o que significava que Bones provavelmente escaparia. Os navios ainda estavam muito distantes para usar seus canhões com eficácia. No entanto, vendo a escuridão se aproximar e seu inimigo fugindo, o Capitão ordenou que os canhões fossem preparados, embora não esperasse que seus tiros acertassem o navio negreiro a tal distância.

Original English

Down below among the crew, the man who had fired the gun by accident was having a terrible time. All his companions were setting on him and mobbing him for being such a duffer as to warn Bones — who would now almost certainly escape. The distance from the slaver was still too great to use the kind of guns they had in those days. But when the Captain saw darkness creeping over the sea and his enemy escaping, he gave orders to man the guns, anyway — although he hadn't the least hope that his shots would hit the slaver at that distance.

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Português

Rápido-o-Espalmador tinha vindo a bordo do navio de guerra mais cedo para descansar. Ele estava conversando com o Doutor quando a ordem do Capitão para preparar os canhões foi dada. Então, o Doutor e Rápido foram para baixo ver os canhões sendo disparados.

Original English

Now, Speedy-the-Skimmer, as soon as the race had begun, had come on to the warship to take a rest. And he happened to be talking to the Doctor when the order to man the guns came down from the Captain. So the Doctor and Speedy went below to watch the guns being fired.

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Português

O clima estava calmo, mas cheio de empolgação. Os soldados que operavam os canhões estavam todos preparados. Eles estavam apontando suas armas para o navio inimigo ao longe e esperando o comando para atirar. Um soldado ainda estava muito triste porque havia cometido um erro bobo, e seus colegas haviam zombado dele.

Original English

They found an air of quiet but great excitement there. Each gunner was leaning on his gun, aiming it, watching the enemy's ship in the distance and waiting for the order to fire. The poor man who had been mobbed by his fellows was still almost in tears at his own stupid mistake.

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Português

De repente, um oficial deu a ordem de fogo. O navio tremeu fortemente da frente para trás. Oito grandes balas de canhão voaram rapidamente sobre a água.

Original English

Suddenly an officer shouted " Fire! " And with a crash that shook the ship from stem to stern eight big cannon balls went whistling out across the water.

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Português

No entanto, nenhuma das balas de canhão acertou o navio negreiro. Elas caíram na água com respingos e não causaram danos.

Original English

But not one hit the slave ship. Splash! Splash! Splash! They fell harmlessly into the water.

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Português

Os artilheiros reclamaram que a luz estava muito ruim. Eles disseram que era impossível acertar um alvo a dois quilômetros de distância com uma luz tão ruim.

Original English

"The light's too bad," grumbled the gunners. "Who could hit anything two miles away in this rotten light?"

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Português

Então, Speedy falou baixinho com o Doutor.

Original English

Then Speedy whispered in the Doctor's ear:

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Português

Ele pediu a eles que o deixassem atirar com uma arma porque ele enxergava melhor no escuro do que eles.

Original English

"Ask them to let me fire a gun. My sight is better than theirs for bad light."

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Português

No entanto, naquele exato momento, o Capitão deu a ordem para parar de atirar, e os homens se afastaram de suas posições.

Original English

But just at that moment the order came from the Captain, " Cease firing! " And the men left their places.

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Português

Assim que os homens se viraram, Speedy subiu em um dos canhões. Ele olhou ao longo da mira e usou suas asas para guiar o Doutor, mostrando a ele como mover o canhão para a esquerda e para a direita para mirá-lo corretamente.

Original English

As soon as their backs were turned Speedy jumped on top of one of the guns and, straddling his short, white legs apart, he cast his beady little black eyes along the aiming sights. Then with his wings he signaled to the Doctor behind him to swing the gun this way and that, so as to aim it the way he wanted.

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Português

Speedy disse ao Doutor para atirar, e o Doutor disparou a arma.

Original English

" Fire! " said Speedy. And the Doctor fired.

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Português

Speedy instruiu o Doutor a atirar.

Original English

"'Fire!' said Speedy"

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Português

O capitão gritou do convés, perguntando o que estava acontecendo porque um tiro acabara de ser disparado. Ele também perguntou se havia dito a eles para pararem de atirar.

Original English

"What in thunder's this?" roared the Captain from the quarterdeck as the shot rang out. "Didn't I give the order to cease firing?"

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Português

O segundo no comando parou o capitão e mostrou a ele do outro lado da água. Uma bala de canhão do Speedy tinha atingido o outro navio. Ela quebrou o mastro principal e fez as velas caírem sobre o convés.

Original English

But the second in command plucked him by the sleeve and pointed across the water. Speedy's cannon ball had cut the slaver's mainmast clean in two and brought the sails down in a heap upon the deck!

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Português

O capitão ficou muito surpreso. Ele disse que eles tinham acertado o navio e apontou que Bones estava mostrando um sinal de rendição.

Original English

"Holy smoke!" cried the Captain. "We've hit him! Look, Bones is flying the signal of surrender!"

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Português

O capitão, que estava irritado com o tiro disparado sem ordens, agora queria saber quem tinha feito o excelente tiro que parou o outro navio. O doutor estava prestes a dizer que foi o Speedy, mas o Skimmer sussurrou para ele.

Original English

Then the Captain, who a moment before was all for punishing the man who had fired without orders, wanted to know who it was that aimed that marvelous shot which brought the slaver to a standstill. And the Doctor was going to tell him it was Speedy. But the Skimmer whispered in his ear:

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Português

O Skimmer disse ao doutor para não dizer nada, porque o capitão não acreditaria nele. O Skimmer sugeriu que deixassem o homem que tinha errado antes levar o crédito pelo tiro. Ele pensou que isso faria aquele homem se sentir melhor, talvez até ganhasse uma medalha.

Original English

"Don't bother, Doctor. He would never believe you, anyway. It was the gun of the man that made the mistake before that we used. Let him take the credit. They'll likely give him a medal, and then he'll feel better."

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Português

O navio Violet estava animado enquanto se aproximavam de um barco de escravos danificado. O Capitão Bones e seus onze homens foram capturados e colocados nas celas do navio de guerra. O Doutor Dolittle, Zuzana, alguns marinheiros e um oficial então foram para o navio negreiro. Dentro da área de armazenamento do navio, encontraram muitos escravos acorrentados. Zuzana viu rapidamente seu marido e chorou de felicidade.

Original English

And now all was excitement aboard the Violet as they approached the slave boat lying crippled in the sea. Bones, the captain, with his crew of eleven other ruffians, was taken prisoner and put down in the cells of the warship. Then the Doctor, with Zuzana, some sailors and an officer, went on to the slave ship. Entering the hold, they found the place packed with slaves with chains on them. And Zuzana immediately recognized her husband and wept all over him with joy.

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Português

Os homens capturados foram imediatamente libertados de suas correntes e levados para o navio de guerra. O Violet então começou a rebocar o navio negreiro. Esse foi o fim do trabalho do Sr. Bones de comércio de escravos.

Original English

The black men were at once freed from their chains and brought on to the man-o'-war. Then the slave ship was taken in tow by the Violet. And that was the end of Mr. Bones's slave trading.

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Português

Houve muita felicidade, apertos de mão e congratulações no navio de guerra. Um grande jantar foi preparado para os escravos libertados no convés principal. No entanto, o Doutor Dolittle, Zuzana e seu marido foram convidados para comer com os oficiais. Beberam vinho do Porto, e o Capitão e o Doutor fizeram discursos.

Original English

Then there was much rejoicing and hand-shaking and congratulation on board the warship. And a grand dinner was prepared for the slaves on the main deck. But John Dolittle, Zuzana and her husband were invited to the officers' mess, where their health was drunk in port wine and speeches were made by the Captain and the Doctor.

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Português

No dia seguinte, assim que amanheceu, o navio de guerra navegou novamente ao longo da costa. Eles levaram os negros de volta para seus próprios países.

Original English

The next day, as soon as it was light, the warship went cruising down the coast again, putting the black people ashore in their own particular countries.

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Português

Isso levou muito tempo porque o Capitão Bones havia capturado escravos de muitas tribos diferentes. Foi depois do meio-dia quando o Doutor Dolittle, Zuzana e seu marido retornaram ao navio de John Dolittle. As luzes do navio ainda estavam acesas, mesmo sendo dia.

Original English

This took considerable time, because Bones, it seemed, had collected slaves from a great many different tribes. And it was after noon before the Doctor, with Zuzana and her husband, were returned to John Dolittle's ship, who still had her lights faithfully burning in the middle of the day.

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Português

O capitão apertou a mão do Doutor Dolittle e agradeceu-lhe por ajudar a Marinha. Ele pediu o endereço do Doutor na Inglaterra porque queria contar ao governo sobre ele. Ele pensou que a Rainha poderia querer dar ao Doutor uma medalha ou torná-lo um cavaleiro. No entanto, o Doutor disse que preferiria uma libra de chá. Ele não tomava chá há muitos meses e achou o chá servido aos oficiais muito bom.

Original English

Then the Captain shook hands with the Doctor and thanked him for the great assistance he had given Her Majesty's Navy. And he asked him for his address in England, because he said he was going to tell the government about him and the Queen would most likely want to make him a knight or give him a medal or something. But the Doctor said he would rather have a pound of tea instead. He hadn't tasted tea in several months and the kind they had in the officers' mess was very good.

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Português

O capitão então deu ao Doutor Dolittle cinco libras do melhor chá da China. Ele agradeceu ao Doutor novamente em nome da Rainha e do governo.

Original English

So the Captain gave him five pounds of the best China tea and thanked him again in the name of the Queen and the government.

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Português

O navio, chamado Violet, virou para o norte e navegou de volta para a Inglaterra. Os marinheiros ficaram na borda do navio e gritaram três vivas altos para o Doutor através do mar.

Original English

Then the Violet swung her great bow around to the north once more and sailed away for England, while the bluejackets crowded the rail and sent three hearty cheers for the Doctor ringing across the sea.

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Português

Os marinheiros se reuniram ao lado do navio.

Original English

"The bluejackets crowded to the rail"

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Português

Jip, Dab-Dab, Gub-Gub, Too-Too e os outros animais vieram até o Doutor Dolittle. Eles queriam ouvir sobre suas aventuras. Ele contou histórias até a hora do chá. O Doutor então convidou Zuzana e o marido dela para tomarem chá com ele antes de irem para a costa.

Original English

And now Jip, Dab-Dab, Gub-Gub, Too-Too and the rest of them gathered around John Dolittle and wanted to hear all about his adventures. And it was tea time before he had done telling them. So the Doctor asked Zuzana and her husband to take tea with him before they went ashore.

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Português

Eles ficaram felizes em ajudar. O Doutor Dolittle fez o chá ele mesmo, e estava muito bom. Enquanto tomavam o chá, Zuzana e seu marido, Begwe, conversaram sobre o Reino de Fantippo.

Original English

This they were glad to do. And the Doctor made the tea himself and it was very excellent. Over the tea Zuzana and her husband (whose name was Begwe) were conversing about the Kingdom of Fantippo.

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Português

Begwe disse a Zuzana que não queria voltar para Fantippo. Ele disse que não se importava em ser soldado, mas estava preocupado que outro traficante de escravos pudesse vir e o rei pudesse vendê-lo novamente. Ele perguntou a Zuzana se ela tinha enviado a carta para o primo deles.

Original English

"I don't think we ought to go back there," said Begwe. "I don't mind being a soldier in the Fantippo army, but suppose some other slaver comes along. Maybe the king would sell me again. Did you send that letter to our cousin?"

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Português

Zuzana respondeu que tinha enviado a carta, mas não achava que o primo deles a tivesse recebido porque não tiveram resposta.

Original English

"Yes," said Zuzana. "But I don't think he ever got it. Because no answer came."

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Português

O Doutor Dolittle perguntou a Zuzana como ela tinha enviado a carta. Ela explicou que, quando Bones ofereceu muito dinheiro por Begwe e o rei ficou tentado a vendê-lo, ela disse ao rei que conseguiria doze bois e trinta cabras de um primo rico se ele esperasse. O Rei de Fantippo amava bois e cabras, pois eram valiosos. Ele prometeu a Zuzana que se ela trouxesse os animais em dois dias, seu marido seria livre em vez de ser vendido.

Original English

The Doctor asked Zuzana how she had sent the letter. And then she explained to him that when Bones had offered a big price for Begwe and the king had been tempted to sell him she had told the king she would get twelve oxen and thirty goats from a rich cousin in their own country if he would only wait till she had written to him. Now, the King of Fantippo was very fond of oxen and goats — cattle being considered as good as money in his land. And he promised Zuzana that if she got the twelve oxen and thirty goats in two days' time her husband should be a free man, instead of being sold to the slavers.

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Português

Então, Zuzana foi rapidamente a um escritor profissional porque a maioria das pessoas naquela área não sabia escrever. Ela mandou escrever uma carta, pedindo ao primo que enviasse os bois e as cabras ao rei imediatamente. Depois, ela levou a carta ao correio de Fantippo e a enviou.

Original English

So Zuzana had hurried to a professional letter writer (the common people of those tribes couldn't write for themselves, you see) and had a letter written, begging their cousin to send the goats and oxen to the king without delay. Then she had taken the letter to the Fantippo post office and sent it off.

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Português

Dois dias se passaram, mas não houve resposta e nenhum gado chegou. Infelizmente, Begwe foi então vendido aos homens de Bones.

Original English

But the two days went by and no answer came — and no cattle. Then poor Begwe had been sold to Bones's men.

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THE ROYAL MAILS OF FANTIPPO

Português

O correio de Fantippo sobre o qual Zuzana havia falado ao Doutor era bastante estranho. Era incomum encontrar um correio ou serviço postal regular em um reino africano selvagem. Foi assim que aconteceu:

Original English

N OW, THIS F ANTIPPO post office of which Zuzana had spoken to the Doctor was rather peculiar. For one thing, it was, of course, quite unusual to find a post office or regular mails of any kind in a savage African kingdom. And the way such a thing had come about was this:

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Português

Alguns anos antes da viagem do Doutor, pessoas em muitas partes do mundo discutiam serviços postais e o custo de enviar cartas entre países. Na Inglaterra, um homem chamado Rowland Hill introduziu o Penny Postage. Foi acordado que um centavo seria o preço padrão para uma carta dentro da Grã-Bretanha. Cartas mais pesadas custavam mais. Depois, selos foram criados em diferentes valores, como um centavo, dois centavos e seis centavos. Todos eram de cores diferentes e tinham imagens detalhadas, muitas vezes da Rainha, às vezes com sua coroa.

Original English

A few years before this voyage of the Doctor's there had been a great deal of talk in most civilized parts of the world about mails and how much it should cost for a letter to go from one country to another. And in England a man called Rowland Hill had started what was called "The Penny Postage," and it had been agreed that a penny a letter should be the regular rate charge for mails from one part of the British Isles to another. Of course, for specially heavy letters you had to pay more. Then stamps were made, penny stamps, twopenny stamps, twopence-halfpenny stamps, sixpenny stamps and shilling stamps. And each was a different color and they were beautifully engraved and most of them had a picture of the Queen on them — some with her crown on her head and some without.

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Português

Outros países, como França e Estados Unidos, começaram sistemas semelhantes. Seus selos eram precificados em sua própria moeda e apresentavam imagens de seus próprios governantes ou presidentes.

Original English

And France and the United States and all the other countries started doing the same thing — only their stamps were counted in their own money, of course, and had different kings or queens or presidents on them.

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Português

Um dia, um navio chegou à costa da África Ocidental e entregou uma carta para Koko, o Rei de Fantippo. O Rei Koko nunca tinha visto um selo antes. Ele pediu a um comerciante branco que morava em sua cidade que explicasse de quem era o rosto no selo que a carta carregava.

Original English

Very well, then. Now, it happened one day that a ship called at the coast of West Africa, and delivered a letter for Koko, the King of Fantippo. King Koko had never seen a stamp before and, sending for a white merchant who lived in his town, he asked him what queen's face was this on the stamp which the letter bore.

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Português

O comerciante explicou o sistema postal. Ele disse à pessoa que, na Inglaterra, para enviar uma carta a qualquer lugar do mundo, era necessário apenas colocar um selo com a imagem da rainha no envelope. Em seguida, a carta era colocada em uma caixa de correio na rua e entregue no endereço escrito.

Original English

Then the white merchant explained to him the whole idea of penny postage and government mails. And he told him that in England all you had to do when you wanted to send a letter to any part of the world was to put a stamp on the envelope with the queen's head on it and place it in a letter-box on the street corner, and it would be carried to the place to which you addressed it.

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Português

O rei achou que aquilo era um novo tipo de magia. Ele decidiu que seu reino, Fantippo, também teria seu próprio serviço postal. Ele anunciou que seu próprio rosto estaria em todos os selos e que suas cartas viajariam usando uma magia mais rápida.

Original English

"Ah, hah!" said the King. "A new kind of magic. I understand. Very good. The High Kingdom of Fantippo shall have a post office of its own. And my serene and beautiful face shall be on all the stamps and my letters shall travel by faster magic than any of them."

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Português

Um selo especial de Fantippo.

Original English

"A rare Fantippo stamp"

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Português

O rei Koko de Fantippo era um homem muito vaidoso. Ele mandou fazer muitos selos com sua imagem. Alguns mostravam ele com sua coroa, alguns sorrindo, e alguns a cavalo ou de bicicleta. Ele se orgulhava mais de um selo de dez pence que o mostrava jogando golfe, um jogo que ele havia aprendido recentemente.

Original English

Then King Koko of Fantippo, being a very vain man, had a fine lot of stamps made with his pictures on them, some with his crown on and some without; some smiling, some frowning; some with himself on horseback, some with himself on a bicycle. But the stamp which he was most proud of was the tenpenny stamp which bore a picture of himself playing golf — a game which he had just recently learned from some Scotchmen who were mining for gold in his kingdom.

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Português

O rei também mandou fazer caixas de correio, semelhantes às da Inglaterra. Ele as colocou em esquinas. Ele instruiu seu povo a colocar um de seus selos nas cartas e depositá-las nessas caixas, e as cartas seriam enviadas para qualquer parte do mundo que desejassem.

Original English

And he had letter-boxes made, just the way the white trader had told him they had in England, and he set them up at the corners of the streets and told his people that all they had to do was to put one of his stamps on their letters, poke them into these boxes and they would travel to any corner of the earth they wished.

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Português

Logo, as pessoas começaram a reclamar que tinham sido roubadas. Elas explicaram que haviam pago dinheiro pelos selos, acreditando que tinham poderes mágicos. Elas haviam colocado suas cartas nas caixas de rua conforme instruído. No entanto, uma vaca acidentalmente quebrou uma das caixas de correio. Quando ela se abriu, todas as cartas das pessoas foram encontradas dentro, e não haviam se movido nem um pouco.

Original English

But presently the people began complaining that they had been robbed. They had paid good money for the stamps, they said, trusting in their magic power, and they had put their letters in the boxes at the corners of the streets as they had been told. But one day a cow had rubbed her neck against one of the letter boxes and burst it open, and inside there were all the people's letters, which had not traveled one inch from where they put them!

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Português

O rei ficou muito irritado. Ele chamou o comerciante branco e disse a ele que havia sido enganado.

Original English

Then the king was very angry and, calling for the white trader, he said:

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Português

O rei disse ao comerciante que os selos não tinham poder mágico e exigiu uma explicação.

Original English

"You have been fooling My Majesty. These stamps you speak of have no magic power at all. Explain!"

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Português

O comerciante explicou que a mágica não estava nos selos ou nas caixas. Ele disse ao rei que os correios adequados têm carteiros, que coletam as cartas das caixas. Em seguida, explicou todos os outros trabalhos que um correio faz para fazer as cartas viajarem.

Original English

Then the trader told him that it was not through magic in the stamps or boxes that letters traveled by mail. But proper post offices had mail-men, or postmen, who collected the letters out of these boxes. And he went on to explain to the King all the other duties of a post office and the things that made letters go.

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Português

O rei, que era determinado, decidiu que Fantippo deveria ter um correio. Ele encomendou muitos uniformes e bonés de carteiros da Inglaterra. Quando chegaram, vestiu muitos homens locais com eles e os designou para trabalhar como carteiros.

Original English

So then the King, who was a persevering man, said that Fantippo should have its post office, anyway. And he sent to England for hundreds of postmen's uniforms and caps. And when these arrived he dressed a lot of black men up in them and set them to work as postmen.

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Português

Os homens acharam os uniformes pesados quentes demais para o clima de Fantippo, onde as pessoas geralmente usam apenas contas. Eles decidiram parar de usar os uniformes e usar apenas os bonés. Foi assim que o uniforme do carteiro de Fantippo se tornou um boné elegante, uma fileira de contas e uma bolsa de correio.

Original English

But the black men found the heavy uniforms dreadfully hot for Fantippo weather, where they wear only a string of beads. And they left off the uniforms and wore only the caps. That is how the Fantippo postman's uniform came to be a smart cap, a string of beads and a mail bag.

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Português

Depois que o Rei Koko contratou seus carteiros, a agência de correios Real de Fantippo começou a operar corretamente. As cartas eram coletadas das caixas nas ruas e enviadas quando os navios chegavam. A correspondência era entregue nas casas três vezes ao dia. A agência de correios se tornou o lugar mais movimentado da cidade.

Original English

Then when King Koko had got his mail-men, the Royal Fantippo post office began really working. Letters were collected from the boxes at street corners and sent off when ships called; and incoming mail was delivered at the doors of the houses in Fantippo three times a day. The post office became the busiest place in town.

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Português

As pessoas na África Ocidental gostavam de roupas coloridas. Uma pessoa elegante em Fantippo teve a ideia de usar selos velhos de cartas para fazer ternos. Esses ternos de selos pareciam muito elegantes e se tornaram posses valiosas para os moradores locais.

Original English

Now, the peoples of West Africa have curious tastes in dress. They love bright things. And some Fantippo dandy started the idea of using up old stamps off letters by making suits of clothes out of them. They looked very showy and smart and a suit of this kind made of stamps became a valuable possession among the natives.

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Português

Por volta dessa época, em países desenvolvidos, colecionar selos se tornou um hobby popular. Pessoas em lugares como Inglaterra e América começaram a comprar álbuns de selos para guardar seus selos. Um selo raro poderia se tornar bastante valioso.

Original English

About this time, too, in the civilized parts of the world one of the things that arose out of all this penny-postage business was the craze or hobby for collecting stamps. In England and America and other countries people began buying stamp albums and pasting stamps in them. A rare stamp became quite valuable.

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Português

Um dia, dois homens que colecionavam selos chegaram a Fantippo em um navio. Ambos estavam muito ansiosos para encontrar um selo específico para suas coleções, chamado "Fantippo vermelho de dois pennies e meio." O Rei havia parado de imprimir este selo porque não gostava da sua própria imagem nele. Como não era mais impresso, tornou-se muito raro.

Original English

And it happened that one day two men, whose hobby was collecting stamps, came to Fantippo in a ship. The one stamp they were both most anxious to get for their collections was the "twopenny-halfpenny Fantippo red," a stamp which the King had given up printing — for the reason that the picture of himself on it wasn't handsome enough. And because he had given up printing it, it became very rare.

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Português

Quando dois homens chegaram a Fantippo, um carregador se ofereceu para levar suas malas. Eles notaram um selo vermelho especial no peito do carregador. Ambos os homens queriam esse selo para suas coleções e começaram a dar lances um contra o outro, oferecendo preços cada vez mais altos.

Original English

As soon as these two men stepped ashore at Fantippo a porter came up to them to carry their bags. And right in the middle of the porter's chest the collectors spied the twopenny-halfpenny Fantippo red! Then both of the stamp collectors offered to buy the stamp. And as each was anxious to have it for his collection, before long they were offering high prices for it, bidding against one another.

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Português

O Rei Koko soube do interesse dos colecionadores pelo selo. Ele perguntou a um deles por que as pessoas pagariam muito por um selo velho e usado. O colecionador explicou a crescente popularidade da filatelia ao redor do mundo.

Original English

King Koko got to hear of this and he called up one of these stamp collectors and asked him why men should offer high prices for one old used stamp. And the white man explained to him this new craze for stamp collecting that was sweeping over the civilized world.

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Português

Embora o Rei Koko achasse a ideia de colecionar selos estranha, ele decidiu que seria uma boa oportunidade de negócio. Ele começou a vender selos para coleções, em vez de apenas para enviar cartas. Sempre que um navio chegava, ele enviava seu Diretor-Geral dos Correios, que vestia um uniforme especial, para vender selos aos visitantes.

Original English

So King Koko, although he thought that the civilized world must be crazy, decided it would be a good idea if he sold stamps for collections — much better business than selling them at his post office for letters. And after that whenever a ship came into the harbor of Fantippo he sent his Postmaster-General — a very grand man, who wore two strings of beads, a postman's cap and no mail bag — out to the ship with stamps to sell for collections.

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Português

Esse novo negócio foi muito bem-sucedido. O Rei ordenou que as máquinas de imprimir selos trabalhassem mais rápido para produzir uma nova série de selos de Fantippo. Ele queria tê-los prontos para venda quando o mesmo navio retornasse a caminho da Inglaterra.

Original English

Such a roaring trade was done in this way that the King set the stamp printing presses to work more busily than ever, so that a whole new set of Fantippo stamps should be ready for sale by the time the same ship called again on her way home to England.

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Português

No entanto, como o Rei estava focado em vender selos para coleções, o serviço postal regular em Fantippo foi negligenciado e tornou-se muito ruim.

Original English

But with this new trade in selling stamps for stamp collections, and not for proper mailing purposes, the Fantippo mail service was neglected and became very bad.

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Português

Enquanto Zuzana falava sobre sua carta, o Doutor Dolittle de repente se lembrou de algo. Em uma viagem anterior, seu navio havia parado perto de Fantippo. Um carteiro veio a bordo e ofereceu muitos selos novos. Como o Doutor Dolittle colecionava selos, ele comprou três conjuntos completos.

Original English

Now, Doctor Dolittle, while Zuzana was talking over the tea about her letter which she had sent to her cousin — and to which no answer had ever come — suddenly remembered something. On one of his earlier voyages the passenger ship by which he had been traveling had stopped outside this same harbor of Fantippo, although no passengers had gone ashore. And a postman had come aboard to sell a most elegant lot of new green and violet stamps. The Doctor, being at the time a great stamp collector, had bought three whole sets.

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Português

Ouvindo Zuzana, o Doutor entendeu o problema com o correio de Fantippo. Ele percebeu por que a carta de Zuzana não havia chegado ao primo e por que seu marido não pôde ser salvo da escravidão.

Original English

And he realized now, as he listened to Zuzana, what was wrong with the Fantippo post office and why she had never got an answer to the letter which would have saved her husband from slavery.

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Português

Enquanto Zuzana e Begwe se preparavam para ir embora porque estava escurecendo, o Doutor Dolittle viu uma canoa se movendo da costa em direção ao seu navio. Ele viu que o Rei Koko estava na canoa e vinha ao navio para vender selos.

Original English

As Zuzana and Begwe rose to go, for it was beginning to get dark, the Doctor noticed a canoe setting out toward his ship from the shore. And in it, when it got near, he saw King Koko himself, coming to the white man's boat with stamps to sell.

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Português

O Doutor Dolittle conversou com o Rei Koko. Ele disse ao Rei que ele deveria se envergonhar de seu serviço postal. Depois de dar um pouco de chá ao Rei, ele explicou como a carta de Zuzana provavelmente nunca foi entregue ao primo.

Original English

So the Doctor got talking to the King and he told him in plain language that he ought to be ashamed of his post office. Then, giving him a cup of China tea, he explained to him how Zuzana's letter had probably never been delivered to her cousin.

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Português

O Doutor deu ao Rei uma xícara de chá chinês.

Original English

"The Doctor gave the king a cup of China tea"

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Português

O rei ouviu com atenção e entendeu os problemas de seu correio. Ele convidou o Doutor a desembarcar com Zuzana e Begwe para organizar e consertar o correio, de modo que funcionasse corretamente.

Original English

The King listened attentively and understood how his post office had been at fault. And he invited the Doctor to come ashore with Zuzana and Begwe and arrange the post office for him and put it in order so it would work properly.

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THE VOYAGE DELAYED

Português

Após alguma persuasão, o Doutor concordou com o plano do Rei, pensando que poderia ajudar. Ele não percebeu as tarefas difíceis e as viagens incomuns que estava começando. Ele entrou em uma canoa com o Rei, Begwe e Zuzana para ser levado à cidade de Fantippo.

Original English

A FTER SOME PERSUASION the Doctor consented to this proposal feeling that perhaps he could do some good. Little did he realize what great labors and strange adventures he was taking upon himself as he got into the canoe with the King, Begwe and Zuzana to be paddled to the town of Fantippo.

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Português

O Doutor achou este lugar muito diferente de outras aldeias africanas que visitara. Era bem grande, quase uma cidade. Parecia claro e alegre, e as pessoas, assim como o Rei, pareciam muito amigáveis e felizes.

Original English

This place he found very different from any of the African villages or settlements he had ever visited. It was quite large, almost a city. It was bright and cheerful to look at and the people, like their King, all seemed very kind and jolly.

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Português

O Doutor foi apresentado a todos os líderes importantes do povo de Fantippo. Depois, foi levado para ver o correio.

Original English

The Doctor was introduced to all the chief men of the Fantippo nation and later he was taken to see the post office.

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Português

Ele encontrou o correio em péssimas condições. Cartas estavam espalhadas por toda parte, no chão, em gavetas, em mesas e até do lado de fora da porta. O Doutor explicou ao Rei que isso era inaceitável. Ele afirmou que, em correios bem administrados, as cartas com selos eram tratadas com cuidado. Ele acrescentou que não era surpreendente que a carta de Zuzana não tivesse chegado ao primo, se era assim que eles cuidavam da correspondência.

Original English

This he found in a terrible state. There were letters everywhere — on the floors, in old drawers, knocking about on desks, even lying on the pavement outside the post office door. The Doctor explained to the King that this would never do, that in properly-run post offices the letters that had stamps on were treated with respect and care. It was no wonder, he said, that Zuzana's letter had never been delivered to her cousin if this was the way they took care of the mails.

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Português

O Rei Koko pediu ao Doutor Dolittle que administrasse a agência dos correios e a fizesse funcionar corretamente. O Doutor Dolittle concordou em dar o seu melhor. Ele foi para a agência dos correios, tirou o casaco e começou a trabalhar.

Original English

Then King Koko again begged him to take charge of the post office and try to get it running in proper order. And the Doctor said he would see what he could do. And, going into the post office, he took off his coat and set to work.

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Português

Depois de trabalhar muito duro por muitas horas para separar cartas e organizar a agência dos correios, o Doutor Dolittle percebeu que consertá-la levaria muitas semanas, não apenas um ou dois dias. Ele contou isso ao Rei. Então, seu navio foi trazido ao porto e ancorado com segurança. Seus animais foram trazidos para terra. O Doutor e seus animais de estimação receberam uma bela casa nova na rua principal para morar enquanto ele trabalhava na agência dos correios de Fantippo.

Original English

But after many hours of terrific labor, trying to get letters sorted and the place in order, John Dolittle saw that such a tremendous job as setting the Fantippo post office to rights would not be a matter of a day or two. It would take weeks at least. So he told this to the King. Then the Doctor's ship was brought into the harbor and put safely at anchor and the animals were all taken ashore. And a nice, new house on the main street was given over to the Doctor for himself and his pets to live in while the work of straightening out the Fantippo mails was going on.

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Português

Após dez dias, o Doutor Dolittle havia feito um bom progresso com as Correspondências Domésticas, que são cartas enviadas dentro do mesmo país ou cidade. No entanto, ele achou difícil estabelecer um bom serviço para as Correspondências Internacionais, que vão para outros países. Isso porque os navios que podiam transportar correspondência para o exterior não visitavam Fantippo com frequência. Embora o Rei Koko se orgulhasse de Fantippo, ela não era considerada um país importante por outras nações, e apenas dois ou três navios por ano paravam lá.

Original English

Well, after ten days John Dolittle got what is called the Domestic Mails in pretty good shape. Domestic mails are those that carry letters from one part of a country to another part of the same country, or from one part of a city to another. The mails that carry letters outside the country to foreign lands are called Foreign Mails. To have a regular and good service of foreign mails in the Fantippo post office the Doctor found a hard problem, because the mail ships which could carry letters abroad did not come very often to this port. Fantippo, although King Koko was most proud of it, was not considered a very important country among the regular civilized nations and two or three ships a year were all that ever called there.

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Português

Uma manhã, enquanto o Doutor Dolittle estava na cama pensando em como melhorar o Serviço de Correspondências Internacionais, seus animais de estimação Dab-Dab e Jip lhe trouxeram o café da manhã. Eles lhe disseram que uma andorinha estava esperando do lado de fora com uma mensagem de Speedy-the-Skimmer. O Doutor Dolittle convidou a andorinha para entrar, e o pássaro sentou em sua cama enquanto ele comia seu café da manhã.

Original English

Now, one day, very early in the morning, when the Doctor was lying in bed, wondering what he could do about the Foreign Mail Service, Dab-Dab and Jip brought him in his breakfast on a tray and told him there was a swallow outside who wanted to give him a message from Speedy-the-Skimmer. John Dolittle had the swallow brought in and the little bird sat on the foot of his bed while he ate his breakfast.

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Português

Enquanto comia seu café da manhã, o Doutor cumprimentou a andorinha e perguntou como poderia ajudá-la.

Original English

"Good morning," said the Doctor, cracking open the top of a hard-boiled egg. "What can I do for you?"

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Português

Uma pessoa os cumprimentou e perguntou como poderia ajudá-los.

Original English

"'Good morning! What can I do for you?'"

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Português

A andorinha disse ao Doutor que Speedy queria saber quanto tempo ele ficaria. A andorinha explicou que a viagem estava demorando muito por causa de atrasos anteriores e do trabalho atual nos correios. Eles precisavam voltar para a Inglaterra em breve para preparar os ninhos para a nova estação, e o atraso estava dificultando as coisas para eles, embora tenham dito que não estavam reclamando.

Original English

"Speedy would like to know," said the swallow, "how long you expect to stay in this country. He doesn't want to complain, you understand — nor do any of us — but this journey of yours is taking longer than we thought it would. You see, there was the delay while we hunted out Bones the slaver, and now it seems likely you will be busy with this post office for some weeks yet. Ordinarily we would have been in England long before this, getting the nests ready for the new season's families. We cannot put off the nesting season, you know. Of course, you understand we are not complaining, don't you? But this delay is making things rather awkward for us."

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Português

O Doutor disse que entendia perfeitamente e sentia muito. Ele perguntou por que Speedy não tinha trazido a mensagem ele mesmo.

Original English

"Oh, quite, quite. I understand perfectly," said the Doctor, poking salt into his egg with a bone egg-spoon. "I am dreadfully sorry. But why didn't Speedy bring the message himself?"

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Português

A andorinha achou que Speedy provavelmente não quis vir porque estava preocupado que o Doutor pudesse se ofender.

Original English

"I suppose he didn't like to," said the swallow. "Thought you'd be offended, perhaps."

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Português

O Doutor garantiu que não se ofenderia e agradeceu aos pássaros pela ajuda. Ele pediu à andorinha que dissesse a Speedy que o visitaria assim que estivesse pronto, e tinha certeza de que poderiam encontrar uma solução.

Original English

"Oh, not in the least," said the Doctor. "You birds have been most helpful to me. Tell Speedy I'll come to see him as soon as I've got my trousers on and we'll talk it over. Something can be arranged, I have no doubt."

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Português

A andorinha disse ao Doutor que estava muito bom. Ela então se virou para sair e disse que informaria o Skimmer da mensagem do Doutor.

Original English

"Very good, Doctor," said the swallow, turning to go. "I'll tell the Skimmer what you say."

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Português

O Doutor Dolittle mencionou que estava tentando se lembrar onde tinha visto a andorinha antes. Ele perguntou se ela já tinha construído seu ninho no estábulo dele em Puddleby.

Original English

"By the way," said John Dolittle, "I've been trying to think where I've seen your face before. Did you ever build your nest in my stable in Puddleby?"

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Português

O pássaro respondeu que não tinha construído seu ninho lá. No entanto, ele se identificou como a andorinha que havia trazido uma mensagem dos macacos para o Doutor Dolittle quando eles estavam doentes.

Original English

"No," said the bird. "But I am the swallow that brought you the message from the monkeys that time they were sick."

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Português

O Doutor Dolittle então se lembrou, exclamando que sabia que tinha visto a andorinha antes e nunca esquecia rostos. Ele comentou que a andorinha deve ter tido uma viagem difícil para a Inglaterra durante o inverno, enfrentando neve e frio, e a chamou de muito corajosa por empreender a viagem.

Original English

"Oh, to be sure — of course," cried the Doctor. "I knew I had seen you somewhere. I never forget faces. You had a pretty hard time coming to England in the winter, didn't you — snow on the ground and all that sort of thing. Very plucky of you to undertake it."

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Português

A andorinha confirmou que foi uma viagem difícil e que quase congelou até a morte várias vezes. Ela descreveu voar contra o vento forte e frio como terrível, mas explicou que era necessário. A andorinha acrescentou que os macacos provavelmente teriam perecido se não tivessem conseguido ajuda do Doutor Dolittle.

Original English

"Yes, it was a hard trip," said the swallow. "I came near freezing to death more than once. Flying into the teeth of that frosty wind was just awful. But something had to be done. The monkeys would most likely have been wiped right out if we hadn't got you."

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Português

O médico perguntou por que a andorinha havia sido escolhida para entregar a mensagem.

Original English

"How was it that you were the one chosen to bring the message?" asked the Doctor.

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Português

A andorinha explicou que Speedy queria fazer o trabalho ele mesmo porque era muito corajoso e rápido. No entanto, as outras andorinhas não permitiram. Elas acreditavam que ele era muito importante como líder. Elas pensavam que o trabalho era perigoso, e se Speedy morresse, não encontrariam outro líder tão bom quanto ele. Ele era o líder mais inteligente que tinham, sempre encontrando soluções quando as andorinhas estavam em apuros. Ele era um líder nato, que voava e pensava rapidamente.

Original English

"Well," said the swallow, "Speedy did want to do it himself. He's frightfully brave, you know — and fast as lightning. But the other swallows wouldn't let him. They said he was too valuable as a leader. It was a risky job. And if he had lost his life from the frost we'd never be able to get another leader like him. Because, besides being brave and fast, he's the cleverest leader we ever had. Whenever the swallows are in trouble he always thinks of a way out. He's a born leader. He flies quick and he thinks quick."

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Português

O médico pensou na explicação da andorinha. Ele perguntou novamente por que haviam escolhido a andorinha para trazer a mensagem.

Original English

"Humph!" murmured the Doctor, as he thoughtfully brushed the toast crumbs off the bed clothes. "But why did they pick you to bring the message?"

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Português

A andorinha disse que não o haviam escolhido diretamente. Muitas andorinhas se ofereceram para fazer o trabalho para proteger Speedy. O Skimmer sugeriu sortear para ser justo. Elas usaram pequenas folhas, retirando os caules de todas, exceto uma. Misturaram as folhas em uma casca de coco e as pegaram de olhos fechados. A andorinha que pegasse a folha com caule deveria levar a mensagem para a Inglaterra. A andorinha pegou aquela folha. Ela se despediu da esposa porque não esperava sobreviver à viagem. No entanto, ela ficou feliz por ter sido a escolhida.

Original English

"They didn't," said the swallow. "We nearly all of us volunteered for the job, so as not to have Speedy risk his life. But the Skimmer said the only fair way was to draw lots. So we got a number of small leaves and we took the stalks off all of them except one. And we put the leaves in an old cocoanut shell and shook them up. Then, with our eyes shut, we began picking them out. The swallow who picked the leaf with the stalk on it was to carry the message to England — and I picked the leaf with the stalk on. Before I started off on the trip I kissed my wife good-bye, because I really never expected to get back alive. Still, I'm kind of glad the lot fell to me."

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Português

O médico perguntou por que a andorinha estava feliz por ter sido escolhida.

Original English

"Why?" asked the Doctor, pushing the breakfast tray off his knees and punching the pillows into shape.

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Português

A andorinha levantou a perna para mostrar uma pequena fita vermelha feita de seda de milho amarrada em seu tornozelo. Ela explicou que a recebeu por fazer algo.

Original English

"Well, you see," said the swallow, lifting his right leg and showing a tiny red ribbon made of corn silk tied about his ankle, "I got this for it."

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Português

O Doutor perguntou o que era a fita.

Original English

"What's that?" asked the Doctor.

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Português

A andorinha respondeu que a fita mostrava que ele tinha feito algo corajoso e especial.

Original English

"That's to show I've done something brave — and special," said the swallow modestly.

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Português

O Doutor entendeu e perguntou se a fita era como uma medalha.

Original English

"Oh, I see," said the Doctor. "Like a medal, eh?"

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Português

O pássaro confirmou que era como uma medalha. Ele disse que seu nome era Quip, e que antes era apenas Quip, mas agora era chamado de Quip o Mensageiro. Ele olhou orgulhosamente para sua perna curta e branca.

Original English

"Yes. My name is Quip. It used to be just plain Quip. Now I'm called Quip the Carrier," said the small bird proudly gazing down at his little, stubby white leg.

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Português

O Doutor disse ao Jip que ele era excelente e o parabenizou. Ele explicou que tinha muito trabalho a fazer e precisava se levantar. Pediu ao Jip que lembrasse ao Speedy que eles se encontrariam no navio às dez horas. O Doutor também pediu ao Jip que dissesse à Dab-Dab para retirar os pratos do café da manhã. Ele ficou feliz que Jip tinha visitado porque isso lhe deu uma ideia.

Original English

"Splendid, Quip," said the Doctor. "I congratulate you. Now I must be getting up. I've a frightful lot of work to do. Don't forget to tell Speedy I'll meet him on the ship at ten. Good-bye! Oh, and would you mind asking Dab-Dab, as you go out, to clear away the breakfast things? I'm glad you came. You've given me an idea. Good-bye!"

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Português

Dab-Dab e Jip encontraram o Doutor enquanto ele estava fazendo a barba.

Original English

"They found the Doctor shaving"

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Português

Quando Dab-Dab e Jip vieram retirar a bandeja do café da manhã, eles viram o Doutor fazendo a barba. Ele estava olhando no espelho, segurando o nariz e falando consigo mesmo.

Original English

And when Dab-Dab and Jip came to take away the tray they found the Doctor shaving. He was peering into a looking glass, holding the end of his nose and muttering to himself:

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Português

O Doutor teve uma ideia para um novo serviço de correio chamado Correio Estrangeiro de Fantippo. Ele pensou que seria o serviço de correio ultramarino mais rápido do mundo e decidiu chamá-lo de O Correio Andorinha.

Original English

" That's the idea for the Fantippo Foreign Mail service — I wonder why I never thought of it before. I'll have the fastest overseas mail the world ever saw. Why, of course! That's the idea — The Swallow Mail !"

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NO-MAN'S-LAND

Português

Depois de se vestir e fazer a barba, o Doutor desceu até seu navio. Lá, ele encontrou o Speedy.

Original English

A S SOON AS he was dressed and shaved the Doctor went down to his ship and met the Skimmer.

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Português

O Doutor disse a Speedy que estava muito arrependido pelo problema que seu atraso havia causado aos pássaros. Ele explicou que o negócio dos correios era muito importante e precisava ser resolvido porque estava em um estado terrível.

Original English

"I am terribly sorry, Speedy," said he, "to hear what a lot of trouble I have been giving you birds by my delay here. But I really feel that the business of the post office ought to be attended to, you know. It's in a shocking state — honestly, it is."

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Português

Speedy respondeu que entendia. Ele disse que eles teriam ficado naquele país para ajudar o Doutor e não se importariam em perder um verão no Norte. No entanto, ele explicou que as andorinhas não conseguem construir ninhos facilmente em árvores; elas precisam de casas e edifícios para seus ninhos.

Original English

"I know," said Speedy. "And if we could we would have nested right here in this country to oblige you, and not bothered about going to England this year. It wouldn't have mattered terribly much to miss one summer in the North. But, you see, we swallows can't nest very well in trees. We like houses and barns and buildings to nest in."

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Português

O Doutor perguntou se eles poderiam usar as casas em Fantippo para seus ninhos.

Original English

"Couldn't you use the houses of Fantippo?" asked the Doctor.

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Português

Speedy disse que as casas de Fantippo não eram muito adequadas porque eram pequenas e barulhentas, com crianças brincando o dia todo, tornando os ovos e os filhotes inseguros. Ele também mencionou que as casas não eram construídas corretamente para andorinhas, com inclinações de telhado erradas e beirais baixos. Ele preferia edifícios silenciosos e sólidos, como celeiros ou estábulos antigos, onde as pessoas se comportavam de maneira calma e respeitosa, pois os pássaros que nidificam precisam de paz.

Original English

"Not very well," said Speedy. "They're so small and noisy — with the native children playing around them all day. The eggs and young ones wouldn't be safe for a minute. And, then, they're not built right for us — mostly made of grass, the roofs sloping wrong, the eaves too near the ground, and all that. What we like are solid English buildings, where the people don't shriek and whoop and play drums all day — quiet buildings, like old barns and stables, where, if people come at all, they come in a proper, dignified manner, arriving and leaving at regular hours. We like people, you understand — in their right place. But nesting mother birds must have quiet."

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Português

O Doutor entendeu o ponto de Speedy, embora pessoalmente gostasse da animação de Fantippo. Ele então sugeriu seu velho navio como um possível local de nidificação, acreditando que seria silencioso o suficiente. Ele destacou que ninguém mais morava no navio e que ele tinha muitas rachaduras e buracos adequados para construir ninhos, e pediu a opinião de Speedy.

Original English

"Humph! I see," said the Doctor. "Of course, myself, I rather enjoy the jolliness of these Fantippos. But I can quite see your point. By the way, how would my old ship do? This ought to be quiet enough for you here. There's nobody living on it now. And, look, it has heaps of cracks and holes and corners in it where you could build your nests. What do you think?"

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Português

Speedy achou que seria uma boa ideia se o Doutor não precisasse do barco por várias semanas. Ele explicou que seria um problema se o Doutor navegasse depois que os ninhos fossem construídos e os ovos fossem postos, porque os filhotes ficariam enjoados.

Original English

"That would be splendid," said Speedy— "if you think you won't be needing the boat for some weeks. Of course, it would never do if, after we had the nests built and the eggs laid, you were to pull up the anchor and sail away — the young ones would get seasick."

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Português

O Doutor respondeu que não partiria por algum tempo. Ele garantiu a Speedy que as andorinhas poderiam usar o navio inteiro para si mesmas sem que ninguém as incomodasse.

Original English

"No, of course not," said the Doctor. "But there will be no fear of my leaving for some time yet. You could have the whole ship to yourselves and nobody will disturb you."

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Português

Speedy concordou e disse que diria às andorinhas para começarem a construir seus ninhos imediatamente. Ele também mencionou que viajariam para a Inglaterra com o Doutor quando ele estivesse pronto, para guiá-lo e ensinar o caminho aos filhotes. Ele explicou que, a cada ano, as novas aves fazem sua primeira viagem da Inglaterra para a África com as aves mais velhas e experientes, e precisam de orientação para essa primeira viagem.

Original English

"All right," said Speedy. "Then I'll tell the swallows to get on with the nest building right away. But, of course, we'll go on to England with you when you are ready, to show you the way — and also to teach the young birds how to get there, too. You see, each year's new birds make their first trip back from England to Africa with us grown ones. They have to make the first journey under our guidance."

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Português

O Doutor confirmou que o plano estava resolvido. Ele disse que precisava voltar ao correio e que o navio agora era deles. Ele pediu a Speedy que o informasse assim que a nidificação terminasse, porque tinha uma ideia especial que queria compartilhar.

Original English

"Very good," said the Doctor. "Then that settles that. Now I must get back to the post office. The ship is yours. But as soon as the nesting is over come and let me know, because I have a very special idea I want to tell you about."

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Português

O barco do Doutor foi então transformado em um navio de nidificação para as andorinhas. Ele permaneceu ancorado pacificamente nas águas calmas do porto de Fantippo. Milhares de andorinhas começaram a construir seus ninhos em todo o navio, incluindo no cordame, nos ventiladores, nas vigias e em todos os espaços disponíveis.

Original English

So the Doctor's boat was now turned into a nesting ship for the swallows. Calmly she stood at anchor in the quiet waters of Fantippo harbor, while thousands and thousands of swallows built their nests in her rigging, in her ventilators, in her portholes and in every crack and corner of her.

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Glossary: New Words

Words introduced by the simplified reading. Each entry shows up to five real sentences from this book; every Back to B1 link opens the exact sentence in the simplified version.

abilities əˈbɪlɪtiz (1)

Português: habilidades

Simple English: Skills or talents to do things.

Example: She has many abilities in music and art.

Uses in this book:

1. He remembered hearing about a man in the west of England who had special abilities with animals and birds, and he thought this man was Doctor Dolittle. Back to B1

accidentally ˌæksɪˈdɛntəli (4)

Português: acidentalmente

Simple English: By mistake; without meaning to.

Example: They accidentally broke the vase while playing.

Uses in this book:

1. Just as they were about to go around the long cape, one of the gunners accidentally fired a gun. Back to B1

2. Below deck, the crew was very upset with the man who had accidentally fired the gun. Back to B1

3. However, a cow accidentally broke open one of the letter boxes. Back to B1

4. He mentioned that pearls are thought to form around a grain of sand that accidentally enters an oyster's shell.

accused əˈkjuːzd (2)

Português: acusou

Simple English: said someone did something wrong

Example: She accused him of stealing her child.

Uses in this book:

1. He accused the Doctor of leaving his ship in a dangerous place, where other ships could hit it. Back to B1

2. He accused her of being an ungrateful woman.

angrily ˈæŋɡrɪli (3)

Português: com raiva

Simple English: In a way that shows anger.

Example: He spoke angrily about the problem.

Uses in this book:

1. The Captain walked over to the Doctor and angrily shook his fist near the Doctor's face. Back to B1

2. The Captain angrily asked John if he was the owner of the other ship that was next to theirs. Back to B1

3. Cheapside angrily stated that the squirrel was a father and a thief, claiming all squirrels are natural pickpockets.

announced əˈnaʊnst (2)

Português: anunciou

Simple English: said something clearly to many people

Example: Tarzan announced who he was.

Uses in this book:

1. He announced that his own face would be on all the stamps, and his letters would travel using a faster magic. Back to B1

2. Dab-Dab announced that the man was starting to wake up.

anymore ˌɛniˈmɔːr (4)

Português: mais

Simple English: No longer; not now.

Example: I don't live there anymore.

Uses in this book:

1. He pointed out that nobody lived on the ship anymore and that it had many cracks and holes suitable for building nests, and asked for Speedy's opinion. Back to B1

2. The doctor became very angry and said he would not be Phipps' partner anymore and would leave the next day.

3. But when he saw how small the men were, he was not afraid anymore.

4. The Doctor repeated that he did not wish to talk to the Emir anymore.

area ˈɛəriə (30)

Português: área

Simple English: a space or part of a place

Example: She ran across a small open area.

Uses in this book:

1. Inside the ship's storage area, they found many slaves who were chained. Back to B1

2. So, Zuzana quickly went to a professional writer because most people in that area could not write. Back to B1

3. This area was protected from the wind.

4. Standing on a hill with Jip and the piffilosaurus, Doctor Dolittle looked down at the large, peaceful area filled with happy animals.

5. Soon, the birds started to arrive at the large, empty area in the middle of No-Man's-Land.

areas ˈɛəriəz (8)

Português: áreas

Simple English: Parts of a place or land.

Example: The hills and flat areas rose from the ocean.

Uses in this book:

1. While they were on land, the pushmi-pullyu could walk freely in its old home areas. Back to B1

2. He was with a group of chosen hunters, searching along the coast's small rivers and hidden areas where the slave trader might be hiding. Back to B1

3. Too-Too was there with the mail sorted into boxes for different areas of the town, like "Central" and "West Central." Cheapside had organized the city into districts, similar to London, to make mail delivery faster and easier.

4. Near the end of Cape Stephen, there were many rocks and shallow areas.

5. Through the Doctor, Cheapside shared all the latest news about areas like Wapping and Limehouse, the docks, and the ships on the River Thames.

assigned əˈsaɪnd (1)

Português: atribuído

Simple English: given a task or job

Example: She was assigned the personals section in the newspaper.

Uses in this book:

1. When they arrived, he dressed many local men in them and assigned them to work as postmen. Back to B1

assured əˈʃʊrd (2)

Português: garantido

Simple English: Confident or certain about something.

Example: I am assured that everything will be fine.

Uses in this book:

1. The Doctor assured them he would not be offended and thanked the birds for their help. Back to B1

2. He assured Speedy that the swallows could use the whole ship for themselves without anyone disturbing them. Back to B1

Atmosphere /ˈætməsfɪər/ (1)

Português: atmosfera; ambiente; clima

Simple English: The layer of gases surrounding a planet naturally.

Example: The atmosphere of Earth protects us from harmful solar radiation.

Uses in this book:

1. The atmosphere was calm but full of excitement. Back to B1

attitude /ˈætɪtjuːd/ (1)

Português: atitude; postura

Simple English: A person's usual way of thinking or feeling.

Example: His positive attitude helped him overcome many challenges.

Uses in this book:

1. The Captain apologized and his attitude changed immediately. Back to B1

available əˈveɪləbəl (3)

Português: disponível

Simple English: Ready to be used or reached.

Example: The teacher is available after class.

Uses in this book:

1. Thousands of swallows began building their nests everywhere on the ship, including in the rigging, ventilators, portholes, and every available space. Back to B1

2. He wanted to see different vegetables available throughout the year.

3. Gub-Gub knew parcels were heavy, but explained that Brussels sprouts would soon be available in England, and they were his favorite vegetable after parsnips.

Britain ˈbrɪt.ən (1)

Português: Grã-Bretanha

Simple English: a country in Europe

Example: Britain is an island country.

Uses in this book:

1. In England, a man named Rowland Hill introduced "The Penny Postage." It was agreed that one penny would be the standard price for a letter within Britain. Back to B1

chose tʃoʊz (1)

Português: escolheu

Simple English: picked one thing or person

Example: Tarzan chose the strongest attacker with the big stick.

Uses in this book:

1. The Doctor repeated that he could tell them where Jimmie Bones was, if he chose to. Back to B1

coconut ˈkoʊ.koʊ.nʌt (1)

Português: coco

Simple English: a large fruit with hard shell and white inside

Example: We drank coconut water on the beach.

Uses in this book:

1. They mixed the leaves in a coconut shell and picked them with their eyes closed. Back to B1

colleagues ˈkɒliːɡz (1)

Português: colegas

Simple English: People you work with.

Example: When his colleagues rushed at Tarzan, they experienced a similar rough treatment.

Uses in this book:

1. One soldier was still very sad because he had made a silly mistake, and his colleagues had made fun of him. Back to B1

colourful ˈkʌlərfl (2)

Português: coloridos

Simple English: Having many bright or different colors.

Example: His spear and shield were colourful.

Uses in this book:

1. People in West Africa liked colourful clothing. Back to B1

2. The Doctor saw many new parts of the country, including trees he had not seen before, colourful orchids, butterflies, ferns, birds, and rare monkeys.

commented ˈkɒmentɪd (18)

Português: comentou

Simple English: To say or write something about a topic.

Example: He commented on the beautiful painting.

Uses in this book:

1. The Doctor greeted the Captain politely and commented that the weather was good. Back to B1

2. He commented that the swallow must have had a difficult journey to England during the winter, facing snow and cold, and called it very brave for undertaking the trip. Back to B1

3. He commented that it was very strange and wondered what was wrong with the man.

4. Jip commented that it was a pity the Doctor did not write letters.

5. Too-Too commented that Gub-Gub always talked about his dream of running a vegetable shop.

confirmed kənˈfɜːrmd (13)

Português: confirmado

Simple English: Shown to be true.

Example: This was confirmed when pygmies surrounded them.

Uses in this book:

1. The swallow confirmed that it was a hard journey and that it had nearly frozen to death several times. Back to B1

2. The bird confirmed it was like a medal. Back to B1

3. The Doctor confirmed that the plan was settled. Back to B1

4. The Doctor confirmed he knew the island and that it was not far from the mainland, though he had not heard its name.

5. The Piffilosaurus confirmed that they did swim out.

convincing kənˈvɪnsɪŋ (1)

Português: convincente

Simple English: It makes you believe it is true.

Example: Her story was very convincing.

Uses in this book:

1. After some convincing, the Doctor agreed to the King's plan, thinking he might be able to help. Back to B1

correctly kəˈrɛktli (8)

Português: corretamente

Simple English: In the right or accurate way.

Example: She answered all the questions correctly.

Uses in this book:

1. He looked along the sights and used his wings to guide the Doctor, showing him how to move the gun left and right to aim it correctly. Back to B1

2. He invited the Doctor to come ashore with Zuzana and Begwe to organize and fix the post office so it would function correctly. Back to B1

3. King Koko asked Doctor Dolittle to manage the post office and make it work correctly. Back to B1

4. He also mentioned that the houses were not built correctly for swallows, with wrong roof slopes and low eaves. Back to B1

5. He also said that the domestic post office in Fantippo needed to be managed correctly.

creating kriˈeɪtɪŋ (2)

Português: criando

Simple English: making or causing something to exist

Example: She is creating a beautiful painting.

Uses in this book:

1. The sun was just beginning to rise over the distant coast of Africa, creating a very beautiful morning. Back to B1

2. A large awning was placed over the back entrance, creating a pleasant area with a good view of the ocean and the bay.

daytime ˈdeɪtaɪm (1)

Português: durante o dia

Simple English: the period of the day when it is light

Example: We like to swim during daytime.

Uses in this book:

1. The ship's lights were still on, even though it was daytime. Back to B1

dealt dɛlt (1)

Português: lidou

Simple English: managed or handled a situation

Example: She dealt with the problem quickly.

Uses in this book:

1. He explained that the post office business was very important and needed to be dealt with because it was in a terrible state. Back to B1

detailed /ˈdiːteɪld/ (2)

Português: detalhadas; pormenorizada; detalhou

Simple English: Including many specific pieces of information.

Example: The report was detailed, covering every aspect of the project thoroughly.

Uses in this book:

1. They were all different colors and had detailed pictures, often of the Queen, sometimes with her crown. Back to B1

2. He gave them detailed instructions on how to operate the branches, emphasizing the need for strict politeness from the clerks.

developed dɪˈvɛləpt (1)

Português: desenvolveu

Simple English: to start or grow a feeling or ability

Example: She developed a passion for music.

Uses in this book:

1. Around this time, in developed countries, collecting stamps became a popular hobby. Back to B1

directly /dəˈrɛktli/ (7)

Português: diretamente

Simple English: In a straight line without turning or pausing.

Example: We went directly to the store without stopping anywhere else.

Uses in this book:

1. The swallow said that they had not chosen him directly. Back to B1

2. He decided they would walk along the coast to a point that was directly opposite the island.

3. This way, he could help people get better without them always asking him directly.

4. He stated that experienced sea birds never fly directly into a bad storm.

5. He shone the light directly on the narrator, who was sitting on a sage bush.

eager ˈiːɡər (3)

Português: ansioso

Simple English: very excited and interested to do something

Example: They were very eager to learn new things.

Uses in this book:

1. They were both very eager to find a specific stamp for their collections, called the "twopenny-halfpenny Fantippo red." The King had stopped printing this stamp because he did not like the picture of himself on it. Back to B1

2. He was very eager to meet the turtle and see the Secret Lake.

3. The Doctor said he was very eager to hear the story.

echoed ˈɛkoʊd (1)

Português: ressoou

Simple English: a sound repeated after the original sound

Example: Her voice echoed through the empty hall.

Uses in this book:

1. It echoed over the quiet sea and sounded like angry thunder. Back to B1

effectively /ɪˈfɛktɪvli/ (1)

Português: eficazmente; efetivamente; forma eficaz

Simple English: In a way that produces the intended result.

Example: She communicates effectively to ensure everyone understands the instructions.

Uses in this book:

1. The ships were still too far apart to use their cannons effectively. Back to B1

establish /ɪˈstæblɪʃ/ (2)

Português: estabelecer; instituir; determinar

Simple English: To set up a company for ongoing business activities.

Example: She aims to establish her own design firm within the next year.

Uses in this book:

1. However, he found it difficult to establish a good service for Foreign Mails, which go to other countries. Back to B1

2. The Doctor informed the King that he had a plan to establish an excellent foreign mail service for the country, if the King agreed to his proposal.

exclaiming ɪkˈskleɪmɪŋ (1)

Português: exclamando

Simple English: saying something loudly with surprise or strong feeling

Example: He was exclaiming about the large amount of money.

Uses in this book:

1. Doctor Dolittle then remembered, exclaiming that he knew he had seen the swallow before and never forgot faces. Back to B1

explanation ˌɛk.spləˈneɪ.ʃən (2)

Português: explicação

Simple English: a reason or answer for something

Example: She gave a clear explanation.

Uses in this book:

1. The king told the trader that the stamps had no magic power and demanded an explanation. Back to B1

2. The Doctor thought about the swallow's explanation. Back to B1

exploded ɪkˈsploʊdɪd (1)

Português: explodiu

Simple English: to burst or blow up suddenly

Example: The balloon exploded when it hit the wall.

Uses in this book:

1. Soon after, one of the ship's new boilers exploded with a loud noise, making a big mess in the engine room. Back to B1

feature /ˈfiːtʃər/ (2)

Português: recurso; característica; apresentam

Simple English: Lengthy article in a publication about a specific topic.

Example: The feature on wildlife conservation was both educational and inspiring.

Uses in this book:

1. Their stamps were priced in their own money and featured pictures of their own rulers or presidents. Back to B1

2. However, he insisted that all the stamps must feature his own face and no one else's.

flown floʊn (2)

Português: voado

Simple English: Moved in the air using wings.

Example: The bird has flown away from the tree.

Uses in this book:

1. He had won all the flying races every summer, and the previous year he had flown across the Atlantic in just eleven and a half hours, traveling at over two hundred miles per hour. Back to B1

2. It had flown too far south because it was looking for the light and got lost.

focused ˈfoʊkəst (2)

Português: concentrados

Simple English: giving full attention to something

Example: She was focused on her homework.

Uses in this book:

1. However, because the King was focused on selling stamps for collections, the regular mail service in Fantippo was neglected and became very poor. Back to B1

2. The Badamoshis stopped hunting ostriches and focused on hunting him.

function /ˈfʌŋkʃən/ (1)

Português: função; funcionar; funcionam

Simple English: To work correctly or perform a specific role as expected.

Example: The printer did not function properly after I changed the ink.

Uses in this book:

1. He invited the Doctor to come ashore with Zuzana and Begwe to organize and fix the post office so it would function correctly. Back to B1

goodbye ɡʊdˈbaɪ (9)

Português: adeus

Simple English: Words said when leaving.

Example: He said goodbye before leaving.

Uses in this book:

1. He said goodbye to his wife because he did not expect to survive the journey. Back to B1

2. All the birds flew up into the air, saying goodbye to Doctor Dolittle and the Head Office with their whistling.

3. After that, the Jay said goodbye and thanked the Doctor for the acorns.

4. The keepers stood at the lighthouse door and waved goodbye to them.

5. The baby pig thanked the Cook Goblins, kissed them goodbye, and then went home.

gradually /ˈɡrædʒuəli/ (1)

Português: gradualmente; progressivamente; forma gradual

Simple English: In small amounts over an extended period of time.

Example: The weather gradually warmed up as spring approached, making it pleasant outside.

Uses in this book:

1. However, the Doctor gradually gained her trust. Back to B1

heavier ˈhɛviər (1)

Português: mais pesado

Simple English: Weighing more than something else.

Example: The ape was bigger and heavier than himself.

Uses in this book:

1. Heavier letters cost more. Back to B1

identified aɪˈdɛntɪfaɪd (3)

Português: identificou

Simple English: said who you are

Example: He identified himself as the new teacher.

Uses in this book:

1. The Skimmer explained that the letters meant "Her Majesty's Ship." He identified it as a navy vessel, which was exactly the kind of ship they needed to deal with slave traders. Back to B1

2. However, it identified itself as the swallow that had brought Doctor Dolittle a message from the monkeys when they were ill. Back to B1

3. The narrator explained that hunters could be identified because their legs were black and thicker than ostrich legs, which are gray.

illegal /ɪˈliːɡəl/ (1)

Português: ilegal; ilícitas; clandestina

Simple English: Forbidden or prohibited by law.

Example: It is illegal to drive without a valid driver's license.

Uses in this book:

1. Most governments had made it illegal to capture, buy, or sell slaves. Back to B1

illegally ɪˈliːɡəli (1)

Português: ilegalmente

Simple English: Not allowed by law.

Example: He was hunting illegally in the protected forest.

Uses in this book:

1. The Captain was proud of his ship and wanted it to catch Jim Bones, who was illegally trading slaves. Back to B1

including ɪnˈkluːdɪŋ (12)

Português: incluindo

Simple English: Used to mention something as part of a group.

Example: Everyone was invited, including teachers and students.

Uses in this book:

1. During the war, the King of Fantippo captured many people, including the woman's husband. Back to B1

2. Thousands of swallows began building their nests everywhere on the ship, including in the rigging, ventilators, portholes, and every available space. Back to B1

3. Doctor Dolittle and his animal friends, including Dab-Dab, Jip, Too-Too, Gub-Gub, the pushmi-pullyu, and the white mouse, moved into the houseboat.

4. He had carefully recorded the dates of all the yearly bird migrations, including their starting and ending points, in his notebook.

5. Doctor Dolittle and his animal friends, including the gull One Eye, Dab-Dab, Cheapside, Speedy-the-Skimmer, and Too-Too the mathematician, met for a long time.

increasingly /ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli/ (1)

Português: cada vez mais; crescente; progressivamente

Simple English: Gradually growing in degree, extent, or frequency over time.

Example: The weather is becoming increasingly unpredictable in recent years.

Uses in this book:

1. Both men wanted this stamp for their collections and began to bid against each other, offering increasingly high prices. Back to B1

inform /ɪnˈfɔːrm/ (3)

Português: informar; avisar; comunicar

Simple English: To give information about someone or something officially.

Example: The manager will inform the staff about the new policies tomorrow.

Uses in this book:

1. It then turned to leave and said it would inform the Skimmer of the Doctor's message. Back to B1

2. He asked Speedy to inform him as soon as the nesting was finished, because he had a special idea he wanted to share. Back to B1

3. He told Doctor Dolittle to inform King Cocoa-butter that if the King and his people did not give Christmas-boxes to the post-birds, then no mail would be delivered in Fantipsy from New Year's until Easter.

insects ˈɪnˌsɛkts (1)

Português: insetos

Simple English: Small animals like ants, flies, and bees.

Example: Bees and ants are common insects.

Uses in this book:

1. He was the best at catching insects and performing aerial tricks in Europe, Africa, Asia, and America. Back to B1

liveliness ˈlaɪvlɪnəs (1)

Português: vivacidade

Simple English: The quality of being full of energy and life.

Example: Flora had no liveliness now.

Uses in this book:

1. The Doctor understood Speedy's point, even though he personally enjoyed the liveliness of Fantippo. Back to B1

local ˈloʊkəl (11)

Português: local

Simple English: from the nearby place

Example: The local people live in this village.

Uses in this book:

1. He also pointed out that the local people trusted him, which was why the woman had agreed to travel with him, as they were usually afraid to sail with white men. Back to B1

2. When they arrived, he dressed many local men in them and assigned them to work as postmen. Back to B1

3. These stamp suits looked very stylish and became valuable possessions for the local people. Back to B1

4. He mentioned that the local people were superstitious.

5. The strange creature explained that they swam underwater so the local people would not see them.

located loʊˈkeɪtɪd (9)

Português: localizado

Simple English: Found in a particular place.

Example: They asked where he was located.

Uses in this book:

1. Fantippo is a kingdom in Africa, located on the coast. Back to B1

2. Doctor Dolittle then asked Jip to explain where No-Man's-Land was located.

3. Jip explained that No-Man's-Land was a round island located just outside the harbor.

4. The Doctor explained that the nest was in the left ear of a statue of St. Edmund, located outside the cathedral.

5. It went to the back of a house and entered a yard where a dyeing shed was located.

machines məˈʃinz (1)

Português: máquinas

Simple English: tools or devices that work using power

Example: The factory uses many machines.

Uses in this book:

1. The King ordered the stamp printing machines to work faster to produce a new set of Fantippo stamps. Back to B1

mirror ˈmɪr.ər (1)

Português: espelho

Simple English: A glass surface that shows your reflection.

Example: She looked at herself in the mirror.

Uses in this book:

1. He was looking into a mirror, holding his nose, and speaking to himself. Back to B1

narrator ˈnærətər (57)

Português: narrador

Simple English: The person who tells a story.

Example: The narrator was busy looking for strange things.

Uses in this book:

1. The narrator will begin the story from the moment he turned his ship towards home and sailed back to Puddleby-on-the-Marsh. Back to B1

2. However, one bird, the narrator's ancestor, did not follow the others.

3. Sir Timothy was very angry and demanded that the narrator apologize.

4. The narrator refused.

5. Sir Timothy then threatened that the patients would go on strike if the narrator did not apologize.

nearby ˌnɪərˈbaɪ (18)

Português: próximo

Simple English: close in distance

Example: He climbed a nearby tree for safety.

Uses in this book:

1. The Captain interrupted the Doctor by calling a sailor who was standing nearby. Back to B1

2. Zebras were also smart and could mark grass to show if lions were nearby.

3. He asked if there were any puddles nearby for him to bathe in.

4. But they had actually stayed nearby, outside the town, because they knew the Doctor would still need them.

5. This gave them hope because they believed land was nearby in that direction.

nevertheless /ˌnɛvərðəˈlɛs/ (1)

Português: no entanto; Todavia; contudo

Simple English: Used to show contrast with what was said before.

Example: It was raining; nevertheless, we decided to go for a walk.

Uses in this book:

1. Nevertheless, seeing the darkness approaching and his enemy getting away, the Captain ordered the guns to be prepared, even though he did not expect his shots to hit the slave ship from such a distance. Back to B1

operate /ˈɒpəreɪt/ (2)

Português: operar; opere; funcionar

Simple English: To perform surgery to fix or remove body tissue.

Example: The surgeon will operate on her heart to improve blood flow.

Uses in this book:

1. After King Koko hired his mail-men, the Royal Fantippo post office started to operate properly. Back to B1

2. He gave them detailed instructions on how to operate the branches, emphasizing the need for strict politeness from the clerks.

operating ˈɒp.ə.reɪ.tɪŋ (2)

Português: cirúrgico

Simple English: used for medical surgery

Example: They went to the old operating room.

Uses in this book:

1. The soldiers operating the guns were all prepared. Back to B1

2. A regular parcel post service was established for the people of Fantippo, operating every two months.

organize ˈɔːrɡənaɪz (4)

Português: organizar

Simple English: To arrange or plan something carefully.

Example: He helped organize the city's defense.

Uses in this book:

1. He invited the Doctor to come ashore with Zuzana and Begwe to organize and fix the post office so it would function correctly. Back to B1

2. After working very hard for many hours to sort letters and organize the post office, Doctor Dolittle realized that fixing it would take many weeks, not just a day or two. Back to B1

3. Doctor Dolittle and his animals worked hard to organize the post office.

4. Doctor Dolittle asked Cheapside to help organize the city deliveries in Fantippo.

pence pɛns (2)

Português: pence (moeda)

Simple English: plural of penny, small money unit in the UK

Example: Letters needed a stamp that cost four pence.

Uses in this book:

1. Then, stamps were created in different values, such as one penny, two pence, and six pence. Back to B1

per pɜːr (1)

Português: por

Simple English: for each unit of time or amount

Example: They went faster than eighty-five hundred paces per hour.

Uses in this book:

1. He had won all the flying races every summer, and the previous year he had flown across the Atlantic in just eleven and a half hours, traveling at over two hundred miles per hour. Back to B1

performing pərˈfɔːrmɪŋ (1)

Português: apresentando

Simple English: doing a show or act

Example: They are performing on stage now.

Uses in this book:

1. He was the best at catching insects and performing aerial tricks in Europe, Africa, Asia, and America. Back to B1

popular ˈpɑpjələr (2)

Português: popular

Simple English: Liked or admired by many people.

Example: He is popular with his friends.

Uses in this book:

1. Around this time, in developed countries, collecting stamps became a popular hobby. Back to B1

2. It was very popular.

popularity (1)

Português: popularidade; fama; aceitação

Simple English: the state of being liked by many people

Example: The app grew in popularity.

Uses in this book:

1. The collector explained the growing popularity of stamp collecting around the world. Back to B1

prepare prɪˈpɛər (5)

Português: preparar

Simple English: to get ready for something

Example: Tarzan watched the Minunians prepare for defense.

Uses in this book:

1. He was talking with the Doctor when the Captain's order to prepare the guns was given. Back to B1

2. They needed to return to England soon to prepare nests for the new season, and the delay was making things difficult for them, though they said they were not complaining. Back to B1

3. He also asked the Doctor if they should prepare Christmas gifts for the postmen, as they usually expected presents at that time of year.

4. The Doctor asked his friends, the village mice, to help prepare many nuts.

5. Doctor Dolittle said he would prepare more of the medicine for the turtle.

produce /prəˈdjuːs/ (1)

Português: produzir; produto; gerar

Simple English: To provide money and oversee the creation of a movie, play, or show.

Example: They want to produce a documentary about climate change this year.

Uses in this book:

1. The King ordered the stamp printing machines to work faster to produce a new set of Fantippo stamps. Back to B1

producing prəˈdusɪŋ (1)

Português: produzindo

Simple English: Making or creating something.

Example: They were proud of producing great fighters.

Uses in this book:

1. The Violet's engines worked hard, producing thick, black smoke that covered the sea and sails. Back to B1

progress /ˈprɑːɡrɛs/ (1)

Português: progresso; andamento; progredir

Simple English: Gradual movement toward achieving a specific goal.

Example: We need to keep track of our progress in the project each week.

Uses in this book:

1. After ten days, Doctor Dolittle had made good progress with the Domestic Mails, which are letters sent within the same country or city. Back to B1

remove rɪˈmuv (3)

Português: remover

Simple English: to take something away or off

Example: He wants to remove the insult.

Uses in this book:

1. When Dab-Dab and Jip came to remove the breakfast tray, they saw the Doctor shaving. Back to B1

2. He suggested they could remove the pavement drawings and use his new canvases.

3. However, the man had tucked part of the skin under himself, making it impossible to remove while he was sitting.

removed rɪˈmuːvd (5)

Português: removido

Simple English: Taken away or erased.

Example: He told the Doctor he must stay in jail until the charge was removed.

Uses in this book:

1. He suggested that if they were removed, he might be able to remember. Back to B1

2. A sailor agreed to the order and removed the handcuffs from the Doctor's wrists. Back to B1

3. They removed all the mud and dropped it into the harbor.

4. He removed the outer wrapping, which was made of seaweed.

5. When they reached the sea, they saw a very large hole in the beach where the sand had been removed.

repeat rɪˈpiːt (1)

Português: repetir

Simple English: to say or do something again

Example: Please repeat your question.

Uses in this book:

1. He ordered the Doctor to be brought back and asked him to repeat what he had said. Back to B1

respectful rɪˈspɛktfəl (1)

Português: respeitoso

Simple English: showing politeness or honor to others

Example: He did not sound respectful.

Uses in this book:

1. He preferred quiet, solid buildings like old barns or stables, where people behaved in a calm and respectful way, as nesting birds need peace. Back to B1

rulers ˈruːlərz (1)

Português: governantes

Simple English: People who have power to control a country or group.

Example: The rulers had great wealth and power.

Uses in this book:

1. Their stamps were priced in their own money and featured pictures of their own rulers or presidents. Back to B1

share ʃɛər (7)

Português: compartilhar

Simple English: to use or have something with others

Example: They share their food with friends.

Uses in this book:

1. The Doctor told the Captain that he knew where Jimmie Bones was and could share this information if he wanted to. Back to B1

2. He asked Speedy to inform him as soon as the nesting was finished, because he had a special idea he wanted to share. Back to B1

3. He told the Doctor that he would share his story the next evening, as he knew a good one.

4. He wondered if Gub-Gub had a story to share with them.

5. She promised to return and share any information she found.

shoot /ʃuːt/ (2)

Português: atirar; disparar; filmar

Simple English: To release a bullet or arrow from a weapon accurately.

Example: He learned to shoot accurately when he was very young.

Uses in this book:

1. They were aiming their weapons at the enemy ship in the distance and waiting for the command to shoot. Back to B1

2. He asked them to allow him to shoot a gun because he could see better in the dark than they could. Back to B1

shooting /ˈʃuːtɪŋ/ (2)

Português: atirando; tiroteio; tiro

Simple English: An event where gunfire injures or kills someone.

Example: The shooting outside the nightclub left several people injured and scared.

Uses in this book:

1. However, at that exact moment, the Captain gave the command to stop shooting, and the men moved away from their positions. Back to B1

2. He also asked if he had told them to stop shooting. Back to B1

similar ˈsɪmɪlər (7)

Português: semelhante

Simple English: Almost the same but not exactly.

Example: They looked very similar.

Uses in this book:

1. Other countries, like France and the United States, started similar systems. Back to B1

2. The King also had letter-boxes made, similar to those in England. Back to B1

3. He explained that he had seen a similar bone only once before, in a museum.

4. He wrote down these signs in notebooks and used them to create a written language for animals, which he called "animal scribble," similar to what he had done for birds.

5. Too-Too was there with the mail sorted into boxes for different areas of the town, like "Central" and "West Central." Cheapside had organized the city into districts, similar to London, to make mail delivery faster and easier.

situation ˌsɪtʃuˈeɪʃən (10)

Português: situação

Simple English: a set of conditions at a specific time

Example: He understood his difficult situation.

Uses in this book:

1. The bird was worried because the woman was in a small boat in deep water and seemed not to care about her situation. Back to B1

2. The Doctor was not pleased and thought the situation was difficult.

3. Jip stated that he would deal with the situation when he got back.

4. The little men told the pig that he was in a difficult situation.

5. As she walked past him proudly, he told her that he had gotten into this difficult situation because of her.

solution səˈluːʃən (3)

Português: solução

Simple English: an answer to a problem

Example: He said they would talk and find a solution.

Uses in this book:

1. He asked the swallow to tell Speedy that he would visit him as soon as he was ready, and he was sure they could arrange a solution. Back to B1

2. While looking for a solution, the speaker saw a large white Persian cat.

3. The Doctor thought that hammocks would be a perfect solution.

solutions səˈluːʃənz (2)

Português: soluções

Simple English: Answers or ways to solve problems.

Example: She helped them find solutions to their problems.

Uses in this book:

1. He was the cleverest leader they had, always finding solutions when the swallows were in trouble. Back to B1

2. However, they could not think of any solutions.

specific spəˈsɪfɪk (3)

Português: específico

Simple English: special and clear, not general

Example: She had a specific goal to finish the work.

Uses in this book:

1. They were both very eager to find a specific stamp for their collections, called the "twopenny-halfpenny Fantippo red." The King had stopped printing this stamp because he did not like the picture of himself on it. Back to B1

2. The announcements were presented in a specific format.

3. He wanted a specific day and hour, not just a general week.

standard /ˈstændərd/ (1)

Português: padrão; norma; normal

Simple English: Generally accepted as normal, usual, or expected practice.

Example: This model meets all safety standards required by law.

Uses in this book:

1. In England, a man named Rowland Hill introduced "The Penny Postage." It was agreed that one penny would be the standard price for a letter within Britain. Back to B1

storage ˈstɔːrɪdʒ (1)

Português: armazenamento

Simple English: a space or place to keep things

Example: The boxes are kept in the storage room.

Uses in this book:

1. Inside the ship's storage area, they found many slaves who were chained. Back to B1

stylish ˈstaɪlɪʃ (1)

Português: estiloso

Simple English: Having a good and fashionable appearance.

Example: He wore expensive, stylish clothes.

Uses in this book:

1. These stamp suits looked very stylish and became valuable possessions for the local people. Back to B1

successful səkˈsɛsfəl (4)

Português: bem-sucedido

Simple English: Having a good result or achieving a goal.

Example: She was successful in passing the exam.

Uses in this book:

1. This new business was very successful. Back to B1

2. Other birds, like the swallows, tried very hard to deliver letters correctly, but they were not successful.

3. The narrator thought he was not a successful doctor for the sanitarium, but he realized he had cured many more patients by closing the business than Dr. Phipps ever did by running it.

4. The business was very successful from the beginning.

suitable /ˈsuːtəbəl/ (7)

Português: adequado; apropriado; indicado

Simple English: Appropriate and fitting for a particular purpose.

Example: This dress is suitable for the wedding next week.

Uses in this book:

1. Speedy said that the Fantippo houses were not very suitable because they were small and noisy with children playing all day, making it unsafe for eggs and young birds. Back to B1

2. He pointed out that nobody lived on the ship anymore and that it had many cracks and holes suitable for building nests, and asked for Speedy's opinion. Back to B1

3. They went to a suitable place on the shore.

4. Doctor Dolittle told Cheapside that the climate was not suitable for puddles and that it was different from England.

5. Doctor Dolittle thought turnips would be suitable for a wedding.

survive /sərˈvaɪv/ (2)

Português: sobreviver

Simple English: To stay alive after a dangerous situation or event.

Example: They managed to survive the harsh winter in the mountains together.

Uses in this book:

1. He said goodbye to his wife because he did not expect to survive the journey. Back to B1

2. He stated that only swamp birds, marsh animals, and water snakes could survive in these bogs.

target /ˈtɑːrɡɪt/ (1)

Português: alvo; destino; meta

Simple English: To aim attacks at a specific object or location.

Example: The military must target specific locations to minimize civilian casualties.

Uses in this book:

1. They said it was impossible to hit a target two miles away in such bad light. Back to B1

tasks tæsks (3)

Português: tarefas

Simple English: jobs or pieces of work to do

Example: People were busy with daily tasks.

Uses in this book:

1. He did not realize the difficult tasks and unusual journeys he was starting. Back to B1

2. The gull felt that sailors did not watch the sea enough, as they spent too much time inside, on land, or sleeping, and often did other tasks instead of looking at the sea.

3. Gub-Gub and Jip were impatient as the last tasks were completed, including closing the houseboat and moving the Foreign Mails Service to the office in town.

tip tɪp (1)

Português: ponta

Simple English: The pointed end of something.

Example: The pencil tip was used up.

Uses in this book:

1. Before he could finish, John Dolittle suddenly stood up, almost tipping over their canoe. Back to B1

transform /trænsˈfɔːrm/ (1)

Português: transformar; transformação

Simple English: To change the form, appearance, or nature of something.

Example: The city's landscape can transform dramatically during the winter months.

Uses in this book:

1. The Doctor's boat was then transformed into a nesting ship for the swallows. Back to B1

unacceptable ʌnəkˈsɛptəbl (1)

Português: inaceitável

Simple English: Not allowed or not good enough.

Example: The manager said the situation was unacceptable.

Uses in this book:

1. The Doctor explained to the King that this was unacceptable. Back to B1

unsafe ʌnˈseɪf (1)

Português: perigoso

Simple English: not safe; having danger

Example: Their leader went with them to smoke, leaving his tent empty and unsafe.

Uses in this book:

1. Speedy said that the Fantippo houses were not very suitable because they were small and noisy with children playing all day, making it unsafe for eggs and young birds. Back to B1

weapons ˈwɛpənz (2)

Português: armas

Simple English: Tools used to fight or protect.

Example: The soldiers carried weapons for defense.

Uses in this book:

1. They were aiming their weapons at the enemy ship in the distance and waiting for the command to shoot. Back to B1

2. A big fight started, with the goblins using toothpicks and the sprites using nut crackers as weapons.

whistled ˈwɪsəld (1)

Português: assobiou

Simple English: made a high sound by blowing air through lips

Example: The man whistled to Pippinella when he cleaned her window.

Uses in this book:

1. They whistled to each other to send news from the front scouts back to the Doctor on the warship. Back to B1