michael, brother of jerry-第10节

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〃Now；　fifty　dollars　gold　'd　buy　beer　to　beat　the　bandenough　to　drown　me　if　I　fell　in　head　first。　　Yet　I　want　to　ask　you　one　question。　　Can　you　see　me　takin'　ten　quid　for　you？　。　。　。　Go　on。　Speak　up。　　Can　you？〃

And　Michael；　with　thumps　of　tail　to　the　floor　and　a　high　sharp　bark；　showed　that　he　was　in　entire　agreement　with　whatever　had　been　propounded。

〃Or　say　twenty　quid；　now。　　That's　a　fair　offer。　　Would　I？　　Eh！　Would　I？　　Not　on　your　life。　　What　d'ye　say　to　fifty　quid？　　That　might　begin　to　interest　me；　but　a　hundred　quid　would　interest　me　more。　　Why；　a　hundred　quid　all　in　beer　'd　come　pretty　close　to　floatin'　this　old　hooker。　　But　who　in　Sam　Hill'd　offer　a　hundred　quid？　　I'd　like　to　clap　eyes　on　him　once；　that's　all；　just　once。　D'ye　want　to　know　what　for？　　All　right。　　I'll　whisper　it。　　So　as　I　could　tell　him　to　go　to　hell。　　Sure；　Killeny　Boy；　just　like　that　oh；　most　polite；　of　course；　just　a　kindly　directin'　of　his　steps　where　he'd　never　suffer　from　frigid　extremities。〃

Michael's　love　for　Steward　was　so　profound　as　almost　to　he　a　mad　but　enduring　infatuation。　　What　the　steward's　regard　for　Michael　was　coming　to　be　was　best　evidenced　by　his　conversation　with　Captain　Duncan。

〃Sure；　sir；　he　must　've　followed　me　on　board；〃　Daughtry　finished　his　unveracious　recital。　　〃An'　I　never　knew　it。　　Last　I　seen　of　'm　was　on　the　beach。　　Next　I　seen　of　'm　there；　he　was　fast　asleep　in　my　bunk。　　Now　how'd　he　get　there；　sir？　　How'd　he　pick　out　my　room？　I　leave　it　to　you；　sir。　　I　call　it　marvellous；　just　plain　marvellous。〃

〃With　a　quartermaster　at　the　head　of　the　gangway！〃　Captain　Duncan　snorted。　　〃As　if　I　didn't　know　your　tricks；　Steward。　　There's　nothing　marvellous　about　it。　　Just　a　plain　case　of　steal。　Followed　you　on　board？　　That　dog　never　came　over　the　side。　　He　came　through　a　port…hole；　and　he　never　came　through　by　himself。　That　nigger　of　yours；　I'll　wager；　had　a　hand　in　the　helping。　　But　let's　have　done　with　beating　about　the　bush。　　Give　me　the　dog；　and　I'll　say　no　more　about　the　cat。〃

〃Seein'　you　believe　what　you　believe；　then　you'd　be　for　compoundin'　the　felony；〃　Daughtry　retorted；　the　habitual　obstinate　tightening　of　his　brows　showing　which　way　his　will　set。　　〃Me；　sir；　I'm　only　a　ship's　steward；　an'　it　wouldn't　mean　nothin'　at　all　bein'　arrested　for　dog…stealin'；　but　you；　sir；　a　captain　of　a　fine　steamer；　how'd　it　sound　for　you；　sir？　　No；　sir；　it'd　be　much　wiser　for　me　to　keep　the　dog　that　followed　me　aboard。〃

〃I'll　give　ten　pounds　in　the　bargain；〃　the　captain　proffered。

〃No；　it　wouldn't　do；　it　wouldn't　do　at　all；　sir；　an'　you　a　captain；〃　the　steward　continued　to　reiterate；　rolling　his　head　sombrely。　　〃Besides；　I　know　where's　a　peach　of　an　Angora　in　Sydney。　　The　owner　is　gone　to　the　country　an'　has　no　further　use　of　it；　an'　it'd　be　a　kindness　to　the　cat；　air　to　give　it　a　good　regular　home　like　the　Makambo。〃



CHAPTER　VIIII



Another　trick　Dag　Daughtry　succeeded　in　teaching　Michael　so　enhanced　him　in　Captain　Duncan's　eyes　as　to　impel　him　to　offer　fifty　pounds；　〃and　never　mind　the　cat。〃　　At　first；　Daughtry　practised　the　trick　in　private　with　the　chief　engineer　and　the　Shortlands　planter。　　Not　until　thoroughly　satisfied　did　he　make　a　public　performance　of　it。

〃Now　just　suppose　you're　policemen；　or　detectives；〃　Daughtry　told　the　first　and　third　officers；　〃an'　suppose　I'm　guilty　of　some　horrible　crime。　　An'　suppose　Killeny　is　the　only　clue；　an'　you've　got　Killeny。　　When　he　recognizes　his　masterme；　of　courseyou've　got　your　man。　　You　go　down　the　deck　with　him；　leadin'　by　the　rope。　Then　you　come　back　this　way　with　him；　makin'　believe　this　is　the　street；　an'　when　he　recognizes　me　you　arrest　me。　　But　if　he　don't　realize　me；　you　can't　arrest　me。　　See？〃

The　two　officers　led　Michael　away；　and　after　several　minutes　returned　along　the　deck；　Michael　stretched　out　ahead　on　the　taut　rope　seeking　Steward。

〃What'll　you　take　for　the　dog？〃　Daughtry　demanded；　as　they　drew　nearthis　the　cue　he　had　trained　Michael　to　know。

And　Michael；　straining　at　the　rope；　went　by；　without　so　much　as　a　wag　of　tail　to　Steward　or　a　glance　of　eye。　　The　officers　stopped　before　Daughtry　and　drew　Michael　back　into　the　group。

〃He's　a　lost　dog；〃　said　the　first　officer。

〃We're　trying　to　find　his　owner；〃　supplemented　the　third。

〃Some　dog　thatwhat'll　you　take　for　'm？〃　Daughtry　asked；　studying　Michael　with　critical　eyes　of　interest。　　〃What　kind　of　a　temper's　he　got？〃

〃Try　him；〃　was　the　answer。

The　steward　put　out　his　hand　to　pat　him　on　the　head；　but　withdrew　it　hastily　as　Michael；　with　bristle　and　growl；　viciously　bared　his　teeth。

〃Go　on；　go　on；　he　won't　hurt　you；〃　the　delighted　passengers　urged。

This　time　the　steward's　hand　was　barely　missed　by　a　snap；　and　he　leaped　back　as　Michael　ferociously　sprang　the　length　of　the　rope　at　him。

〃Take　'm　away！〃　Dag　Daughtry　roared　angrily。　　〃The　treacherous　beast！　　I　wouldn't　take　'm　for　gift！〃

And　as　they　obeyed；　Michael　strained　backward　in　a　paroxysm　of　rage；　making　fierce　short　jumps　to　the　end　of　the　tether　as　he　snarled　and　growled　with　utmost　fierceness　at　the　steward。

〃Eh？　　Who'd　say　he　ever　seen　me　in　his　life？〃　Daughtry　demanded　triumphantly。　　〃It's　a　trick　I　never　seen　played　myself；　but　I've　heard　tell　about　it。　　The　old…time　poachers　in　England　used　to　do　it　with　their　lurcher　dogs。　　If　they　did　get　the　dog　of　a　strange　poacher；　no　gamekeeper　or　constable　could　identify　'm　by　the　dog　mum　was　the　word。〃

〃Tell　you　what；　he　knows　things；　that　Killeny。　　He　knows　English。　Right　now；　in　my　room；　with　the　door　open；　an'　so　as　he　can　find　'm；　is　shoes；　slippers；　cap；　towel；　hair…brush；　an'　tobacco　pouch。　What'll　it　be？　　Name　it　an'　he'll　fetch　it。〃

So　immediately　and　variously　did　the　passengers　respond　that　every　article　was　called　for。

〃Just　one　of　you　choose；〃　the　steward　advised。　　〃The　rest　of　you　pick　'm　out。〃

〃Slipper；〃　said　Captain　Duncan；　selected　by　acclamation。

〃One　or　both？〃　Daughtry　asked。

〃Both。〃

〃Come　here；　Killeny；〃　Daughtry　began；　bending　toward　him　but　leaping　back　from　the　snap　of　jaws　that　clipped　together　close　to　his　nose

〃My　mistake；〃　he　apologized。　　〃I　ain't　told　him　the　other　game　was　over。　　Now　just　listen　an；　watch。　'n'　see　if　you　can　catch　on　to　the　tip　I'm　goin'　to　give　'm。〃

No　one　saw　anything；　heard　anything；　yet　Michael；　with　a　whine　of　eagerness　and　joy；　with　laughing　mouth　and　wriggling　body；　was　upon　the　steward；　licking　his　hands　madly；　squirming　and　twisting　in　the　embrace　of　the　loved　hands　he　had　so　recently　threatened；　making　attempts　at　short　upward　leaps　as　he　flashed　his　tongue　upward　toward　his　lord's　face。　　For　hard　it　was　on　Michael；　a　nerve　and　mental　strain　of　the　severest　for　him　so　to　control　himself　as　to　play…act　anger　and　threat　of　hurt　to　his　beloved　Steward。

〃Takes　him　a　little　time　to　get　over　a　thing　like　that；〃　Daughtry　explained；　as　he　soothed　Michael　down。

〃Now；　Killeny！　　Go　fetch　'm　slipper！　　Wait！　　Fetch　'm　ONE　slipper。　Fetch　'm　TWO　slipper。〃

Michael　looked　up　with　pricked　ears；　and　with　eyes　filled　with　query　as　all　his　intelligent　consciousness　suffused　them。

〃TWO　slipper！　　Fetch　'm　quick！〃

He　was　off　and　away　in　a　scurry　of　speed　that　seemed　to　flatten　him　close　to　the　deck；　and　that；　as　he　turned　the　corner　of　the　deck…house　to　the　stairs；　made　his　hind　feet　slip　and　slide　across　the　smooth　planks。

Almost　in　a　trice　he　was　back；　both　slippers　in　his　mouth；　which　he　deposited　at　the　steward's　feet。

〃The　more　I　know　dogs　the　more　amazin'　marvellous　they　are　to　me；〃　Dag　Daughtry；　after　he　had　compassed　his　fourth　bottle；　confided　in　monologue　to　the　Shortlands　planter　that　night　just　before　bedtime。　　〃Take　Killeny　Boy。　　He　don't　do　things　for　me　mechanically；　just　because　he's　learned　to　do　'm。　　There's　more　to　it。　　He　does　'm　because　he　likes　me。　　I　can't　give　you　the　hang　of　it；　but　I　feel　it；　I　KNOW　it。

〃Maybe；　this　is　what　I'm　drivin'　at。　　Killeny　can't　talk；　as　you　'n　'me　talk；　I　mean；　so　he　can't　tell　me　how　he　loves　me；　an'　he's　all　love；　every　last　hair　of　'm。　　An'　actions　speakin'　louder　'n'　words；　he　tells　me　how　he　loves　me　by　doin'　these　things　for　me。　Tricks？　　Sure。　　But　they　make　human　speeches　of　eloquence　cheaper　'n　dirt。　　Sure　it's　speech。　　Dog…talk　that's　tongue…tied。　　Don't　I　know？　　Sure　as　I'm　a　livin'　man　born　to　trouble　as　the　sparks　fly　upward；　just　as　sure　am　I　that　it　makes　'm　happy　to　do　tricks　for　me　。　。　。　just　as　it　makes　a　man　happy　to　lend　a　hand　to　a　pal　in　a　ticklish　place；　or　a　lover　happy　to　put　his　coat　around　the　girl　he　loves　to　keep　her　warm。　　I　tell　you　。　。　。　〃

Here；　Dag　Daughtry　broke　down　from　inability　to　express　the　concepts　fluttering　in　his　beer…excited；　beer…sodden　brain；　and；　with　a　stutter　or　two；　made　a　fresh　start。

〃You　know；　it's　all　in　the　matter　of　talkin'；　an'　Killeny　can't　talk。　　He's　got　thoughts　inside　that　head　of　hisyou　can　see　'm　shinin'　in　his　lovely　brown　eyesbut　he　can't　get　'em　across　to　me。　　Why；　I　see　'm　tryin'　to　tell　me　sometimes　so　hard　that　he　almost　busts。　　There's　a　big　hole　between　him　an'　me；　an'　language　is　about　the　only　bridge；　and　he　can't　get　over　the　hole；　though　he's　got　all　kinds　of　ideas　an'　feelings　just　like　mine。

〃But；　say！　　The　time　we　get　closest　together　is　when　I　play　the　harm