michael, brother of jerry-第26节

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　　All　of　which　was　prison　for　Michael；　who　had　been　used　to　the　run　of　ships；　of　coral　beaches　and　plantations。

But　in　the　evenings；　sometimes　accompanied　a　few　steps　in　the　rear　by　Kwaque；　Michael　strolled　out　with　Steward。　　The　multiplicity　of　man…gods　on　the　teeming　sidewalks　became　a　real　bore　to　Michael；　so　that　man…gods；　in　general；　underwent　a　sharp　depreciation。　　But　Steward；　the　particular　god　of　his　fealty　and　worship；　appreciated。　　Amongst　so　many　gods　Michael　felt　bewildered；　while　Steward's　Abrahamic　bosom　became　more　than　ever　the　one　sure　haven　where　harshness　and　danger　never　troubled。

〃Mind　your　step；〃　is　the　last　word　and　warning　of　twentieth…　century　city　life。　　Michael　was　not　slow　to　learn　it；　as　he　conserved　his　own　feet　among　the　countless　thousands　of　leather…　shod　feet　of　men；　ever　hurrying；　always　unregarding　of　the　existence　and　right　of　way　of　a　lowly；　four…legged　Irish　terrier。

The　evening　outings　with　Steward　invariably　led　from　saloon　to　saloon；　where；　at　long　bars；　standing　on　sawdust　floors；　or　seated　at　tables；　men　drank　and　talked。　　Much　of　both　did　men　do；　and　also　did　Steward　do；　ere；　his　daily　six…quart　stint　accomplished；　he　turned　homeward　for　bed。　　Many　were　the　acquaintances　he　made；　and　Michael　with　him。　　Coasting　seamen　and　bay　sailors　they　mostly　were；　although　there　were　many　'longshoremen　and　waterfront　workmen　among　them。

From　one　of　these；　a　scow…schooner　captain　who　plied　up　and　down　the　bay　and　the　San　Joaquin　and　Sacramento　rivers；　Daughtry　had　the　promise　of　being　engaged　as　cook　and　sailor　on　the　schooner　Howard。　　Eighty　tons　of　freight；　including　deckload；　she　carried；　and　in　all　democracy　Captain　Jorgensen；　the　cook；　and　the　two　other　sailors；　loaded　and　unloaded　her　at　all　hours；　and　sailed　her　night　and　day　on　all　times　and　tides；　one　man　steering　while　three　slept　and　recuperated。　　It　was　time；　and　double…time；　and　over…time　beyond　that；　but　the　feeding　was　generous　and　the　wages　ran　from　forty…five　to　sixty　dollars　a　month。

〃Sure；　you　bet；〃　said　Captain　Jorgensen。　　〃This　cook…feller；　Hanson；　pretty　quick　I　smash　him　up　an'　fire　him；　then　you　can　come　along　。　。　。　and　the　bow…wow；　too。〃　　Here　he　dropped　a　hearty；　wholesome　hand　of　toil　down　to　a　caress　of　Michael's　head。　〃That's　one　fine　bow…wow。　　A　bow…wow　is　good　on　a　scow　when　all　hands　sleep　alongside　the　dock　or　in　an　anchor　watch。〃

〃Fire　Hanson　now；〃　Dag　Daughtry　urged。

But　Captain　Jorgensen　shook　his　slow　head　slowly。　　〃First　I　smash　him　up。〃

〃Then　smash　him　now　and　fire　him；〃　Daughtry　persisted。　　〃There　he　is　right　now　at　the　corner　of　the　bar。〃

〃No。　　He　must　give　me　reason。　　I　got　plenty　of　reason。　　But　I　want　reason　all　hands　can　see。　　I　want　him　make　me　smash　him；　so　that　all　hands　say；　'Hurrah；　Captain；　you　done　right。'　　Then　you　get　the　job；　Daughtry。〃

Had　Captain　Jorgensen　not　been　dilatory　in　his　contemplated　smashing；　and　had　not　Hanson　delayed　in　giving　sufficient　provocation　for　a　smashing；　Michael　would　have　accompanied　Steward　upon　the　schooner；　Howard；　and　all　Michael's　subsequent　experiences　would　have　been　totally　different　from　what　they　were　destined　to　be。　　But　destined　they　were；　by　chance　and　by　combinations　of　chance　events　over　which　Michael　had　no　control　and　of　which　he　had　no　more　awareness　than　had　Steward　himself。　At　that　period；　the　subsequent　stage　career　and　nightmare　of　cruelty　for　Michael　was　beyond　any　wildest　forecast　or　apprehension。　　And　as　to　forecasting　Dag　Daughtry's　fate；　along　with　Kwaque；　no　maddest　drug…dream　could　have　approximated　it。



CHAPTER　XVII



One　night　Dag　Daughtry　sat　at　a　table　in　the　saloon　called　the　Pile…drivers'　Home。　　He　was　in　a　parlous　predicament。　　Harder　than　ever　had　it　been　to　secure　odd　jobs；　and　he　had　reached　the　end　of　his　savings。　　Earlier　in　the　evening　he　had　had　a　telephone　conference　with　the　Ancient　Mariner；　who　had　reported　only　progress　with　an　exceptionally　strong　nibble　that　very　day　from　a　retired　quack　doctor。

〃Let　me　pawn　my　rings；〃　the　Ancient　Mariner　had　urged；　not　for　the　first　time；　over　the　telephone。

〃No；　sir；〃　had　been　Daughtry's　reply。　　〃We　need　them　in　the　business。　　They're　stock　in　trade。　　They're　atmosphere。　　They're　what　you　call　a　figure　of　speech。　　I'll　do　some　thinking　to…night　an'　see　you　in　the　morning；　sir。　　Hold　on　to　them　rings　an'　don't　be　no　more　than　casual　in　playin'　that　doctor。　　Make　'm　come　to　you。　　It's　the　only　way。　　Now　you're　all　right；　an'　everything's　hunkydory　an'　the　goose　hangs　high。　　Don't　you　worry；　sir。　　Dag　Daughtry　never　fell　down　yet。〃

But；　as　he　sat　in　the　Pile…drivers'　Home；　it　looked　as　if　his　fall…down　was　very　near。　　In　his　pocket　was　precisely　the　room…　rent　for　the　following　week；　the　advance　payment　of　which　was　already　three　days　overdue　and　clamorously　demanded　by　the　hard…　faced　landlady。　　In　the　rooms；　with　care；　was　enough　food　with　which　to　pinch　through　for　another　day。　　The　Ancient　Mariner's　modest　hotel　bill　had　not　been　paid　for　two　weeksa　prodigious　sum　under　the　circumstances；　being　a　first…class　hotel；　while　the　Ancient　Mariner　had　no　more　than　a　couple　of　dollars　in　his　pocket　with　which　to　make　a　sound　like　prosperity　in　the　ears　of　the　retired　doctor　who　wanted　to　go　a…treasuring。

Most　catastrophic　of　all；　however；　was　the　fact　that　Dag　Daughtry　was　three　quarts　short　of　his　daily　allowance　and　did　not　dare　break　into　the　rent　money　which　was　all　that　stood　between　him　and　his　family　and　the　street。　　This　was　why　he　sat　at　the　beer　table　with　Captain　Jorgensen；　who　was　just　returned　with　a　schooner…load　of　hay　from　the　Petaluma　Flats。　　He　had　already　bought　beer　twice；　and　evinced　no　further　show　of　thirst。　　Instead；　he　was　yawning　from　long　hours　of　work　and　waking　and　looking　at　his　watch。　　And　Daughtry　was　three　quarts　short！　　Besides；　Hanson　had　not　yet　been　smashed；　so　that　the　cook…job　on　the　schooner　still　lay　ahead　an　unknown　distance　in　the　future。

In　his　desperation；　Daughtry　hit　upon　an　idea　with　which　to　get　another　schooner　of　steam　beer。　　He　did　not　like　steam　beer；　but　it　was　cheaper　than　lager。

〃Look　here；　Captain；〃　he　said。　　〃You　don't　know　how　smart　that　Killeny　Boy　is。　　Why；　he　can　count　just　like　you　and　me。〃

〃Hoh！〃　rumbled　Captain　Jorgensen。　　〃I　seen　'em　do　it　in　side　shows。　　It's　all　tricks。　　Dogs　an'　horses　can't　count。〃

〃This　dog　can；〃　Daughtry　continued　quietly。　　〃You　can't　fool　'm。　I　bet　you；　right　now；　I　can　order　two　beers；　loud　so　he　can　hear　and　notice；　and　then　whisper　to　the　waiter　to　bring　one；　an'；　when　the　one　comes；　Killeny　Boy'll　raise　a　roar　with　the　waiter。〃

〃Hoh！　　Hoh！　　How　much　will　you　bet？〃

The　steward　fingered　a　dime　in　his　pocket。　　If　Killeny　failed　him　it　meant　that　the　rent…money　would　be　broken　in　upon。　　But　Killeny　couldn't　and　wouldn't　fail　him；　he　reasoned；　as　he　answered：

〃I'll　bet　you　the　price　of　two　beers。〃

The　waiter　was　summoned；　and；　when　he　had　received　his　secret　instructions；　Michael　was　called　over　from　where　he　lay　at　Kwaque's　feet　in　a　corner。　　When　Steward　placed　a　chair　for　him　at　the　table　and　invited　him　into　it；　he　began　to　key　up。　　Steward　expected　something　of　him；　wanted　him　to　show　off。　　And　it　was　not　because　of　the　showing　off　that　he　was　eager；　but　because　of　his　love　for　Steward。　　Love　and　service　were　one　in　the　simple　processes　of　Michael's　mind。　　Just　as　he　would　have　leaped　into　fire　for　Steward's　sake；　so　would　he　now　serve　Steward　in　any　way　Steward　desired。　　That　was　what　love　meant　to　him。　　It　was　all　love　meant　to　himservice。

〃Waiter！〃　Steward　called；　and；　when　the　waiter　stood　close　at　hand：　　〃Two　beers。Did　you　get　that；　Killeny？　　TWO　beers。〃

Michael　squirmed　in　his　chair；　placed　an　impulsive　paw　on　the　table；　and　impulsively　flashed　out　his　ribbon　of　tongue　to　Steward's　close…bending　face。

〃He　will　remember；〃　Daughtry　told　the　scow…schooner　captain。

〃Not　if　we　talk；〃　was　the　reply。　　〃Now　we　will　fool　your　bow…wow。　I　will　say　that　the　job　is　yours　when　I　smash　Hanson。　　And　you　will　say　it　is　for　me　to　smash　Hanson　now。　　And　I　will　say　Hanson　must　give　me　reason　first　to　smash　him。　　And　then　we　will　argue　like　two　fools　with　mouths　full　of　much　noise。　　Are　you　ready？〃

Daughtry　nodded；　and　thereupon　ensued　a　loud…voiced　discussion　that　drew　Michael's　earnest　attention　from　one　talker　to　the　other。

〃I　got　you；〃　Captain　Jorgensen　announced；　as　he　saw　the　waiter　approaching　with　but　a　single　schooner　of　beer。　　〃The　bow…wow　has　forgot；　if　he　ever　remembered。　　He　thinks　you　'an　me　is　fighting。　The　place　in　his　mind　for　ONE　beer；　and　TWO；　is　wiped　out；　like　a　wave　on　the　beach　wipes　out　the　writing　in　the　sand。〃

〃I　guess　he　ain't　goin'　to　forget　arithmetic　no　matter　how　much　noise　you　shouts；〃　Daughtry　argued　aloud　against　his　sinking　spirits。　　〃An'　I　ain't　goin'　to　butt　in；〃　he　added　hopefully。　〃You　just　watch　'm　for　himself。〃

The　tall；　schooner…glass　of　beer　was　placed　before　the　captain；　who　laid　a　swift；　containing　hand　around　it。　　And　Michael；　strung　as　a　taut　string；　knowing　that　something　was　expected　of　him；　on　his　toes　to　serve；　remembered　his　ancient　lessons　on　the　Makambo；　vainly　looked　into　the　impassive　face　of　Steward　for　a　sign；　then　looked　about　and　saw；　not　TWO　glasses；　but　ONE　glass