michael, brother of jerry-第33节

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　the　old　man　so　abruptly　as　to　drop　him　violently　into　the　chair。

〃My　word；　sir；〃　said　Daughtry。　　〃You　must　'a'　ben　havin'　a　time　of　it。Here；　you　fella　Kwaque；　this　fella　wringin'　wet。　　You　fella　take　'm　off　shoe　stop　along　him。〃

But　before　Kwaque；　immediately　kneeling；　could　touch　hand　to　the　shoelaces；　Daughtry；　remembering　that　Kwaque　was　likewise　unclean；　had　thrust　him　away。

〃My　word；　I　don't　know　what　to　do；〃　Daughtry　murmured；　staring　about　helplessly　as　he　realised　that　it　was　a　leper…house；　that　the　very　chair　in　which　the　old　man　sat　was　a　leper…chair；　that　the　very　floor　on　which　his　exhausted　feet　rested　was　a　leper…　floor。

〃I'm　glad　to　see　you；　most　exceeding　glad；〃　the　Ancient　Mariner　panted；　extending　his　hand　in　greeting。

Dag　Daughtry　avoided　it。

〃How　goes　the　treasure…hunting？〃　he　queried　lightly。　　〃Any　prospects　in　sight？〃

The　Ancient　Mariner　nodded；　and　with　returning　breath；　at　first　whispering；　gasped　out：

〃We're　all　cleared　to　sail　on　the　first　of　the　ebb　at　seven　this　morning。　　She's　out　in　the　stream　now；　a　tidy　bit　of　a　schooner；　the　Bethlehem；　with　good　lines　and　hull　and　large　cabin　accommodations。　　She　used　to　be　in　the　Tahiti　trade；　before　the　steamers　ran　her　out。　　Provisions　are　good。　　Everything　is　most　excellent。　　I　saw　to　that。　　I　cannot　say　I　like　the　captain。　　I've　seen　his　type　before。　　A　splendid　seaman；　I　am　certain；　but　a　Bully　Hayes　grown　old。　　A　natural　born　pirate；　a　very　wicked　old　man　indeed。　　Nor　is　the　backer　any　better。　　He　is　middle…aged；　has　a　bad　record；　and　is　not　in　any　sense　of　the　word　a　gentleman；　but　he　has　plenty　of　moneymade　it　first　in　California　oil；　then　grub…staked　a　prospector　in　British　Columbia；　cheated　him　out　of　his　share　of　the　big　lode　he　discovered　and　doubled　his　own　wealth　half　a　dozen　times　over。　　A　very　undesirable；　unlikeable　sort　of　a　man。　　But　he　believes　in　luck；　and　is　confident　that　he'll　make　at　least　fifty　millions　out　of　our　adventure　and　cheat　me　out　of　my　share。　　He's　as　much　a　pirate　as　is　the　captain　he's　engaged。〃

〃Mr。　Greenleaf；　I　congratulate　you；　sir；〃　Daughtry　said。　　〃And　you　have　touched　me；　sir；　touched　me　to　the　heart；　coming　all　the　way　out　here　on　such　a　night；　and　running　such　risks；　just　to　say　good…bye　to　poor　Dag　Daughtry；　who　always　meant　somewhat　well　but　had　bad　luck。〃

But　while　he　talked　so　heartily；　Daughtry　saw；　in　a　resplendent　visioning；　all　the　freedom　of　a　schooner　in　the　great　South　Seas；　and　felt　his　heart　sink　in　realisation　that　remained　for　him　only　the　pest…house；　the　sand…dunes；　and　the　sad　eucalyptus　trees。

The　Ancient　Mariner　sat　stiffly　upright。

〃Sir；　you　have　hurt　me。　　You　have　hurt　me　to　the　heart。〃

〃No　offence；　sir；　no　offence；〃　Daughtry　stammered　in　apology；　although　he　wondered　in　what　way　he　could　have　hurt　the　old　gentleman's　feelings。

〃You　are　my　friend；　sir；〃　the　other　went　on；　gravely　censorious。　〃I　am　your　friend；　sir。　　And　you　give　me　to　understand　that　you　think　I　have　come　out　here　to　this　hell…hole　to　say　good…bye。　　I　came　out　here　to　get　you；　sir；　and　your　nigger；　sir。　　The　schooner　is　waiting　for　you。　　All　is　arranged。　　You　are　signed　on　the　articles　before　the　shipping　commissioner。　　Both　of　you。　　Signed　on　yesterday　by　proxies　I　arranged　for　myself。　　One　was　a　Barbadoes　nigger。　　I　got　him　and　the　white　man　out　of　a　sailors'　boarding…house　on　Commercial　Street　and　paid　them　five　dollars　each　to　appear　before　the　Commissioner　and　sign　on。〃

〃But；　my　God；　Mr。　Greenleaf；　you　don't　seem　to　grasp　it　that　he　and　I　are　lepers。〃

Almost　with　a　galvanic　spring；　the　Ancient　Mariner　was　out　of　the　chair　and　on　his　feet；　the　anger　of　age　and　of　a　generous　soul　in　his　face　as　he　cried：

〃My　God；　sir；　what　you　don't　seem　to　grasp　is　that　you　are　my　friend；　and　that　I　am　your　friend。〃

Abruptly；　still　under　the　pressure　of　his　wrath；　he　thrust　out　his　hand。

〃Steward；　Daughtry。　　Mr。　Daughtry；　friend；　sir；　or　whatever　I　may　name　you；　this　is　no　fairy…story　of　the　open　boat；　the　cross…　bearings　unnamable；　and　the　treasure　a　fathom　under　the　sand。　This　is　real。　　I　have　a　heart。　　That；　sir〃here　he　waved　his　extended　hand　under　Daughtry's　nose〃is　my　hand。　　There　is　only　one　thing　you　may　do；　must　do；　right　now。　　You　must　take　that　hand　in　your　hand；　and　shake　it；　with　your　heart　in　your　hand　as　mine　is　in　my　hand。〃

〃But　。　。　。　but。　。　。　〃　Daughtry　faltered。

〃If　you　don't；　then　I　shall　not　depart　from　this　place。　　I　shall　remain　here；　die　here。　　I　know　you　are　a　leper。　　You　can't　tell　me　anything　about　that。　　There's　my　hand。　　Are　you　going　to　take　it？　My　heart　is　there　in　the　palm　of　it；　in　the　pulse　in　every　finger…　end　of　it。　　If　you　don't　take　it；　I　warn　you　I'll　sit　right　down　here　in　this　chair　and　die。　　I　want　you　to　understand　I　am　a　man；　sir；　a　gentleman。　　I　am　a　friend；　a　comrade。　　I　am　no　poltroon　of　the　flesh。　　I　live　in　my　heart　and　in　my　head；　sirnot　in　this　feeble　carcass　I　cursorily　inhabit。　　Take　that　hand。　　I　want　to　talk　with　you　afterward。〃

Dag　Daughtry　extended　his　hand　hesitantly；　but　the　Ancient　Mariner　seized　it　and　pressed　it　so　fiercely　with　his　age…lean　fingers　as　to　hurt。

〃Now　we　can　talk；〃　he　said。　　〃I　have　thought　the　whole　matter　over。　　We　sail　on　the　Bethlehem。　　When　the　wicked　man　discovers　that　he　can　never　get　a　penny　of　my　fabulous　treasure；　we　will　leave　him。　　He　will　be　glad　to　be　quit　of　us。　　We；　you　and　I　and　your　nigger；　will　go　ashore　in　the　Marquesas。　　Lepers　roam　about　free　there。　　There　are　no　regulations。　　I　have　seen　them。　　We　will　be　free。　　The　land　is　a　paradise。　　And　you　and　I　will　set　up　housekeeping。　　A　thatched　hutno　more　is　needed。　　The　work　is　trifling。　　The　freedom　of　beach　and　sea　and　mountain　will　be　ours。　For　you　there　will　be　sailing；　swimming；　fishing；　hunting。　　There　are　mountain　goats；　wild　chickens　and　wild　cattle。　　Bananas　and　plantains　will　ripen　over　our　headsavocados　and　custard　apples；　also。　　The　red　peppers　grow　by　the　door；　and　there　will　be　fowls；　and　the　eggs　of　fowls。　　Kwaque　shall　do　the　cooking。　　And　there　will　be　beer。　　I　have　long　noted　your　thirst　unquenchable。　　There　will　be　beer；　six　quarts　of　it　a　day；　and　more；　more。

〃Quick。　　We　must　start　now。　　I　am　sorry　to　tell　you　that　I　have　vainly　sought　your　dog。　　I　have　even　paid　detectives　who　were　robbers。　　Doctor　Emory　stole　Killeny　Boy　from　you；　but　within　a　dozen　hours　he　was　stolen　from　Doctor　Emory。　　I　have　left　no　stone　unturned。　　Killeny　Boy　is　gone；　as　we　shall　be　gone　from　this　detestable　hole　of　a　city。

〃I　have　a　machine　waiting。　　The　driver　is　paid　well。　　Also；　I　have　promised　to　kill　him　if　he　defaults　on　me。　　It　bears　just　a　bit　north　of　east　over　the　sandhill　on　the　road　that　runs　along　the　other　side　of　the　funny　forest　。　。　。　That　is　right。　　We　will　start　now。　　We　can　discuss　afterward。　　Look！　　Daylight　is　beginning　to　break。　　The　guards　must　not　see　us　。　。　。　〃

Out　into　the　storm　they　passed；　Kwaque；　with　a　heart　wild　with　gladness；　bringing　up　the　rear。　　At　the　beginning　Daughtry　strove　to　walk　aloof；　but　in　a　trice；　in　the　first　heavy　gust　that　threatened　to　whisk　the　frail　old　man　away；　Dag　Daughtry's　hand　was　grasping　the　other's　arm；　his　own　weight　behind　and　under；　supporting　and　impelling　forward　and　up　the　hill　through　the　heavy　sand。

〃Thank　you；　steward；　thank　you；　my　friend；〃　the　Ancient　Mariner　murmured　in　the　first　lull　between　the　gusts。



CHAPTER　XXII



Not　altogether　unwillingly；　in　the　darkness　of　night；　despite　that　he　disliked　the　man；　did　Michael　go　with　Harry　Del　Mar。　　Like　a　burglar　the　man　came；　with　infinite　caution　of　silence；　to　the　outhouse　in　Doctor　Emory's　back　yard　where　Michael　was　a　prisoner。　Del　Mar　knew　the　theatre　too　well　to　venture　any　hackneyed　melodramatic　effect　such　as　an　electric　torch。　　He　felt　his　way　in　the　darkness　to　the　door　of　the　outhouse；　unlatched　it；　and　entered　softly；　feeling　with　his　hands　for　the　wire…haired　coat。

And　Michael；　a　man…dog　and　a　lion…dog　in　all　the　stuff　of　him；　bristled　at　the　instant　of　intrusion；　but　made　no　outcry。　Instead；　he　smelled　out　the　intruder　and　recognised　him。　Disliking　the　man；　nevertheless　he　permitted　the　tying　of　the　rope　around　his　neck　and　silently　followed　him　out　to　the　sidewalk；　down　to　the　corner；　and　into　the　waiting　taxi。

His　reasoningunless　reason　be　denied　himwas　simple。　　This　man　he　had　met；　more　than　once；　in　the　company　of　Steward。　　Amity　had　existed　between　him　and　Steward；　for　they　had　sat　at　table；　and　drunk　together。　　Steward　was　lost。　　Michael　knew　not　where　to　find　him；　and　was　himself　a　prisoner　in　the　back　yard　of　a　strange　place。　　What　had　once　happened；　could　again　happen。　　It　had　happened　that　Steward；　Del　Mar；　and　Michael　had　sat　at　table　together　on　divers　occasions。　　It　was　probable　that　such　a　combination　would　happen　again；　was　going　to　happen　now；　and；　once　more；　in　the　bright…lighted　cabaret；　he　would　sit　on　a　chair；　Del　Mar　on　one　side；　and　on　the　other　side　beloved　Steward　with　a　glass　of　beer　before　himall　of　which　might　be　called　〃leaping　to　a　conclusion〃；　for　conclusion　there　was；　and　upon　the　conclusion　Michael　acted。

Now　Michael　could　not　reason　to　this　conclusion　nor　think　to　this　conclusion；　in　words。　　〃Amity；〃　as　an　instance；　was　no　word　in　his　consciousness。　　Whe