michael, brother of jerry-第58节

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lion　was　a　man…　killing　man　astray　in　their　landscape。　　The　telephone　on　the　Kennan　Ranch；　and　the　telephones　on　all　other　ranches　abutting　on　Sonoma　Mountain；　had　rung　often　and　transmitted　purposeful　conversations　and　arrangements。

So　it　happened；　when　the　posses　had　begun　to　penetrate　the　mountain；　and　when　the　man　was　compelled　to　make　a　daylight　dash　down　into　the　Valley　of　the　Moon　to　cross　over　to　the　mountain　fastnesses　that　lay　between　it　and　Napa　Valley；　that　Harley　Kennan　rode　out　on　the　hot…blooded　colt　he　was　training。　　He　was　not　in　pursuit　of　the　man　who　had　slain　the　postmaster　of　Chisholm　and　his　family。　　The　mountain　was　alive　with　man…hunters；　as　he　well　knew；　for　a　score　had　bedded　and　eaten　at　the　ranch　house　the　night　before。　　So　the　meeting　of　Harley　Kennan　with　the　man　was　unplanned　and　eventful。

It　was　not　the　first　meeting　with　men　the　man　had　had　that　day。　During　the　preceding　night　he　had　noted　the　campfires　of　several　posses。　　At　dawn；　attempting　to　break　forth　down　the　south…western　slopes　of　the　mountain　toward　Petaluma；　he　had　encountered　not　less　than　five　separate　detachments　of　dairy…ranchers　all　armed　with　Winchesters　and　shotguns。　　Breaking　back　to　cover；　the　chase　hot　on　his　heels；　he　had　run　full　tilt　into　a　party　of　village　youths　from　Glen　Ellen　and　Caliente。　　Their　squirrel　and　deer　rifles　had　missed　him；　but　his　back　had　been　peppered　with　birdshot　in　a　score　of　places；　the　leaden　pellets　penetrating　maddeningly　in　a　score　of　places　just　under　the　skin。

In　the　rush　of　his　retreat　down　the　canyon　slope；　he　had　plunged　into　a　bunch　of　shorthorn　steers；　who；　far　more　startled　than　he；　had　rolled　him　on　the　forest　floor；　trampled　over　him　in　their　panic；　and　smashed　his　rifle　under　their　hoofs。　　Weaponless；　desperate；　stinging　and　aching　from　his　superficial　wounds　and　bruises；　he　had　circled　the　forest　slopes　along　deer…paths；　crossed　two　canyons；　and　begun　to　descend　the　horse…trail　he　found　in　the　third　canyon。

It　was　on　this　trail；　going　down；　that　he　met　the　reporter　coming　up。　　The　reporter　waswell；　just　a　reporter；　from　the　city；　knowing　only　city　ways；　who　had　never　before　engaged　in　a　man…　hunt。　　The　livery　horse　he　had　rented　down　in　the　valley　was　a　broken…kneed；　jaded；　and　spiritless　creature；　that　stood　calmly　while　its　rider　was　dragged　from　its　back　by　the　wild…looking　and　violently　impetuous　man　who　sprang　out　around　a　sharp　turn　of　the　trail。　　The　reporter　struck　at　his　assailant　once　with　his　riding…　whip。　　Then　he　received　a　beating；　such　as　he　had　often　written　up　about　sailor…rows　and　saloon…frequenters　in　his　cub…reporter　days；　but　which　for　the　first　time　it　was　his　lot　to　experience。

To　the　man's　disgust　he　found　the　reporter　unarmed　save　for　a　pencil　and　a　wad　of　copy　paper。　　Out　of　his　disappointment　in　not　securing　a　weapon；　he　beat　the　reporter　up　some　more；　left　him　wailing　among　the　ferns；　and；　astride　the　reporter's　horse；　urging　it　on　with　the　reporter's　whip；　continued　down　the　trail。

Jerry；　ever　keenest　on　the　hunting；　had　ranged　farther　afield　than　Michael　as　the　pair　of　them　accompanied　Harley　Kennan　on　his　early　morning　ride。　　Even　so；　Michael；　at　the　heels　of　his　master's　horse；　did　not　see　nor　understand　the　beginning　of　the　catastrophe。　　For　that　matter；　neither　did　Harley。　　Where　a　steep；　eight…foot　bank　came　down　to　the　edge　of　the　road　along　which　he　was　riding；　Harley　and　the　hot…blood　colt　were　startled　by　an　eruption　through　the　screen　of　manzanita　bushes　above。　　Looking　up；　he　saw　a　reluctant　horse　and　a　forceful　rider　plunging　in　mid…　air　down　upon　him。　　In　that　flashing　glimpse；　even　as　he　reined　and　spurred　to　make　his　own　horse　leap　sidewise　out　from　under；　Harley　Kennan　observed　the　scratched　skin　and　torn　clothing；　the　wild…burning　eyes；　and　the　haggardness　under　the　scraggly　growth　of　beard；　of　the　man…hunted　man。

The　livery　horse　was　justifiably　reluctant　to　make　that　leap　out　and　down　the　bank。　　Too　painfully　aware　of　the　penalty　its　broken　knees　and　rheumatic　joints　must　pay；　it　dug　its　hoofs　into　the　steep　slope　of　moss　and　only　sprang　out　and　clear　in　the　air　in　order　to　avoid　a　fall。　　Even　so；　its　shoulder　impacted　against　the　shoulder　of　the　whirling　colt　below　it；　overthrowing　the　latter。　Harley　Kennan's　leg；　caught　under　against　the　earth；　snapped；　and　the　colt；　twisted　and　twisting　as　it　struck　the　ground；　snapped　its　backbone。

To　his　utter　disgust；　the　man；　pursued　by　an　armed　countryside；　found　Harley　Kennan；　his　latest　victim；　like　the　reporter；　to　be　weaponless。　　Dismounted；　he　snarled　in　his　rage　and　disappointment　and　deliberately　kicked　the　helpless　man　in　the　side。　　He　had　drawn　back　his　foot　for　the　second　kick；　when　Michael　took　a　hand…　…or　a　leg；　rather；　sinking　his　teeth　into　the　calf　of　the　back…　drawn　leg　about　to　administer　the　kick。

With　a　curse　the　man　jerked　his　leg　clear；　Michael's　teeth　ribboning　flesh　and　trousers。

〃Good　boy；　Michael！〃　Harley　applauded　from　where　he　lay　helplessly　pinioned　under　his　horse。　　〃Hey！　　Michael！〃　he　continued；　lapsing　back　into　beche…de…mer；　〃chase　'm　that　white　fella　marster　to　hell　outa　here　along　bush！〃

〃I'll　kick　your　head　off　for　that；〃　the　man　gritted　at　Harley　through　his　teeth。

Savage　as　were　his　acts　and　utterance；　the　man　was　nearly　ready　to　cry。　　The　long　pursuit；　his　hand　against　all　mankind　and　all　mankind　against　him；　had　begun　to　break　his　stamina。　　He　was　surrounded　by　enemies。　　Even　youths　had　risen　up　and　peppered　his　back　with　birdshot；　and　beef　cattle　had　trod　him　underfoot　and　smashed　his　rifle。　　Everything　conspired　against　him。　　And　now　it　was　a　dog　that　had　slashed　down　his　leg。　　He　was　on　the　death…　road。　　Never　before　had　this　impressed　him　with　such　clear　certainty。　　Everything　was　against　him。　　His　desire　to　cry　was　hysterical；　and　hysteria；　in　a　desperate　man；　is　prone　to　express　itself　in　terrible　savage　ways。　　Without　rhyme　or　reason　he　was　prepared　to　carry　out　his　threat　to　kick　Harley　Kennan　to　death。　Not　that　Kennan　had　done　anything　to　him。　　On　the　contrary；　it　was　he　who　had　attacked　Kennan；　hurling　him　down　on　the　road　and　breaking　his　leg　under　his　horse。　　But　Harley　Kennan　was　a　man；　and　all　mankind　was　his　enemy；　and；　in　killing　Kennan；　in　some　vague　way　it　appeared　to　him　that　he　was　avenging　himself；　at　least　in　part；　on　mankind　in　general。　　Going　down　himself　in　death；　he　would　drag　what　he　could　with　him　into　the　red　ruin。

But　ere　he　could　kick　the　man　on　the　ground；　Michael　was　back　upon　him。　　His　other　calf　and　trousers'　leg　were　ribboned　as　he　tore　clear。　　Then；　catching　Michael　in　mid…leap　with　a　kick　that　reached　him　under　the　chest；　he　sent　him　flying　through　the　air　off　the　road　and　down　the　slope。　　As　mischance　would　have　it；　Michael　did　not　reach　the　ground。　　Crashing　through　a　scrub　manzanita　bush；　his　body　was　caught　and　pinched　in　an　acute　fork　a　yard　above　the　ground。

〃Now；〃　the　man　announced　grimly　to　Harley；　〃I'm　going　to　do　what　I　said。　　I'm　just　going　to　kick　your　head　clean　off。〃

〃And　I　haven't　done　a　thing　to　you；〃　Harley　parleyed。　　〃I　don't　so　much　mind　being　murdered；　but　I'd　like　to　know　what　I'm　being　murdered　for。〃

〃Chasing　me　for　my　life；〃　the　man　snarled；　as　he　advanced。　　〃I　know　your　kind。　　You've　all　got　it　in　for　me；　and　I　ain't　got　a　chance　except　to　give　you　yours。　　I'll　take　a　whole　lot　of　it　out　on　you。〃

Kennan　was　thoroughly　aware　of　the　gravity　of　his　peril。　　Helpless　himself；　a　man…killing　lunatic　was　about　to　kill　him　and　to　kill　him　most　horribly。　　Michael；　a　prisoner　in　the　bush；　hanging　head…　downward　in　the　manzanita　from　his　loins　squeezed　in　the　fork；　and　struggling　vainly；　could　not　come　to　his　defence。

The　man's　first　kick；　aimed　at　Harley's　face；　he　blocked　with　his　fore…arm；　and；　before　the　man　could　make　a　second　kick；　Jerry　erupted　on　the　scene。　　Nor　did　he　need　encouragement　or　direction　from　his　love…master。　　He　flashed　at　the　man；　sinking　his　teeth　harmlessly　into　the　slack　of　the　man's　trousers　at　the　waist…band　above　the　hip；　but　by　his　weight　dragging　him　half　down　to　the　ground。

And　upon　Jerry　the　man　turned　with　an　increase　of　madness。　　In　truth　all　the　world　was　against　him。　　The　very　landscape　rained　dogs　upon　him。　　But　from　above；　from　the　slopes　of　Sonoma　Mountain；　the　cries　and　calls　of　the　trailing　poses　caught　his　ear；　and　deflected　his　intention。　　They　were　the　pursuing　death；　and　it　was　from　them　he　must　escape。　　With　another　kick　at　Jerry；　hurling　him　clear；　he　leaped　astride　the　reporter's　horse　which　had　continued　to　stand；　without　movement　or　excitement；　in　utter　apathy；　where　he　had　dismounted　from　it。

The　horse　went　into　a　reluctant　and　stiff…legged　gallop；　while　Jerry　followed；　snarling　and　growling　wrath　at　so　high　a　pitch　that　almost　he　squalled。

〃It's　all　right；　Michael；〃　Harley　soothed。　　〃Take　it　easy。　　Don't　hurt　yourself。　　The　trouble's　over。　　Anybody'll　happen　along　any　time　now　and　get　us　out　of　this　fix。〃

But　the　smaller　branch　of　the　two　composing　the　fork　broke；　and　Michael　fell　to　the　ground；　landing　in　momentary　confusion　on　his　head　and　shoulders。　　The　next　moment　he　was　on　his　feet　and　tearing　down　the　road　in　the　direction　of　Jerry's　noisy　pursuit。　Jerry's　noise　broke　in　a　sharp　cry　of　pain　th