michael, brother of jerry-第59节

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wn　the　road　in　the　direction　of　Jerry's　noisy　pursuit。　Jerry's　noise　broke　in　a　sharp　cry　of　pain　that　added　wings　to　Michael's　feet。　　Michael　passed　him　rolling　helplessly　on　the　road。　　What　had　happened　was　that　the　livery　horse；　in　its　stiff…　jointed；　broken…kneed　gallop；　had　stumbled；　nearly　fallen；　and；　in　its　sprawling　recovery；　had　accidentally　stepped　on　Jerry；　bruising　and　breaking　his　fore…leg。

And　the　man；　looking　back　and　seeing　Michael　close　upon　him；　decided　that　it　was　still　another　dog　attacking　him。　　But　he　had　no　fear　of　dogs。　　It　was　men；　with　their　rifles　and　shot…guns；　that　might　bring　him　to　ultimate　grief。　　Nevertheless；　the　pain　of　his　bleeding　legs；　lacerated　by　Jerry　and　Michael；　maintained　his　rage　against　dogs。

〃More　dogs；〃　was　his　bitter　thought；　as　he　leaned　out　and　brought　his　whip　down　across　Michael's　face。

To　his　surprise；　the　dog　did　not　wince　under　the　blow。　　Nor　for　that　matter　did　he　yelp　or　cry　out　from　the　pain。　　Nor　did　he　bark　or　growl　or　snarl。　　He　closed　in　as　though　he　had　not　received　the　blow；　and　as　though　the　whip　was　not　brandished　above　him。　　As　Michael　leaped　for　his　right　leg　he　swung　the　whip　down；　striking　him　squarely　on　the　muzzle　midway　between　nose　and　eyes。　Deflected　by　the　blow；　Michael　dropped　back　to　earth　and　ran　on　with　his　longest　leaps　to　catch　up　and　make　his　next　spring。

But　the　man　had　noticed　another　thing。　　At　such　close　range；　bringing　his　whip　down；　he　could　not　help　noting　that　Michael　had　kept　his　eyes　open　under　the　blow。　　Neither　had　he　winced　nor　blinked　as　the　whip　slashed　down　on　him。　　The　thing　was　uncanny。　It　was　something　new　in　the　way　of　dogs。　　Michael　sprang　again；　the　man　timed　him　again　with　the　whip；　and　he　saw　the　uncanny　thing　repeated。　　By　neither　wince　nor　blink　had　the　dog　acknowledged　the　blow。

And　then　an　entirely　new　kind　of　fear　came　upon　the　man。　　Was　this　the　end　for　him；　after　all　he　had　gone　through？　　Was　this　deadly　silent；　rough…coated　terrier　the　thing　destined　to　destroy　him　where　men　had　failed？　　He　did　not　even　know　that　the　dog　was　real。　Might　it　not　be　some　terrible　avenger；　out　of　the　mystery　beyond　life；　placed　to　beset　him　and　finish　him　finally　on　this　road　that　he　was　convinced　was　surely　the　death…road？　　The　dog　was　not　real。　It　could　not　be　real。　　The　dog　did　not　live　that　could　take　a　full…arm　whip…slash　without　wince　or　flinch。

Twice　again；　as　the　dog　sprang；　he　deflected　it　with　accurately　delivered　blows。　　And　the　dog　came　on　with　the　same　surety　and　silence。　　The　man　surrendered　to　his　terror；　clapping　heels　to　his　horse's　old　ribs；　beating　it　over　the　head　and　under　the　belly　with　the　whip　until　it　galloped　as　it　had　not　galloped　in　years。　Even　on　that　apathetic　steed　the　terror　descended。　　It　was　not　terror　of　the　dog；　which　it　knew　to　be　only　a　dog；　but　terror　of　the　rider。　　In　the　past　its　knees　had　been　broken　and　its　joints　stiffened　for　ever；　by　drunken…mad　riders　who　had　hired　him　from　the　stables。　　And　here　was　another　such　drunken…mad　riderfor　the　horse　sensed　the　man's　terrorwho　ached　his　ribs　with　the　weight　of　his　heels　and　beat　him　cruelly　over　face　and　nose　and　ears。

The　best　speed　of　the　horse　was　not　very　great；　not　great　enough　to　out…distance　Michael；　although　it　was　fast　enough　to　give　the　latter　only　infrequent　opportunities　to　spring　for　the　man's　leg。　But　each　spring　was　met　by　the　unvarying　whip…blow　that　by　its　very　weight　deflected　him　in　the　air。　　Though　his　teeth　each　time　clipped　together　perilously　close　to　the　man's　leg；　each　time　he　fell　back　to　earth　he　had　to　gather　himself　together　and　run　at　his　own　top　speed　in　order　to　overtake　the　terror…stricken　man　on　the　crazy…galloping　horse。

Enrico　Piccolomini　saw　the　chase　and　was　himself　in　at　the　finish；　and　the　affair；　his　one　great　adventure　in　the　world；　gave　him　wealth　as　well　as　material　for　conversation　to　the　end　of　his　days。　　Enrico　Piccolomini　was　a　wood…chopper　on　the　Kennan　Ranch。　On　a　rounded　knoll；　overlooking　the　road；　he　had　first　heard　the　galloping　hoofs　of　the　horse　and　the　crack　of　the　whip…blows　on　its　body。　　Next；　he　had　seen　the　running　battle　of　the　man；　the　horse；　and　the　dog。　　When　directly　beneath　him；　not　twenty　feet　distant；　he　saw　the　dog　leap；　in　its　queer　silent　way；　straight　up　and　in　to　the　down…smash　of　the　whip；　and　sink　its　teeth　in　the　rider's　leg。　　He　saw　the　dog；　with　its　weight；　as　it　fell　back　to　earth；　drag　the　man　half　out　of　the　saddle。　　He　saw　the　man；　in　an　effort　to　recover　his　balance；　put　his　own　weight　on　the　bridle…　reins。　　And　he　saw　the　horse；　half…rearing；　half…tottering　and　stumbling；　overthrow　the　last　shred　of　the　man's　balance　so　that　he　followed　the　dog　to　the　ground。

〃And　then　they　are　like　two　dogs；　like　two　beasts；〃　Piccolomini　was　wont　to　tell　in　after…years　over　a　glass　of　wine　in　his　little　hotel　in　Glen　Ellen。　　〃The　dog　lets　go　the　man's　leg　and　jumps　for　the　man's　throat。　　And　the　man；　rolling　over；　is　at　the　dog's　throat。　　Both　his　handssohe　fastens　about　the　throat　of　this　dog。　　And　the　dog　makes　no　sound。　　He　never　makes　sound；　before　or　after。　　After　the　two　hands　of　the　man　stop　his　breath　he　can　not　make　sound。　　But　he　is　not　that　kind　of　a　dog。　　He　will　not　make　sound　anyway。　　And　the　horse　stands　and　looks　on；　and　the　horse　coughs。　　It　is　very　strange　all　that　I　see。

〃And　the　man　is　mad。　　Only　a　madman　will　do　what　I　see　him　do。　　I　see　the　man　show　his　teeth　like　any　dog；　and　bite　the　dog　on　the　paw；　on　the　nose；　on　the　body。　　And　when　he　bites　the　dog　on　the　nose；　the　dog　bites　him　on　the　check。　　And　the　man　and　the　dog　fight　like　hell；　and　the　dog　gets　his　hind　legs　up　like　a　cat。　And　like　a　cat　he　tears　the　man's　shirt　away　from　his　chest；　and　tears　the　skin　of　the　chest　with　his　claws　till　it　is　all　red　with　bleeding。　　And　the　man　yow…yowls；　and　makes　noises　like　a　wild　mountain　lion。　　And　always　he　chokes　the　dog。　　It　is　a　hell　of　a　fight。

〃And　the　dog　is　Mister　Kennan's　dog；　a　fine　man；　and　I　have　worked　for　him　two　years。　　So　I　will　not　stand　there　and　see　Mister　Kennan's　dog　all　killed　to　pieces　by　the　man　who　fights　like　a　mountain　lion。　　I　run　down　the　hill；　but　I　am　excited　and　forget　my　axe。　　I　run　down　the　hill；　maybe　from　this　door　to　that　door；　twenty　feet　or　maybe　thirty　feet。　　And　it　is　nearly　all　finished　for　the　dog。　　His　tongue　is　a　long　ways　out；　and　his　eyes　like　covered　with　cobwebs；　but　still　he　scratches　the　man's　chest　with　his　hind…feet　and　the　man　yow…yowls　like　a　hen　of　the　mountains。

〃What　can　I　do？　　I　have　forgotten　the　axe。　　The　man　will　kill　the　dog。　　I　look　for　a　big　rock。　　There　are　no　rocks。　　I　look　for　a　club。　　I　cannot　find　a　club。　　And　the　man　is　killing　the　dog。　　I　tell　you　what　I　do。　　I　am　no　fool。　　I　kick　the　man。　　My　shoes　are　very　heavynot　like　shoes　I　wear　now。　　They　are　the　shoes　of　the　woodchopper；　very　thick　on　the　sole　with　hard　leather；　with　many　iron　nails。　　I　kick　the　man　on　the　side　of　the　face；　on　the　neck；　right　under　the　ear。　　I　kick　once。　　It　is　a　good　kick。　　It　is　enough。　　I　know　the　placeright　under　the　ear。

〃And　the　man　lets　go　of　the　dog。　　He　shuts　his　eyes；　and　opens　his　mouth；　and　lies　very　still。　　And　the　dog　begins　once　more　to　breathe。　　And　with　the　breath　comes　the　life；　and　right　away　he　wants　to　kill　the　man。　　But　I　say　'No；'　though　I　am　very　much　afraid　of　the　dog。　　And　the　man　begins　to　become　alive。　　He　opens　his　eyes　and　he　looks　at　me　like　a　mountain　lion。　　And　his　mouth　makes　a　noise　like　a　mountain　lion。　　And　I　am　afraid　of　him　like　I　am　afraid　of　the　dog。　　What　am　I　to　do？　　I　have　forgotten　the　axe。　I　tell　you　what　I　do。　　I　kick　the　man　once　again　under　the　ear。　Then　I　take　my　belt；　and　my　bandana　handkerchief；　and　I　tie　him。　I　tie　his　hands。　　I　tie　his　legs；　too。　　And　all　the　time　I　am　saying　'No；'　to　the　dog；　and　that　he　must　leave　the　man　alone。　And　the　dog　looks。　　He　knows　I　am　his　friend　and　am　tying　the　man。　And　he　does　not　bite　me；　though　I　am　very　much　afraid。　　The　dog　is　a　terrible　dog。　　Do　I　not　know？　　Have　I　not　seen　him　take　a　strong　man　out　of　the　saddle？a　man　that　is　like　a　mountain　lion？

〃And　then　the　men　come。　　They　all　have　guns…rifles；　shotguns；　revolvers；　pistols。　　And　I　think；　first；　that　justice　is　very　quick　in　the　United　States。　　Only　just　now　have　I　kicked　a　man　in　the　head；　and；　one…two…three；　just　like　that；　men　come　with　guns　to　take　me　to　jail　for　kicking　a　man　in　the　head。　　At　first　I　do　not　understand。　　The　many　men　are　angry　with　me。　　They　call　me　names；　and　say　bad　things；　but　they　do　not　arrest　me。　　Ah！　　I　begin　to　understand！　　I　hear　them　talk　about　three　thousand　dollars。　　I　have　robbed　them　of　three　thousand　dollars。　　It　is　not　true。　　I　say　so。　　I　say　never　have　I　robbed　a　man　of　one　cent。　Then　they　laugh。　　And　I　feel　better　and　I　understand　better。　　The　three　thousand　dollars　is　the　reward　of　the　Government　for　this　man　I　have　tied　up　with　my　belt　and　my　bandana。　　And　the　three　thousand　dollars　is　mine　because　I　kicked　the　man　in　the　head　and　tied　his　hands　and　his　feet。

〃So　I　do　not　work　for　Mister　Kennan　any　more。　　I　am　a　rich　man。　Three　thousand　dollars；　all　mine；　from　the　Government；　and　Mister　Kennan　sees　that　it　is　paid　to　me　by　the　Government　and　not　robbed　from　me　by　the　men　with　the　guns。　　Just　becau