michael, brother of jerry-第41部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

ritually　unhealthful。　　He；　who　had　been　so　merry…hearted；　even　merrier…hearted　than　his　brother　Jerry；　began　to　grow　saturnine；　and　peevish；　and　ill…tempered。　　He　no　longer　experienced　impulses　to　play；　to　romp　around；　to　run　about。　　His　body　became　as　quiet　and　controlled　as　his　brain。　Human　convicts；　in　prisons；　attain　this　quietude。　　He　could　stand　by　the　hour；　to　heel　to　Collins；　uninterested；　infinitely　bored；　while　Collins　tortured　some　mongrel　creature　into　the　performance　of　a　trick。

And　much　of　this　torturing　Michael　witnessed。　　There　were　the　greyhounds；　the　high…jumpers　and　wide…leapers。　　They　were　willing　to　do　their　best；　but　Collins　and　his　assistants　achieved　the　miracle；　if　miracle　it　may　be　called；　of　making　them　do　better　than　their　best。　　Their　best　was　natural。　　Their　better　than　best　was　unnatural；　and　it　killed　some　and　shortened　the　lives　of　all。　Rushed　to　the　spring…board　and　the　leap；　always；　after　the　take…　off；　in　mid…air；　they　had　to　encounter　an　assistant　who　stood　underneath；　an　extraordinarily　long　buggy…whip　in　hand；　and　lashed　them　vigorously。　　This　made　them　leap　from　the　springboard　beyond　their　normal　powers；　hurting　and　straining　and　injuring　them　in　their　desperate　attempt　to　escape　the　whip…lash；　to　beat　the　whip…　lash　in　the　air　and　be　past　ere　it　could　catch　their　flying　flanks　and　sting　them　like　a　scorpion。

〃Never　will　a　jumping　dog　jump　his　hardest；〃　Collins　told　his　assistants；　〃unless　he's　made　to。　　That's　your　job。　　That's　the　difference　between　the　jumpers　I　turn　out　and　some　of　these　dub　amateur…jumping　outfits　that　fail　to　make　good　even　on　the　bush　circuits。〃

Collins　continually　taught。　　A　graduate　from　his　school；　an　assistant　who　received　from　him　a　letter　of　recommendation；　carried　a　high　credential　of　a　sheepskin　into　the　trained…animal　world。

〃No　dog　walks　naturally　on　its　hind　legs；　much　less　on　its　forelegs；〃　Collins　would　say。　　〃Dogs　ain't　built　that　way。　　THEY　HAVE　TO　BE　MADE　TO；　that's　all。　　That's　the　secret　of　all　animal　training。　　They　have　to。　　You've　got　to　make　them。　　That's　your　job。　　Make　them。　　Anybody　who　can't；　can't　make　good　in　this　factory。　　Put　that　in　your　pipe　and　smoke　it；　and　get　busy。〃

Michael　saw；　without　fully　appreciating；　the　use　of　the　spiked　saddle　on　the　bucking　mule。　　The　mule　was　fat　and　good…natured　the　first　day　of　its　appearance　in　the　arena。　　It　had　been　a　pet　mule　in　a　family　of　children　until　Collins's　keen　eyes　rested　on　it；　and　it　had　known　only　love　and　kindness　and　much　laughter　for　its　foolish　mulishness。　　But　Collins's　eyes　had　read　health；　vigour；　and　long　life；　as　well　as　laughableness　of　appearance　and　action　in　the　long…eared　hybrid。

Barney　Barnato　he　was　renamed　that　first　day　in　the　arena；　when；　also；　he　received　the　surprise　of　his　life。　　He　did　not　dream　of　the　spike　in　the　saddle；　nor；　while　the　saddle　was　empty；　did　it　press　against　him。　　But　the　moment　Samuel　Bacon；　a　negro　tumbler；　got　into　the　saddle；　the　spike　sank　home。　　He　knew　about　it　and　was　prepared。　　But　Barney；　taken　by　surprise；　arched　his　back　in　the　first　buck　he　had　ever　made。　　It　was　so　prodigious　a　buck　that　Collins　eyes　snapped　with　satisfaction；　while　Sam　landed　a　dozen　feet　away　in　the　sawdust。

〃Make　good　like　that；〃　Collins　approved；　〃and　when　I　sell　the　mule　you'll　go　along　as　part　of　the　turn；　or　I　miss　my　guess。　　And　it　will　be　some　turn。　　There'll　be　at　least　two　more　like　you；　who'll　have　to　be　nervy　and　know　how　to　fall。　　Get　busy。　　Try　him　again。〃

And　Barney　entered　into　the　hell　of　education　that　later　won　his　purchaser　more　time　than　he　could　deliver　over　the　best　vaudeville　circuits　in　Canada　and　the　United　States。　　Day　after　day　Barney　took　his　torture。　　Not　for　long　did　he　carry　the　spiked　saddle。　Instead；　bare…back；　he　received　the　negro　on　his　back；　and　was　spiked　and　set　bucking　just　the　same；　for　the　spike　was　now　attached　to　Sam's　palm　by　means　of　leather　straps。　　In　the　end；　Barney　became　so　〃touchy〃　about　his　back　that　he　almost　began　bucking　if　a　person　as　much　as　looked　at　it。　　Certainly；　aware　of　the　stab　of　pain；　he　started　bucking；　whirling；　and　kicking　whenever　the　first　signal　was　given　of　some　one　trying　to　mount　him。

At　the　end　of　the　fourth　week；　two　other　tumblers；　white　youths；　being　secured；　the　complete；　builded　turn　was　performed　for　the　benefit　of　a　slender；　French…looking　gentleman；　with　waxed　moustaches。　　In　the　end　he　bought　Barney；　without　haggling；　at　Collins's　own　terms　and　engaged　Sammy　and　the　other　two　tumblers　as　well。　　Collins　staged　the　trick　properly；　as　it　would　be　staged　in　the　theatre；　even　had　ready　and　set　up　all　the　necessary　apparatus；　and　himself　acted　as　ringmaster　while　the　prospective　purchaser　looked　on。

Barney；　fat　as　butter；　humorous…looking；　was　led　into　the　square　of　cloth…covered　steel　cables　and　cloth…covered　steel　uprights。　The　halter　was　removed　and　he　was　turned　loose。　　Immediately　he　became　restless；　the　ears　were　laid　back；　and　he　was　a　picture　of　viciousness。

〃Remember　one　thing；〃　Collins　told　the　man　who　might　buy。　　〃If　you　buy　him；　you'll　be　ringmaster；　and　you　must　never；　never　spike　him。　　When　he　comes　to　know　that；　you　can　always　put　your　hands　on　him　any　time　and　control　him。　　He's　good…natured　at　heart；　and　he's　the　gratefullest　mule　I've　ever　seen　in　the　business。　　He's　just　got　to　love　you；　and　hate　the　other　three。　　And　one　warning：　if　he　goes　real　bad　and　starts　biting；　you'll　have　to　pull　out　his　teeth　and　feed　him　soft　mashes　and　crushed　grain　that's　steamed。　I'll　give　you　the　recipe　for　the　digestive　dope　you'll　have　to　put　in。　　Nowwatch！〃

Collins　stopped　into　the　ring　and　caressed　Barney；　who　responded　in　the　best　of　tempers　and　tried　affectionately　to　nudge　and　shove　past　on　the　way　out　of　the　ropes　to　escape　what　he　knew　was　coming。

〃See；〃　Collins　exposited。　　〃He's　got　confidence　in　me。　　He　trusts　me。　　He　knows　I've　never　spiked　him　and　that　I　always　save　him　in　the　end。　　I'm　his　good　Samaritan；　and　you'll　have　to　be　the　same　to　him　if　you　buy　him。Now　I'll　give　you　your　spiel。　　Of　course；　you　can　improve　on　it　to　suit　yourself。〃

The　master…trainer　walked　out　of　the　rope　square；　stepped　forward　to　an　imaginary　line；　and　looked　down　and　out　and　up　as　if　he　were　gazing　at　the　pit　of　the　orchestra　beneath　him；　across　at　the　body　of　the　house；　and　up　into　the　galleries。

〃Ladies　and　gentlemen；〃　he　addressed　the　sawdust　emptiness　before　him　as　if　it　were　a　packed　audience；　〃this　is　Barney　Barnato；　the　biggest　joker　of　a　mule　ever　born。　　He's　as　affectionate　as　a　Newfoundland　puppyjust　watch〃

Stepping　back　to　the　ropes；　Collins　extended　his　hand　across　them；　saying：　　〃Come　here；　Barney；　and　show　all　these　people　who　you　love　best。〃

And　Barney　twinkled　forward　on　his　small　hoofs；　nozzled　the　open　hand；　and　came　closer；　nozzling　up　the　arm；　nudging　Collins's　shoulders　with　his　nose；　half…rearing　as　if　to　get　across　the　ropes　and　embrace　him。　　What　he　was　really　doing　was　begging　and　entreating　Collins　to　take　him　away　out　of　the　squared　ring　from　the　torment　he　knew　awaited　him。

〃That's　what　it　means　by　never　spiking　him；〃　Collins　shot　at　the　man　with　the　waxed　moustaches；　as　he　stepped　forward　to　the　imaginary　line　in　the　sawdust；　above　the　imaginary　pit　of　the　orchestra；　and　addressed　the　imaginary　house。

〃Ladies　and　gentlemen；　Barney　Barnato　is　a　josher。　　He's　got　forty　tricks　up　each　of　his　four　legs；　and　the　man　don't　live　that　he'll　let　stick　on　big　back　for　sixty　seconds。　　I'm　telling　you　this　in　fair　warning；　before　I　make　my　proposition。　　Looks　easy；　doesn't　it？one　minute；　the　sixtieth　part　of　an　hour；　to　be　precise；　sixty　seconds；　to　stick　on　the　back　of　an　affectionate　josher　mule　like　Barney。　　Well；　come　on　you　boys　and　broncho　riders。　　To　anybody　who　sticks　on　for　one　minute　I　shall　immediately　pay　the　sum　of　fifty　dollars；　for　two　whole；　entire　minutes；　the　sum　of　five　hundred　dollars。〃

This　was　the　cue　for　Samuel　Bacon；　who　advanced　across　the　sawdust；　awkward　and　grinning　and　embarrassed；　and　apparently　was　helped　up　to　the　stage　by　the　extended　hand　of　Collins。

〃Is　your　life　insured？〃　Collins　demanded。

Sam　shook　his　head　and　grinned。

〃Then　what　are　you　tackling　this　for？〃

〃For　the　money；〃　said　Sam。　　〃I　jes'　naturally　needs　it　in　my　business。〃

〃What　is　your　business？〃

〃None　of　your　business；　mister。〃　　Here　Sam　grinned　ingratiating　apology　for　his　impertinence　and　shuffled　on　his　legs。　　〃I　might　be　investin'　in　lottery　tickets；　only　I　ain't。　　Do　I　get　the　money？that's　OUR　business。〃

〃Sure　you　do；〃　Collins　replied。　　〃When　you　earn　it。　　Stand　over　there　to　one　side　and　wait　a　moment。Ladies　and　gentlemen；　if　you　will　forgive　the　delay；　I　must　ask　for　more　volunteers。Any　more　takers？　　Fifty　dollars　for　sixty　seconds。　　Almost　a　dollar　a　second　。　。　。　if　you　win。　　Better！　　I'll　make　it　a　dollar　a　second。　Sixty　dollars　to　the　boy；　man；　woman；　or　girl　who　sticks　on　Barney's　back　for　one　minute。　　Come　on；　ladies。　　Remember　this　is　the　day　of　equal　suffrage。　　Here's　where　you　put　it　over　on　your　husbands；　brothers；　sons；　fathers；　and　grandfathers。　　Age　is　no　limit。Grandma；　do　I　get　you？〃　he　uttered　directly　to　what　must　have　been　a　very　elderly　lady　in　a　near　front　row。〃You　see；〃　（to　the　prospect