michael, brother of jerry-第42部分

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　directly　to　what　must　have　been　a　very　elderly　lady　in　a　near　front　row。〃You　see；〃　（to　the　prospective　buyer）；　〃I've　got　the　entire　patter　for　you。　　You　could　do　it　with　two　rehearsals；　and　you　can　do　them　right　here；　free　of　charge；　part　of　the　purchase。〃

The　next　two　tumblers　crossed　the　sawdust　and　were　helped　by　Collins　up　to　the　imaginary　stage。

〃You　can　change　the　patter　according　to　the　cities　you're　in；〃　he　explained　to　the　Frenchman。　　〃It's　easy　to　find　out　the　names　of　the　most　despised　and　toughest　neighbourhoods　or　villages；　and　have　the　boys　hail　from　them。〃

Continuing　the　patter；　Collins　put　the　performance　on。　　Sam's　first　attempt　was　brief。　　He　was　not　half　on　when　he　was　flung　to　the　ground。　　Half　a　dozen　attempts；　quickly　repeated；　were　scarcely　better；　the　last　one　permitting　him　to　remain　on　Barney's　back　nearly　ten　seconds；　and　culminating　in　a　ludicrous　fall　over　Barney's　head。　　Sam　withdrew　from　the　ring；　shaking　his　head　dubiously　and　holding　his　side　as　if　in　pain。　　The　other　lads　followed。　　Expert　tumblers；　they　executed　most　amazing　and　side…　splitting　fails。　　Sam　recovered　and　came　back。　　Toward　the　last；　all　three　made　a　combined　attack　on　Barney；　striving　to　mount　him　simultaneously　from　different　slants　of　approach。　　They　were　scattered　and　flung　like　chaff；　sometimes　falling　heaped　together。　Once；　the　two　white　boys；　standing　apart　as　if　recovering　breath；　were　mowed　down　by　Sam's　flying　body。

〃Remember；　this　is　a　real　mule；〃　Collins　told　the　man　with　the　waxed　moustaches。　　〃If　any　outsiders　butt　in　for　a　hack　at　the　money；　all　the　better。　　They'll　get　theirs　quick。　　The　man　don't　live　who　can　stay　on　his　back　a　minute　。　。　。　if　you　keep　him　rehearsed　with　the　spike。　　He　must　live　in　fear　of　the　spike。　Never　let　him　slow　up　on　it。　　Never　let　him　forget　it。　　If　you　lay　off　any　time　for　a　few　days；　rehearse　him　with　the　spike　a　couple　of　times　just　before　you　begin　again；　or　else　he　might　forget　it　and　queer　the　turn　by　ambling　around　with　the　first　outside　rube　that　mounts　him。

〃And　just　suppose　some　rube；　all　hooks　of　arms　and　legs　and　hands；　is　managing　to　stick　on　anyway；　and　the　minute　is　getting　near　up。　Just　have　Sam　here；　or　any　of　your　three；　slide　in　and　spike　him　from　the　palm。　　That'll　be　good　night　for　Mr。　Rube。　　You　can't　lose；　and　the　audience'll　laugh　its　fool　head　off。

〃Now　for　the　climax！　　Watch！　　This　always　brings　the　house　down。　Get　busy　you　two！Sam！　　Ready！〃

While　the　white　boys　threatened　to　mount　Barney　from　either　side　and　kept　his　attention　engaged；　Sam；　from　outside；　in　a　sudden　fit　of　rage　and　desperation；　made　a　flying　dive　across　the　ropes　and　from　in　front　locked　arms　and　legs　about　Barney's　neck；　tucking　his　own　head　close　against　Barney's　head。　　And　Barney　reared　up　on　his　hind　legs；　as　he　had　long　since　learned　from　the　many　palm…　spikings　he　had　received　on　head　and　neck。

〃It's　a　corker；〃　Collins　announced；　as　Barney；　on　his　hind　legs；　striking　vainly　with　his　fore；　struggled　about　the　ring。　　〃There's　no　danger。　　He'll　never　fall　over　backwards。　　He's　a　mule；　and　he's　too　wise。　　Besides；　even　if　he　does；　all　Sam　has　to　do　is　let　go　and　fall　clear。〃

The　turn　over；　Barney　gladly　accepted　the　halter　and　was　led　out　of　the　square　ring　and　up　to　the　Frenchman。

〃Long　life　therelook　him　over；〃　Collins　continued　to　sell。　〃It's　a　full　turn；　including　yourself；　four　performers；　besides　the　mule；　and　besides　any　suckers　from　the　audience。　　It's　all　ready　to　put　on　the　boards；　and　dirt　cheap　at　five　thousand。〃

The　Frenchman　winced　at　the　sum。

〃Listen　to　arithmetic；〃　Collins　went　on。　　〃You　can　sell　at　twelve　hundred　a　week　at　least；　and　you　can　net　eight　hundred　certain。　Six　weeks　of　the　net　pays　for　the　turn；　and　you　can　book　a　hundred　weeks　right　off　the　bat　and　have　them　yelling　for　more。　　Wish　I　was　young　and　footloose。　　I'd　take　it　out　on　the　road　myself　and　coin　a　fortune。〃

And　Barney　was　sold；　and　passed　out　of　the　Cedarwild　Animal　School　to　the　slavery　of　the　spike　and　to　be　provocative　of　much　joy　and　laughter　in　the　pleasure…theatre　of　the　world。



CHAPTER　XXVII



〃The　thing　is；　Johnny；　you　can't　love　dogs　into　doing　professional　tricks；　which　is　the　difference　between　dogs　and　women；〃　Collins　told　his　assistant。　　〃You　know　how　it　is　with　any　dog。　　You　love　it　up　into　lying　down　and　rolling　over　and　playing　dead　and　all　such　dub　tricks。　　And　then　one　day　you　show　him　off　to　your　friends；　and　the　conditions　are　changed；　and　he　gets　all　excited　and　foolish；　and　you　can't　get　him　to　do　a　thing。　　Children　are　like　that。　　Lose　their　heads　in　company；　forget　all　their　training；　and　throw　you　down。〃

〃Now　on　the　stage；　they　got　real　tricks　to　do；　tricks　they　don't　do；　tricks　they　hate。　　And　they　mightn't　be　feeling　goodgot　a　touch　of　cold；　or　mange；　or　are　sour…balled。　　What　are　you　going　to　do？　　Apologize　to　the　audience？　　Besides；　on　the　stage；　the　programme　runs　like　clockwork。　　Got　to　start　performing　on　the　tick　of　the　clock；　and　anywhere　from　one　to　seven　turns　a　day；　all　depending　what　kind　of　time　you've　got。　　The　point　is；　your　dogs　have　got　to　get　right　up　and　perform。　　No　loving　them；　no　begging　them；　no　waiting　on　them。　　And　there's　only　the　one　way。　　They've　got　to　know　when　you　start；　you　mean　it。〃

〃And　dogs　ain't　fools；〃　Johnny　opined。　　〃They　know　when　you　mean　anything；　an'　when　you　don't。〃

〃Sure　thing；〃　Collins　nodded　approbation。　　〃The　moment　you　slack　up　on　them　is　the　moment　they　slack　up　in　their　work。　　You　get　soft；　and　see　how　quick　they　begin　making　mistakes　in　their　tricks。　　You've　got　to　keep　the　fear　of　God　over　them。　　If　you　don't；　they　won't；　and　you'll　find　yourself　begging　for　spotted　time　on　the　bush　circuits。〃

Half　an　hour　later；　Michael　heard；　though　he　understood　no　word　of　it；　the　master…trainer　laying　another　law　down　to　another　assistant。

〃Cross…breds　and　mongrels　are　what's　needed；　Charles。　　Not　one　thoroughbred　in　ten　makes　good；　unless　he's　got　the　heart　of　a　coward；　and　that's　just　what　distinguishes　them　from　mongrels　and　cross…breds。　　Like　race…horses；　they're　hot…blooded。　　They've　got　sensitiveness；　and　pride。　　Pride's　the　worst。　　You　listen　to　me。　I　was　born　into　the　business　and　I've　studied　it　all　my　life。　　I'm　a　success。　　There's　only　one　reason　I'm　a　successI　KNOW。　　Get　that。　　I　KNOW。〃

〃Another　thing　is　that　cross…breds　and　mongrels　are　cheap。　　You　needn't　be　afraid　of　losing　them　or　working　them　out。　　You　can　always　get　more；　and　cheap。　　And　they　ain't　the　trouble　in　teaching。　　You　can　throw　the　fear　of　God　into　them。　　That's　what's　the　matter　with　the　thoroughbreds。　　You　can't　throw　the　fear　of　God　into　them。〃

〃Give　a　mongrel　a　real　licking；　and　what's　he　do？　　He'll　kiss　your　hand；　and　be　obedient；　and　crawl　on　his　belly　to　do　what　you　want　him　to　do。　　They're　slave　dogs；　that's　what　mongrels　are。　　They　ain't　got　courage；　and　you　don't　want　courage　in　a　performing　dog。　You　want　fear。　　Now　you　give　a　thoroughbred　a　licking　and　see　what　happens。　　Sometimes　they　die。　　I've　known　them　to　die。　　And　if　they　don't　die；　what　do　they　do？　　Either　they　go　stubborn；　or　vicious；　or　both。　　Sometimes　they　just　go　to　biting　and　foaming。　You　can　kill　them；　but　you　can't　keep　them　from　biting　and　foaming。　　Or　they'll　go　straight　stubborn。　　They're　the　worst。　They're　the　passive　resistersthat's　what　I　call　them。　　They　won't　fight　back。　　You　can　flog　them　to　death；　but　it　won't　buy　you　anything。　　They're　like　those　Christians　that　used　to　be　burned　at　the　stake　or　boiled　in　oil。　　They've　got　their　opinions；　and　nothing　you　can　do　will　change　them。　　They'll　die　first。　。　。　。　And　they　do。　　I've　had　them。　　I　was　learning　myself　。　。　。　and　I　learned　to　leave　the　thoroughbred　alone。　　They　beat　you　out。　　They　get　your　goat。　　You　never　get　theirs。　　And　they're　time…wasters；　and　patience…wasters；　and　they're　expensive。〃

〃Take　this　terrier　here。〃　Collins　nodded　at　Michael；　who　stood　several　feet　back　of　him；　morosely　regarding　the　various　activities　of　the　arena。　　〃He's　both　kinds　of　a　thoroughbred；　and　therefore　no　good。　　I've　never　given　him　a　real　licking；　and　I　never　will。　　It　would　be　a　waste　of　time。　　He'll　fight　if　you　press　him　too　hard。　　And　he'll　die　fighting　you。　　He's　too　sensible　to　fight　if　you　don't　press　him　too　hard。　　And　if　you　don't　press　him　too　hard；　he'll　just　stay　as　he　is；　and　refuse　to　learn　anything。　　I'd　chuck　him　right　now；　except　Del　Mar　couldn't　make　a　mistake。　　Poor　Harry　knew　he　had　a　specially；　and　a　crackerjack；　and　it's　up　to　me　to　find　it。〃

〃Wonder　if　he's　a　lion　dog；〃　Charles　suggested。

〃He's　the　kind　that　ain't　afraid　of　lions；〃　Collins　concurred。　〃But　what　sort　of　a　specially　trick　could　he　do　with　lions？　　Stick　his　head　in　their　mouths？　　I　never　heard　of　a　dog　doing　that；　and　it's　an　idea。　　But　we　can　try　him。　　We've　tried　him　at　'most　everything　else。〃

〃There's　old　Hannibal；〃　said　Charles。　　〃He　used　to　take　a　woman's　head　in　his　mouth　with　the　old　Sales…Sinker　shows。〃

〃But　old　Hannibal's　getting　cranky；〃　Collins　objected。　　〃I've　been　watching　him　and　trying　to　get　rid　of　him。　　Any　animal　is　liable　to　go　off　its　nut　any　time；　especially　wild　ones。　　You　see；　the　life　ain't　natural。　　And　when　they　do；　it's　good　night。　　You　lose　your　investment；