michael, brother of jerry-第9部分

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〃He　had；〃　one　of　the　passengers；　a　coconut　planter　from　the　Shortlands；　interjected。

The　steward　threw　him　a　grateful　glance　and　continued。

〃He's　a　good　dog；　sir；　a　most　obedient　dog；　sirlook　at　the　way　he　minded　me　right　in　the　thick　of　the　scrap　an'　come　'n'　lay　down。　　He's　smart　as　chain…lightnin'；　sir；　do　anything　I　tell　him。　I'll　make　him　make　friends。　　See。　。　。　〃

Stepping　over　to　the　two　hysterical　terriers；　Daughtry　called　Michael　to　him。

〃He's　all　right；　savvee；　Killeny；　he　all　right；〃　he　crooned；　at　the　same　time　resting　one　hand　on　a　terrier　and　the　other　on　Michael。

The　terrier　whimpered　and　backed　solidly　against　Captain　Duncan's　legs；　but　Michael；　with　a　slow　bob　of　tail　and　unbelligerent　ears；　advanced　to　him；　looked　up　to　Steward　to　make　sure；　then　sniffed　his　late　antagonist；　and　even　ran　out　his　tongue　in　a　caress　to　the　side　of　the　other's　ear。

〃See；　sir；　no　bad　feelings；〃　Daughtry　exulted。　　〃He　plays　the　game；　sir。　　He's　a　proper　dog；　he's　a　man…dog。Here；　Killeny！　The　other　one。　　He　all　right。　　Kiss　and　make　up。　　That's　the　stuff。〃

The　other　fox…terrier；　the　one　with　the　injured　foreleg；　endured　Michael's　sniff　with　no　more　than　hysterical　growls　deep　in　the　throat；　but　the　flipping　out　of　Michael's　tongue　was　too　much。　The　wounded　terrier　exploded　in　a　futile　snap　at　Michael's　tongue　and　nose。

〃He　all　right；　Killeny；　he　all　right；　sure；〃　Steward　warned　quickly。

With　a　bob　of　his　tail　in　token　of　understanding；　without　a　shade　of　resentment；　Michael　lifted　a　paw　and　with　a　playful　casual　stroke；　dab…like；　brought　its　weight　on　the　other's　neck　and　rolled　him；　head…downward；　over　on　the　deck。　　Though　he　snarled　wrathily；　Michael　turned　away　composedly　and　looked　up　into　Steward's　face　for　approval。

A　roar　of　laughter　from　the　passengers　greeted　the　capsizing　of　the　fox…terrier　and　the　good…natured　gravity　of　Michael。　　But　not　alone　at　this　did　they　laugh；　for　at　the　moment　of　the　snap　and　the　turning　over；　Captain　Duncan's　unstrung　nerves　had　exploded；　causing　him　to　jump　as　he　tensed　his　whole　body。

〃Why；　sir；〃　the　steward　went　on　with　growing　confidence；　〃I　bet　I　can　make　him　friends　with　you；　too；　by　this　time　to…morrow　。　。　。　〃

〃By　this　time　five　minutes　he'll　be　overboard；〃　the　captain　answered。　　〃Bo's'n！　　Over　with　him！〃

The　boatswain　advanced　a　tentative　step；　while　murmurs　of　protest　arose　from　the　passengers。

〃Look　at　my　cat；　and　look　at　me；〃　Captain　Duncan　defended　his　action。

The　boatswain　made　another　step；　and　Dag　Daughtry　glared　a　threat　at　him。

〃Go　on！〃　the　Captain　commanded。

〃Hold　on！〃　spoke　up　the　Shortlands　planter。　　〃Give　the　dog　a　square　deal。　　I　saw　the　whole　thing。　　He　wasn't　looking　for　trouble。　　First　the　cat　jumped　him。　　She　had　to　jump　twice　before　he　turned　loose。　　She'd　have　scratched　his　eyes　out。　　Then　the　two　dogs　jumped　him。　　He　hadn't　bothered　them。　　Then　you　jumped　him。　He　hadn't　bothered　you。　　And　then　came　that　sailor　with　the　mop。　And　now　you　want　the　bo's'n　to　jump　him　and　throw　him　overboard。　Give　him　a　square　deal。　　He's　only　been　defending　himself。　　What　do　you　expect　any　dog　that　is　a　dog　to　do？lie　down　and　be　walked　over　by　every　strange　dog　and　cat　that　comes　along？　　Play　the　game；　Skipper。　　You　gave　him　some　mighty　hard　kicks。　　He　only　defended　himself。〃

〃He's　some　defender；〃　Captain　Duncan　grinned；　with　a　hint　of　the　return　of　his　ordinary　geniality；　at　the　same　time　tenderly　pressing　his　bleeding　shoulder　and　looking　woefully　down　at　his　tattered　duck　trousers。　　〃All　right；　Steward。　　If　you　can　make　him　friends　with　me　in　five　minutes；　he　stays　on　board。　　But　you'll　have　to　make　it　up　to　me　with　a　new　pair　of　trousers。〃

〃And　gladly；　sir；　thank　you；　sir；〃　Daughtry　cried。　　〃And　I'll　make　it　up　with　a　new　cat　as　well；　sirCome　on；　Killeny　Boy。　　This　big　fella　marster　he　all　right；　you　bet。〃

And　Michael　listened。　　Not　with　the　smouldering；　smothering；　choking　hysteria　that　still　worked　in　the　fox…terriers　did　he　listen；　nor　with　quivering　of　muscles　and　jumps　of　over…wrought　nerves；　but　coolly；　composedly；　as　if　no　battle　royal　had　just　taken　place　and　no　rips　of　teeth　and　kicks　of　feet　still　burned　and　ached　his　body。

He　could　not　help　bristling；　however；　when　first　he　sniffed　a　trousers'　leg　into　which　his　teeth　had　so　recently　torn。

〃Put　your　hand　down　on　him；　sir；〃　Daughtry　begged。

And　Captain　Duncan；　his　own　good　self　once　more；　bent　and　rested　a　firm；　unhesitating　hand　on　Michael's　head。　　Nay；　more；　he　even　caressed　the　ears　and　rubbed　about　the　roots　of　them。　　And　Michael　the　merry…hearted；　who　fought　like　a　lion　and　forgave　and　forgot　like　a　man；　laid　his　neck　hair　smoothly　down；　wagged　his　stump　tail；　smiled　with　his　eyes　and　ears　and　mouth；　and　kissed　with　his　tongue　the　hand　with　which　a　short　time　before　he　had　been　at　war。



CHAPTER　VII



For　the　rest　of　the　voyage　Michael　had　the　run　of　the　ship。　Friendly　to　all；　he　reserved　his　love　for　Steward　alone；　though　he　was　not　above　many　an　undignified　romp　with　the　fox…terriers。

〃The　most　playful…minded　dog；　without　being　silly；　I　ever　saw；〃　was　Dag　Daughtry's　verdict　to　the　Shortlands　planter；　to　whom　he　had　just　sold　one　of　his　turtle…shell　combs。　　〃You　see；　some　dogs　never　get　over　the　play…idea；　an'　they're　never　good　for　anything　else。　　But　not　Killeny　Boy。　　He　can　come　down　to　seriousness　in　a　second。　　I'll　show　you；　and　I'll　show　you　he's　got　a　brain　that　counts　to　five　an'　knows　wireless　telegraphy。　　You　just　watch。〃

At　the　moment　the　steward　made　his　faint　lip…noiseso　faint　that　he　could　not　hear　it　himself　and　was　almost　for　wondering　whether　or　not　he　had　made　it；　so　faint　that　the　Shortlands　planter　did　not　dream　that　he　was　making　it。　　At　that　moment　Michael　was　lying　squirming　on　his　back　a　dozen　feet　away；　his　legs　straight　up　in　the　air；　both　fox…terriers　worrying　with　well…stimulated　ferociousness。　　With　a　quick　out…thrust　of　his　four　legs；　he　rolled　over　on　his　side　and　with　questioning　eyes　and　pricked　ears　looked　and　listened。　　Again　Daughtry　made　the　lip…noise；　again　the　Shortlands　planter　did　not　hear　nor　guess；　and　Michael　bounded　to　his　feet　and　to　his　lord's　side。

〃Some　dog；　eh？〃　the　steward　boasted。

〃But　how　did　he　know　you　wanted　him？〃　the　planter　queried。　　〃You　never　called　him。〃

〃Mental　telepathy；　the　affinity　of　souls　pitched　in　the　same　whatever…you…call…it　harmony；〃　the　steward　mystified。　　〃You　see；　Killeny　an'　me　are　made　of　the　same　kind　of　stuff；　only　run　into　different　moulds。　　He　might　a…been　my　full　brother；　or　me　his；　only　for　some　mistake　in　the　creation　factory　somewhere。　　Now　I'll　show　you　he　knows　his　bit　of　arithmetic。〃

And；　drawing　the　paper　balls　from　his　pocket；　Dag　Daughtry　demonstrated　to　the　amazement　and　satisfaction　of　the　ring　of　passengers　Michael's　ability　to　count　to　five。

〃Why；　sir；〃　Daughtry　concluded　the　performance；　〃if　I　was　to　order　four　glasses　of　beer　in　a　public…house　ashore；　an'　if　I　was　absent…minded　an'　didn't　notice　the　waiter　'd　only　brought　three；　Killeny　Boy　there　'd　raise　a　row　instanter。〃

Kwaque　was　no　longer　compelled　to　enjoy　his　jews'　harp　on　the　gratings　over　the　fire…room；　now　that　Michael's　presence　on　the　Makambo　was　known；　and；　in　the　stateroom；　on　stolen　occasions；　he　made　experiments　of　his　own　with　Michael。　　Once　the　jews'　harp　began　emitting　its　barbaric　rhythms；　Michael　was　helpless。　　He　needs　must　open　his　mouth　and　pour　forth　an　unwilling；　gushing　howl。　　But；　as　with　Jerry；　it　was　not　mere　howl。　　It　was　more　akin　to　a　mellow　singing；　and　it　was　not　long　before　Kwaque　could　lead　his　voice　up　and　down；　in　rough　time　and　tune；　within　a　definite　register。

Michael　never　liked　these　lessons；　for；　looking　down　upon　Kwaque；　he　hated　in　any　way　to　be　under　the　black's　compulsion。　　But　all　this　was　changed　when　Dag　Daughtry　surprised　them　at　a　singing　lesson。　　He　resurrected　the　harmonica　with　which　it　was　his　wont；　ashore　in　public…houses；　to　while　away　the　time　between　bottles。　The　quickest　way　to　start　Michael　singing；　he　discovered；　was　with　minors；　and；　once　started；　he　would　sing　on　and　on　for　as　long　as　the　music　played。　　Also；　in　the　absence　of　an　instrument；　Michael　would　sing　to　the　prompting　and　accompaniment　of　Steward's　voice；　who　would　begin　by　wailing　〃kow…kow〃　long　and　sadly；　and　then　branch　out　on　some　old　song　or　ballad。　　Michael　had　hated　to　sing　with　Kwaque；　but　he　loved　to　do　it　with　Steward；　even　when　Steward　brought　him　on　deck　to　perform　before　the　laughter…shrieking　passengers。

Two　serious　conversations　were　held　by　the　steward　toward　the　close　of　the　voyage：　　one　with　Captain　Duncan　and　one　with　Michael。

〃It's　this　way；　Killeny；〃　Daughtry　began；　one　evening；　Michael's　head　resting　on　his　lord's　knees　as　he　gazed　adoringly　up　into　his　lord's　face；　understanding　no　whit　of　what　was　spoken　but　loving　the　intimacy　the　sounds　betokened。　　〃I　stole　you　for　beer　money；　an'　when　I　saw　you　there　on　the　beach　that　night　I　knew　you'd　bring　ten　quid　anywheres。　　Ten　quid's　a　horrible　lot　of　money。　Fifty　dollars　in　the　way　the　Yankees　reckon　it；　an'　a　hundred　Mex　in　China　fashion。

〃Now；　fifty　dollars　gold　'd　buy　beer　to　beat　the　bandenough　to　drown　me　if　I　fell　in　head　first。　　Yet　I　want　to　ask　you　one　question。　　Can　yo