michael, brother of jerry-第21章

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ery。

〃Worst　liars　I　ever　saw；　madam。　　Do　you　know；　after　forty　years　at　sea；　I　couldn't　believe　myself　under　oath。〃


Nine　days　later　the　Mariposa　threaded　the　Golden　Gate　and　docked　at　San　Francisco。　　Humorous　half…columns　in　the　local　papers；　written　in　the　customary　silly　way　by　unlicked　cub　reporters　just　out　of　grammar　school；　tickled　the　fancy　of　San　Francisco　for　a　fleeting　moment　in　that　the　steamship　Mariposa　had　rescued　some　sea…waifs　possessed　of　a　cock…and…bull　story　that　not　even　the　reporters　believed。　　Thus；　silly　reportorial　unveracity　usually　proves　extraordinary　truth　a　liar。　　It　is　the　way　of　cub　reporters；　city　newspapers；　and　flat…floor　populations　which　get　their　thrills　from　moving　pictures　and　for　which　the　real　world　and　all　its　spaciousness　does　not　exist。

〃Sunk　by　a　whale！〃　demanded　the　average　flat…floor　person。　〃Nonsense；　that's　all。　　Just　plain　rotten　nonsense。　　Now；　in　the　'Adventures　of　Eleanor；'　which　is　some　film；　believe　me；　I'll　tell　you　what　I　saw　happen　。　。　。　〃

So　Daughtry　and　his　crew　went　ashore　into　'Frisco　Town　uheralded　and　unsung；　the　second　following　morning's　lucubrations　of　the　sea　reporters　being　varied　disportations　upon　the　attack　on　an　Italian　crab　fisherman　by　an　enormous　jellyfish。　　Big　John　promptly　sank　out　of　sight　in　a　sailors'　boarding…house；　and；　within　the　week；　joined　the　Sailors'　Union　and　shipped　on　a　steam　schooner　to　load　redwood　ties　at　Bandon；　Oregon。　　Ah　Moy　got　no　farther　ashore　than　the　detention　sheds　of　the　Federal　Immigration　Board；　whence　he　was　deported　to　China　on　the　next　Pacific　Mail　steamer。　　The　Mary　Turner's　cat　was　adopted　by　the　sailors'　forecastle　of　the　Mariposa；　and　on　the　Mariposa　sailed　away　on　the　back　trip　to　Tahiti。　　Scraps　was　taken　ashore　by　a　quartermaster　and　left　in　the　bosom　of　his　family。

And　ashore　went　Dag　Daughtry；　with　his　small　savings；　to　rent　two　cheap　rooms　for　himself　and　his　remaining　responsibilities；　namely；　Charles　Stough　Greenleaf；　Kwaque；　Michael；　and；　not　least；　Cocky。　　But　not　for　long　did　he　permit　the　Ancient　Mariner　to　live　with　him。

〃It's　not　playing　the　game；　sir；〃　he　told　him。　　〃What　we　need　is　capital。　　We've　got　to　interest　capital；　and　you've　got　to　do　the　interesting。　　Now　this　very　day　you've　got　to　buy　a　couple　of　suitcases；　hire　a　taxicab；　go　sailing　up　to　the　front　door　of　the　Bronx　Hotel　like　good　pay　and　be　damned。　　She's　a　real　stylish　hotel；　but　reasonable　if　you　want　to　make　it　so。　　A　little　room；　an　inside　room；　European　plan；　of　course；　and　then　you　can　economise　by　eatin'　out。〃

〃But；　steward；　I　have　no　money；〃　the　Ancient　Mariner　protested。

〃That's　all　right；　sir；　I'll　back　you　for　all　I　can。〃

〃But；　my　dear　man；　you　know　I'm　an　old　impostor。　　I　can't　stick　you　up　like　the　others。　　You　。　。　。　why　。　。　。　why；　you're　a　friend；　don't　you　see？〃

〃Sure　I　do；　and　I　thank　you　for　sayin'　it；　sir。　　And　that's　why　I'm　with　you。　　And　when　you've　nailed　another　crowd　of　treasure…　hunters　and　got　the　ship　ready；　you'll　just　ship　me　along　as　steward；　with　Kwaque；　and　Killeny　Boy；　and　the　rest　of　our　family。　You've　adopted　me；　now；　an'　I'm　your　grown…up　son；　an'　you've　got　to　listen　to　me。　　The　Bronx　is　the　hotel　for　youfine…soundin'　name；　ain't　it？　　That's　atmosphere。　　Folk'll　listen　half　to　you　an'　more　to　your　hotel。　　I　tell　you；　you　leaning　back　in　a　big　leather　chair　talkin'　treasure　with　a　two…bit　cigar　in　your　mouth　an'　a　twenty…cent　drink　beside　you；　why　that's　like　treasure。　They　just　got　to　believe。　　An'　if　you'll　come　along　now；　sir；　we'll　trot　out　an'　buy　them　suit…cases。〃

Right　bravely　the　Ancient　Mariner　drove　to　the　Bronx　in　a　taxi；　registered　his　〃Charles　Stough　Greenleaf〃　in　an　old…fashioned　hand；　and　took　up　anew　the　activities　which　for　years　had　kept　him　free　of　the　poor…farm。　　No　less　bravely　did　Dag　Daughtry　set　out　to　seek　work。　　This　was　most　necessary；　because　he　was　a　man　of　expensive　luxuries。　　His　family　of　Kwaque；　Michael；　and　Cocky　required　food　and　shelter；　more　costly　than　that　was　maintenance　of　the　Ancient　Mariner　in　the　high…class　hotel；　and；　in　addition；　was　his　six…quart　thirst。

But　it　was　a　time　of　industrial　depression。　　The　unemployed　problem　was　bulking　bigger　than　usual　to　the　citizens　of　San　Francisco。　　And；　as　regarded　steamships　and　sailing　vessels；　there　were　three　stewards　for　every　Steward's　position。　　Nothing　steady　could　Daughtry　procure；　while　his　occasional　odd　jobs　did　not　balance　his　various　running　expenses。　　Even　did　he　do　pick…and…　shovel　work；　for　the　municipality；　for　three　days；　when　he　had　to　give　way；　according　to　the　impartial　procedure；　to　another　needy　one　whom　three　days'　work　would　keep　afloat　a　little　longer。

Daughtry　would　have　put　Kwaque　to　work；　except　that　Kwaque　was　impossible。　　The　black；　who　had　only　seen　Sydney　from　steamers'　decks；　had　never　been　in　a　city　in　his　life。　　All　he　knew　of　the　world　was　steamers；　far…outlying　south…sea　isles；　and　his　own　island　of　King　William　in　Melanesia。　　So　Kwaque　remained　in　the　two　rooms；　cooking　and　housekeeping　for　his　master　and　caring　for　Michael　and　Cocky。　　All　of　which　was　prison　for　Michael；　who　had　been　used　to　the　run　of　ships；　of　coral　beaches　and　plantations。

But　in　the　evenings；　sometimes　accompanied　a　few　steps　in　the　rear　by　Kwaque；　Michael　strolled　out　with　Steward。　　The　multiplicity　of　man…gods　on　the　teeming　sidewalks　became　a　real　bore　to　Michael；　so　that　man…gods；　in　general；　underwent　a　sharp　depreciation。　　But　Steward；　the　particular　god　of　his　fealty　and　worship；　appreciated。　　Amongst　so　many　gods　Michael　felt　bewildered；　while　Steward's　Abrahamic　bosom　became　more　than　ever　the　one　sure　haven　where　harshness　and　danger　never　troubled。

〃Mind　your　step；〃　is　the　last　word　and　warning　of　twentieth…　century　city　life。　　Michael　was　not　slow　to　learn　it；　as　he　conserved　his　own　feet　among　the　countless　thousands　of　leather…　shod　feet　of　men；　ever　hurrying；　always　unregarding　of　the　existence　and　right　of　way　of　a　lowly；　four…legged　Irish　terrier。

The　evening　outings　with　Steward　invariably　led　from　saloon　to　saloon；　where；　at　long　bars；　standing　on　sawdust　floors；　or　seated　at　tables；　men　drank　and　talked。　　Much　of　both　did　men　do；　and　also　did　Steward　do；　ere；　his　daily　six…quart　stint　accomplished；　he　turned　homeward　for　bed。　　Many　were　the　acquaintances　he　made；　and　Michael　with　him。　　Coasting　seamen　and　bay　sailors　they　mostly　were；　although　there　were　many　'longshoremen　and　waterfront　workmen　among　them。

From　one　of　these；　a　scow…schooner　captain　who　plied　up　and　down　the　bay　and　the　San　Joaquin　and　Sacramento　rivers；　Daughtry　had　the　promise　of　being　engaged　as　cook　and　sailor　on　the　schooner　Howard。　　Eighty　tons　of　freight；　including　deckload；　she　carried；　and　in　all　democracy　Captain　Jorgensen；　the　cook；　and　the　two　other　sailors；　loaded　and　unloaded　her　at　all　hours；　and　sailed　her　night　and　day　on　all　times　and　tides；　one　man　steering　while　three　slept　and　recuperated。　　It　was　time；　and　double…time；　and　over…time　beyond　that；　but　the　feeding　was　generous　and　the　wages　ran　from　forty…five　to　sixty　dollars　a　month。

〃Sure；　you　bet；〃　said　Captain　Jorgensen。　　〃This　cook…feller；　Hanson；　pretty　quick　I　smash　him　up　an'　fire　him；　then　you　can　come　along　。　。　。　and　the　bow…wow；　too。〃　　Here　he　dropped　a　hearty；　wholesome　hand　of　toil　down　to　a　caress　of　Michael's　head。　〃That's　one　fine　bow…wow。　　A　bow…wow　is　good　on　a　scow　when　all　hands　sleep　alongside　the　dock　or　in　an　anchor　watch。〃

〃Fire　Hanson　now；〃　Dag　Daughtry　urged。

But　Captain　Jorgensen　shook　his　slow　head　slowly。　　〃First　I　smash　him　up。〃

〃Then　smash　him　now　and　fire　him；〃　Daughtry　persisted。　　〃There　he　is　right　now　at　the　corner　of　the　bar。〃

〃No。　　He　must　give　me　reason。　　I　got　plenty　of　reason。　　But　I　want　reason　all　hands　can　see。　　I　want　him　make　me　smash　him；　so　that　all　hands　say；　'Hurrah；　Captain；　you　done　right。'　　Then　you　get　the　job；　Daughtry。〃

Had　Captain　Jorgensen　not　been　dilatory　in　his　contemplated　smashing；　and　had　not　Hanson　delayed　in　giving　sufficient　provocation　for　a　smashing；　Michael　would　have　accompanied　Steward　upon　the　schooner；　Howard；　and　all　Michael's　subsequent　experiences　would　have　been　totally　different　from　what　they　were　destined　to　be。　　But　destined　they　were；　by　chance　and　by　combinations　of　chance　events　over　which　Michael　had　no　control　and　of　which　he　had　no　more　awareness　than　had　Steward　himself。　At　that　period；　the　subsequent　stage　career　and　nightmare　of　cruelty　for　Michael　was　beyond　any　wildest　forecast　or　apprehension。　　And　as　to　forecasting　Dag　Daughtry's　fate；　along　with　Kwaque；　no　maddest　drug…dream　could　have　approximated　it。



CHAPTER　XVII



One　night　Dag　Daughtry　sat　at　a　table　in　the　saloon　called　the　Pile…drivers'　Home。　　He　was　in　a　parlous　predicament。　　Harder　than　ever　had　it　been　to　secure　odd　jobs；　and　he　had　reached　the　end　of　his　savings。　　Earlier　in　the　evening　he　had　had　a　telephone　conference　with　the　Ancient　Mariner；　who　had　reported　only　progress　with　an　exceptionally　strong　nibble　that　very　day　from　a　retired　quack　doctor。

〃Let　me　pawn　my　rings；〃　the　Ancient　Mariner　had　urged；　not　for　the　first　time；　over　the　telephone。

〃No；　sir；〃　had　been　Daughtry's　reply。　　〃We　need　them　in　the　business。　　They're　stock　in　trade。　　They're　atmosphere。　　They're　what　you　call　a　figure　of　speech。　　I'll　do　some　thinking　to…night　an'　see　you　in　the　morning；　sir。　　Hold　on　to　them　rings　an'　don't　be　no　more　than　casual　in　playin'　that　doctor。　　Make　'm　come　to　you。　　It's　the　only　way。　　Now　you're　all　right；　an'　everything's　hunkydory　an'　the　goose　hangs　high。　　Don't　you　worry；　sir。　　Dag　Daughtry　never　fell　down　yet。〃

But；　as　he　sat　in　the　Pile…drivers'　Home；　it　looked　as　if　his　fall…down　was　very　near。　　In　his　pocket　was　precisely　the　room…　rent　for　the　following　week；　the　advance　payment　of　which　was　already　three　days　overdue　and　clamorously　demanded　by　the　hard…　faced　landlady。　　In　the　rooms；　with　care；　was　enough　food　with　which　to　pinch　through　for　another　day。　　The　Ancient　Mariner's　modest　hotel　bill　had　not　been　paid　for　two　weeksa　prodigious　sum　under　the　circumstances；　being　a　first…class　hotel；　while　the　Ancient　Mariner　had　no　more　than　a　couple　of　dollars　in　his　pocket　with　which　to　make　a　sound　like　prosperity　in　the　ears　of　the　retired　doctor　who　wanted　to　go　a…treasuring。

Most　catastrophic　of　all；　however；　was　the　fact　that　Dag　Daughtry　was　three　quarts　short　of　his　daily　allowance　and　did　not　dare　break　into　the　rent　money　which　was　all　that　stood　between　him　and　his　family　and　the　street。　　This　was　why　he　sat　at　the　beer　table　with　Captain　Jorgensen；　who　was　just　returned　with　a　schooner…load　of　hay　from　the　Petaluma　Flats。　　He　had　already　bought　beer　twice；　and　evinced　no　further　show　of　thirst。　　Instead；　he　was　yawning　from　long　hours　of　work　and　waking　and　looking　at　his　watch。　　And　Daughtry　was　three　quarts　short！　　Besides；　Hanson　had　not　yet　been　smashed；　so　that　the　cook…job　on　the　schooner　still　lay　ahead　an　unknown　distance　in　the　future。

In　his　desperation；　Daughtry　hit　upon　an　idea　with　which　to　get　another　schooner　of　steam　beer。　　He　did　not　like　steam　beer；　but　it　was　cheaper　than　lager。

〃Look　here；　Captain；〃　he　said。　　〃You　don't　know　how　smart　that　Killeny　Boy　is。　　Why；　he　can　count