michael, brother of jerry-第29章

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tack　the　wall　of　a　room　with　his　teeth；　or　a　tree…trunk；　or　a　cliff　of　rock；　Michael　leapt　bare…fanged　for　the　throat。　　And　all　that　he　leapt　against　was　training；　formula。　　The　experience　was　repeated。　　His　throat　was　gripped；　the　thumbs　shut　off　the　blood　from　his　brain；　and　darkness　smote　him。　　Had　he　been　more　than　a　normal　thoroughbred　dog；　he　would　have　continued　to　assail　his　impregnable　enemy　until　he　burst　his　heart　or　fell　in　a　fit。　　But　he　was　normal。　　Here　was　something　unassailable；　adamantine。　　As　little　might　he　win　victory　from　it；　as　from　the　cement…paved　side…walk　of　a　city。　The　thing　was　a　devil；　with　the　hardness　and　coldness；　the　wickedness　and　wisdom；　of　a　devil。　　It　was　as　bad　as　Steward　was　good。　　Both　were　two…legged。　　Both　were　gods。　　But　this　one　was　an　evil　god。

He　did　not　reason　all　this；　nor　any　of　it。　　Yet；　transmuted　into　human　terms　of　thought　and　understanding；　it　adequately　describes　the　fulness　of　his　state　of　mind　toward　Del　Mar。　　Had　Michael　been　entangled　in　a　fight　with　a　warm　god；　he　could　have　raged　and　battled　blindly；　inflicting　and　receiving　hurt　in　the　chaos　of　conflict；　as　such　a　god；　being　warm；　would　have　likewise　received　and　given　hurt；　being　only　a　flesh…and…blood；　living；　breathing　entity　after　all。　　But　this　two…legged　god…devil　did　not　rage　blindly　and　was　incapable　of　passional　heat。　　He　was　like　so　much　cunning；　massive　steel　machinery；　and　he　did　what　Michael　could　never　dream　he　didand；　for　that　matter；　which　few　humans　do　and　which　all　animal　trainers　do：　　HE　KEPT　ONE　THOUGHT　AHEAD　OF　MICHAEL'S　THOUGHT　ALL　THE　TIME；　and　therefore；　was　able　to　have　ready　one　action　always　in　anticipation　of　Michael's　next　action。　This　was　the　training　he　had　received　from　Harris　Collins；　who；　withal　he　was　a　sentimental　and　doting　husband　and　father；　was　the　arch…devil　when　it　came　to　animals　other　than　human　ones；　and　who　reigned　in　an　animal　hell　which　he　had　created　and　made　lucrative。


Michael　went　ashore　in　Seattle　all　eagerness；　straining　at　his　leash　until　he　choked　and　coughed　and　was　coldly　cursed　by　Del　Mar。　　For　Michael　was　mastered　by　his　expectation　that　he　would　meet　Steward；　and　he　looked　for　him　around　the　first　corner；　and　around　all　corners　with　undiminished　zeal。　　But　amongst　the　multitudes　of　men　there　was　no　Steward。　　Instead；　down　in　the　basement　of　the　New　Washington　Hotel；　where　electric　lights　burned　always；　under　the　care　of　the　baggage　porter；　he　was　tied　securely　by　the　neck　in　the　midst　of　Alpine　ranges　of　trunks　which　were　for　ever　being　heaped　up；　sought　over；　taken　down；　carried　away；　or　added　to。

Three　days　of　this　dolorous　existence　he　passed。　　The　porters　made　friends　with　him　and　offered　him　prodigious　quantities　of　cooked　meats　from　the　leavings　of　the　dining…room。　　Michael　was　too　disappointed　and　grief…stricken　over　Steward　to　overeat　himself；　while　Del　Mar；　accompanied　by　the　manager　of　the　hotel；　raised　a　great　row　with　the　porters　for　violating　the　feeding　instructions。

〃That　guy's　no　good；〃　said　the　head　porter　to　assistant；　when　Del　Mar　had　departed。　　〃He's　greasy。　　I　never　liked　greasy　brunettes　anyway。　　My　wife's　a　brunette；　but　thank　the　Lord　she　ain't　greasy。〃

〃Sure；〃　agreed　the　assistant。　　〃I　know　his　kind。　　Why；　if　you'd　stick　a　knife　into　him　he　wouldn't　bleed　blood。　　It'd　be　straight　liquid　lard。〃

Whereupon　the　pair　of　them　immediately　presented　Michael　with　vaster　quantities　of　meat　which　he　could　not　eat　because　the　desire　for　Steward　was　too　much　with　him。

In　the　meantime　Del　Mar　sent　off　two　telegrams　to　New　York；　the　first　to　Harris　Collins'　animal　training　school；　where　his　troupe　of　dogs　was　boarding　through　his　vacation：


〃Sell　my　dogs。　　You　know　what　they　can　do　and　what　they　are　worth。　Am　done　with　them。　　Deduct　the　board　and　hold　the　balance　for　me　until　I　see　you。　　I　have　the　limit　here　of　a　dog。　　Every　turn　I　ever　pulled　is　put　in　the　shade　by　this　one。　　He's　a　ten　strike。　Wait　till　you　see　him。〃


The　second；　to　his　booking　agent：


〃Get　busy。　　Book　me　over　the　best。　　Talk　it　up。　　I　have　the　turn。　A　winner。　　Nothing　like　it。　　Don't　talk　up　top　price　but　way　over　top　price。　　Prepare　them　for　the　dog　when　I　give　them　the　chance　for　the　once　over。　　You　know　me。　　I　am　giving　it　straight。　　This　will　head　the　bill　anywhere　all　the　time。〃



CHAPTER　XXIII



Came　the　crate。　　Because　Del　Mar　brought　it　into　the　baggage…room；　Michael　was　suspicious　of　it。　　A　minute　later　his　suspicion　was　justified。　　Del　Mar　invited　him　to　go　into　the　crate；　and　he　declined。　　With　a　quick　deft　clutch　on　the　collar　at　the　back　of　his　neck；　Del　Mar　jerked　him　off　his　footing　and　thrust　him　in；　or　partly　in；　rather；　because　he　had　managed　to　get　a　hold　on　the　edge　of　the　crate　with　his　two　fore…paws。　　The　animal　trainer　wasted　no　time。　　He　brought　the　clenched　fist　of　his　free　hand　down　in　two　blows；　rat…tat；　on　Michael's　paws。　　And　Michael；　at　the　pain；　relaxed　both　holds。　　The　next　instant　he　was　thrust　inside；　snarling　his　indignation　and　rage　as　he　vainly　flung　himself　at　the　open　bars；　while　Del　Mar　was　locking　the　stout　door。

Next；　the　crate　was　carried　out　to　an　express　wagon　and　loaded　in　along　with　a　number　of　trunks。　　Del　Mar　had　disappeared　the　moment　he　had　locked　the　door；　and　the　two　men　in　the　wagon；　which　was　now　bouncing　along　over　the　cobblestones；　were　strangers。　　There　was　just　room　in　the　crate　for　Michael　to　stand　upright；　although　he　could　not　lift　his　head　above　the　level　of　his　shoulders。　　And　so　standing；　his　head　pressed　against　the　top；　a　rut　in　the　road；　jolting　the　wagon　and　its　contents；　caused　his　head　to　bump　violently。

The　crate　was　not　quite　so　long　as　Michael；　so　that　he　was　compelled　to　stand　with　the　end　of　his　nose　pressing　against　the　end　of　the　crate。　　An　automobile；　darting　out　from　a　cross…street；　caused　the　driver　of　the　wagon　to　pull　in　abruptly　and　apply　the　brake。　　With　the　crate　thus　suddenly　arrested；　Michael's　body　was　precipitated　forward。　　There　was　no　brake　to　stop　him；　unless　the　soft　end　of　his　nose　be　considered　the　brake；　for　it　was　his　nose　that　brought　his　body　to　rest　inside　the　crate。

He　tried　lying　down；　confined　as　the　space　was；　and　made　out　better；　although　his　lips　were　cut　and　bleeding　by　having　been　forced　so　sharply　against　his　teeth。　　But　the　worst　was　to　come。　One　of　his　fore…paws　slipped　out　through　the　slats　or　bars　and　rested　on　the　bottom　of　the　wagon　where　the　trunks　were　squeaking；　screeching；　and　jigging。　　A　rut　in　the　roadway　made　the　nearest　trunk　tilt　one　edge　in　the　air　and　shift　position；　so　that　when　it　tilted　back　again　it　rested　on　Michael's　paw。　　The　unexpectedness　of　the　crushing　hurt　of　it　caused　him　to　yelp　and　at　the　same　time　instinctively　and　spasmodically　to　pull　back　with　all　his　strength。　　This　wrenched　his　shoulder　and　added　to　the　agony　of　the　imprisoned　foot。

And　blind　fear　descended　upon　Michael；　the　fear　that　is　implanted　in　all　animals　and　in　man　himselfTHE　　FEAR　OF　THE　TRAP。　　Utterly　beside　himself；　though　he　no　longer　yelped；　he　flung　himself　madly　about；　straining　the　tendons　and　muscles　of　his　shoulder　and　leg　and　further　and　severely　injuring　the　crushed　foot。　　He　even　attacked　the　bars　with　his　teeth　in　his　agony　to　get　at　the　monster　thing　outside　that　had　laid　hold　of　him　and　would　not　let　him　go。　　Another　rut　saved　him；　however；　tilting　the　trunk　just　sufficiently　to　enable　his　violent　struggling　to　drag　the　foot　clear。

At　the　railroad　station；　the　crate　was　handled；　not　with　deliberate　roughness；　but　with　such　carelessness　that　it　half…　slipped　out　of　a　baggage…man's　hands；　capsized　sidewise；　and　was　caught　when　it　was　past　the　man's　knees　but　before　it　struck　the　cement　floor。　　But；　Michael；　sliding　helplessly　down　the　perpendicular　bottom　of　the　crate；　fetched　up　with　his　full　weight　on　the　injured　paw。

〃Huh！〃　said　Del　Mar　a　little　later　to　Michael；　having　strolled　down　the　platform　to　where　the　crate　was　piled　on　a　truck　with　other　baggage　destined　for　the　train。　　〃Got　your　foot　smashed。　Well；　it'll　teach　you　a　lesson　to　keep　your　feet　inside。〃

〃That　claw　is　a　goner；〃　one　of　the　station　baggage…men　said；　straightening　up　from　an　examination　of　Michael　through　the　bars。

Del　Mar　bent　to　a　closer　scrutiny。

〃So's　the　whole　toe；〃　he　said；　drawing　his　pocket…knife　and　opening　a　blade。　　〃I'll　fix　it　in　half　a　jiffy　if　you'll　lend　a　hand。〃

He　unlocked　the　box　and　dipped　Michael　out　with　the　customary　strangle…hold　on　the　neck。　　He　squirmed　and　struggled；　dabbing　at　the　air　with　the　injured　as　well　as　the　uninjured　forepaw　and　increasing　his　pain。

〃You　hold　the　leg；〃　Del　Mar　commanded。　　〃He's　safe　with　that　grip。　It　won't　take　a　second。〃

Nor　did　it　take　longer。　　And　Michael；　back　in　the　box　and　raging；　was　one　toe　short　of　the　number　which　he　had　brought　into　the　world。　　The　blood　ran　freely　from　the　crude　but　effective　surgery；　and　he　lay　and　licked　the　wound　and　was　depressed　with　apprehension　of　he　knew　not　what　terrible　fate　awaited　him　and　was　close　at　hand。　　Never；　in　his　experience　of　men；　had　he　been　so　treated；　while　the　confinement　of　the　box　was　maddening　with　its　suggestion　of　the　trap。　　Trapped　he　was；　and　helpless；　and　the　ultimate　evil　of　life　had　happened　to　Steward；　who　had　evidently　been　swallowed　up　by　the　Nothingness　which　had　swallowed　up　Meringe；　the　Eugenie；　the　Solomon　Islands；　the　Makambo；　Australia；　and　the　Mary　Turner。

Suddenly；　from　a　distance；　came　a　bedlam　of　noise　that　made　Michael　prick　up　his　ears　and　bristle　with　premonition　of　fresh　disaster。　　It　was　a　confused　yelping；　howling；　and　barking　of　many　dogs。

〃Holy　Smoke！It's　them　damned　acting　dogs；〃　growled　the　baggageman　to　his　mate。　　〃There　ought　to　be　a　law　against　dog…　acts。　　It　ain't　decent。〃

〃It's　Peterson's　Troupe；〃　said　the　other。　　〃I　was　on　when　they　come　in　last　week。　　One　of　'em　was　dead　in　his　box；　and　from　what　I　could　see　of　him　it　looked　mighty　like　he'd　had　the　tar　knocked　outa　him。〃

〃Got　a　wollopin'　from　Peterson　most　likely　in　the　last　town　and　then　was　shipped　along　with　the　bunch　and　left　to　die　in　the　baggage　car。〃

The　bedlam　increased　as　the　animals　were　transferred　from　the　wagon　to　a　platform　truck；　and　when　the　truck　rolled　up　and　stopped　alongside　Michael's　he　made　out　that　it　was　piled　high　with　crated　dogs。　　In　truth；　there　were　thirty…five　dogs；　of　every　sort　of　breed　and　mostly　mongrel；　and　that　they　were　far　from　happy　was　attested　by　their　actions。　　Some　howled；　some　whimpered；　others　growled　and　raged　at　one　another　through　the　slots；　and　many　maintained　a　silence　of　misery。　　Several　licked　and　nursed　bruised　feet。　　Smaller　dogs　that　did　not　fight　much　were　crammed　two　or　more　into　single　crates。　　Half　a　dozen　greyhounds　were　crammed　into　larger　crates　that　were　anything　save　large　enough。

〃Them's　the　high…jumpers；〃　said　the　first　baggageman。　　〃An'　look　at　the　way　they're　packed。　　Peterson　ain't　going　to　pay　any　more　excess　baggage　than　he　has　to。　　Not　half　room　enough　for　them　to　stand　up。　　It　must　be　hell　for　them　from　the　time　they　leave　one　town　till　they　arrive　at　the　next。〃

But　what　the　baggageman　did　not　know　was　that　in　the　towns　the　hell　was　not　mitigated；　that　the　dogs　were　still　confined　in　their　too…narrow　prisons；　that；　in　fact；　they　were　life