michael, brother of jerry-第3章

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　steamer。〃

〃Suppose　'm　me　no　give？〃　the　steward　impatiently　temporized。

For　reply；　the　old　man　half…turned；　and；　on　his　crutch；　swinging　his　stump　of　leg　in　the　air；　began　sidling　hippity…hop　into　the　grass　hut。

〃All　right；〃　Daughtry　cried　hastily。　　〃Me　give　'm　you　smoke　'm　quick　fella。〃

He　dipped　into　a　side　coat…pocket　for　the　mintage　of　the　Solomons　and　stripped　off　a　stick　from　the　handful　of　pressed　sticks。　　The　old　man　was　transfigured　as　he　reached　avidly　for　the　stick　and　received　it。　　He　uttered　little　crooning　noises；　alternating　with　sharp　cries　akin　to　pain；　half…ecstatic；　half…petulant；　as　he　drew　a　black　clay　pipe　from　a　hole　in　his　ear…lobe；　and　into　the　bowl　of　it；　with　trembling　fingers；　untwisted　and　crumbled　the　cheap　leaf　of　spoiled　Virginia　crop。

Pressing　down　the　contents　of　the　full　bowl　with　his　thumb；　he　suddenly　plumped　upon　the　ground；　the　crutch　beside　him；　the　one　limb　under　him　so　that　he　had　the　seeming　of　a　legless　torso。　From　a　small　bag　of　twisted　coconut　hanging　from　his　neck　upon　his　withered　and　sunken　chest；　he　drew　out　flint　and　steel　and　tinder；　and；　even　while　the　impatient　steward　was　proffering　him　a　box　of　matches；　struck　a　spark；　caught　it　in　the　tinder；　blew　it　into　strength　and　quantity；　and　lighted　his　pipe　from　it。

With　the　first　full　puff　of　the　smoke　he　gave　over　his　moans　and　yelps；　the　agitation　began　to　fade　out　of　him；　and　Daughtry；　appreciatively　waiting；　saw　the　trembling　go　out　of　his　hands；　the　pendulous　lip…quivering　cease；　the　saliva　stop　flowing　from　the　corners　of　his　mouth；　and　placidity　come　into　the　fiery　remnants　of　his　eyes。

What　the　old　man　visioned　in　the　silence　that　fell；　Daughtry　did　not　try　to　guess。　　He　was　too　occupied　with　his　own　vision；　and　vividly　burned　before　him　the　sordid　barrenness　of　a　poorhouse　ward；　where　an　ancient；　very　like　what　he　himself　would　become；　maundered　and　gibbered　and　drooled　for　a　crumb　of　tobacco　for　his　old　clay　pipe；　and　where；　of　all　horrors；　no　sip　of　beer　ever　obtained；　much　less　six　quarts　of　it。

And　Michael；　by　the　dim　glows　of　the　pipe　surveying　the　scene　of　the　two　old　men；　one　squatted　in　the　dark；　the　other　standing；　knew　naught　of　the　tragedy　of　age；　and　was　only　aware；　and　overwhelmingly　aware；　of　the　immense　likableness　of　this　two…　legged　white　god；　who；　with　fingers　of　magic；　through　ear…roots　and　tail…roots　and　spinal　column；　had　won　to　the　heart　of　him。

The　clay　pipe　smoked　utterly　out；　the　old　black；　by　aid　of　the　crutch；　with　amazing　celerity　raised　himself　upstanding　on　his　one　leg　and　hobbled；　with　his　hippity…hop；　to　the　beach。　　Daughtry　was　compelled　to　lend　his　strength　to　the　hauling　down　from　the　sand　into　the　water　of　the　tiny　canoe。　　It　was　a　dug…out；　as　ancient　and　dilapidated　as　its　owner；　and；　in　order　to　get　into　it　without　capsizing；　Daughtry　wet　one　leg　to　the　ankle　and　the　other　leg　to　the　knee。　　The　old　man　contorted　himself　aboard；　rolling　his　body　across　the　gunwale　so　quickly；　that；　even　while　it　started　to　capsize；　his　weight　was　across　the　danger…point　and　counterbalancing　the　canoe　to　its　proper　equilibrium。

Michael　remained　on　the　beach；　waiting　invitation；　his　mind　not　quite　made　up；　but　so　nearly　so　that　all　that　was　required　was　that　lip…noise。　　Dag　Daughtry　made　the　lip…noise　so　low　that　the　old　man　did　not　hear；　and　Michael；　springing　clear　from　sand　to　canoe；　was　on　board　without　wetting　his　feet。　　Using　Daughtry's　shoulder　for　a　stepping…place；　he　passed　over　him　and　down　into　the　bottom　of　the　canoe。　　Daughtry　kissed　with　his　lips　again；　and　Michael　turned　around　so　as　to　face　him；　sat　down；　and　rested　his　head　on　the　steward's　knees。

〃I　reckon　I　can　take　my　affydavy　on　a　stack　of　Bibles　that　the　dog　just　up　an'　followed　me；〃　he　grinned　in　Michael's　ear。

〃Washee…washee　quick　fella；〃　he　commanded。

The　ancient　obediently　dipped　his　paddle　and　started　pottering　an　erratic　course　in　the　general　direction　of　the　cluster　of　lights　that　marked　the　Makambo。　　But　he　was　too　feeble；　panting　and　wheezing　continually　from　the　exertion　and　pausing　to　rest　off　strokes　between　strokes。　　The　steward　impatiently　took　the　paddle　away　from　him　and　bent　to　the　work。

Half…way　to　the　steamer　the　ancient　ceased　wheezing　and　spoke；　nodding　his　head　at　Michael。

〃That　fella　dog　he　belong　big　white　marster　along　schooner　。　。　。　You　give　'm　me　ten　stick　tobacco；〃　he　added　after　due　pause　to　let　the　information　sink　in。

〃I　give　'm　you　bang　alongside　head；〃　Daughtry　assured　him　cheerfully。　　〃White　marster　along　schooner　plenty　friend　along　me　too　much。　　Just　now　he　stop　'm　along　Makambo。　　Me　take　'm　dog　along　him　along　Makambo。〃

There　was　no　further　conversation　from　the　ancient；　and　though　he　lived　long　years　after；　he　never　mentioned　the　midnight　passenger　in　the　canoe　who　carried　Michael　away　with　him。　　When　he　saw　and　heard　the　confusion　and　uproar　on　the　beach　later　that　night　when　Captain　Kellar　turned　Tulagi　upside…down　in　his　search　for　Michael；　the　old　one…legged　one　remained　discreetly　silent。　　Who　was　he　to　seek　trouble　with　the　strange　ones；　the　white　masters　who　came　and　went　and　roved　and　ruled？

In　this　the　ancient　was　in　nowise　unlike　the　rest　of　his　dark…　skinned　Melanesian　race。　　The　whites　were　possessed　of　unguessed　and　unthinkable　ways　and　purposes。　　They　constituted　another　world　and　were　as　a　play　of　superior　beings　on　an　exalted　stage　where　was　no　reality　such　as　black　men　might　know　as　reality；　where；　like　the　phantoms　of　a　dream；　the　white　men　moved　and　were　as　shadows　cast　upon　the　vast　and　mysterious　curtain　of　the　Cosmos。

The　gang…plank　being　on　the　port　side；　Dag　Daughtry　paddled　around　to　the　starboard　and　brought　the　canoe　to　a　stop　under　a　certain　open　port。

〃Kwaque！〃　he　called　softly；　once；　and　twice。

At　the　second　call　the　light　of　the　port　was　obscured　apparently　by　a　head　that　piped　down　in　a　thin　squeak。

〃Me　stop　'm；　marster。〃

〃One　fella　dog　stop　'm　along　you；〃　the　steward　whispered　up。　〃Keep　'm　door　shut。　　You　wait　along　me。　　Stand　by！　　Now！〃

With　a　quick　catch　and　lift；　he　passed　Michael　up　and　into　unseen　hands　outstretched　from　the　iron　wall　of　the　ship；　and　paddled　ahead　to　an　open　cargo　port。　　Dipping　into　his　tobacco　pocket；　he　thrust　a　loose　handful　of　sticks　into　the　ancient's　hand　and　shoved　the　canoe　adrift　with　no　thought　of　how　its　helpless　occupant　would　ever　reach　shore。

The　old　man　did　not　touch　the　paddle；　and　he　was　unregardless　of　the　lofty…sided　steamer　as　the　canoe　slipped　down　the　length　of　it　into　the　darkness　astern。　　He　was　too　occupied　in　counting　the　wealth　of　tobacco　showered　upon　him。　　No　easy　task；　his　counting。　Five　was　the　limit　of　his　numerals。　　When　he　had　counted　five；　he　began　over　again　and　counted　a　second　five。　　Three　fives　he　found　in　all；　and　two　sticks　over；　and　thus；　at　the　end　of　it；　he　possessed　as　definite　a　knowledge　of　the　number　of　sticks　as　would　be　possessed　by　the　average　white　man　by　means　of　the　single　number　SEVENTEEN。

More　it　was；　far　more；　than　his　avarice　had　demanded。　　Yet　he　was　unsurprised。　　Nothing　white　men　did　could　surprise。　　Had　it　been　two　sticks　instead　of　seventeen；　he　would　have　been　equally　unsurprised。　　Since　all　acts　of　white　men　were　surprises；　the　only　surprise　of　action　they　could　achieve　for　a　black　man　would　be　the　doing　of　an　unsurprising　thing。

Paddling；　wheezing；　resting；　oblivious　of　the　shadow…world　of　the　white　men；　knowing　only　the　reality　of　Tulagi　Mountain　cutting　its　crest…line　blackly　across　the　dim　radiance　of　the　star…sprinkled　sky；　the　reality　of　the　sea　and　of　the　canoe　he　so　feebly　urged　across　it；　and　the　reality　of　his　fading　strength　and　of　the　death　into　which　he　would　surely　end；　the　ancient　black　man　slowly　made　his　shoreward　way。



CHAPTER　III



In　the　meanwhile；　Michael。　　Lifted　through　the　air；　exchanged　into　invisible　hands　that　drew　him　through　a　narrow　diameter　of　brass　into　a　lighted　room；　Michael　looked　about　him　in　expectancy　of　Jerry。　　But　Jerry；　at　that　moment；　lay　cuddled　beside　Villa　Kennan's　sleeping…cot　on　the　slant　deck　of　the　Ariel；　as　that　trim　craft；　the　Shortlands　astern　and　New　Guinea　dead　ahead；　heeled　her　scuppers　a…whisper　and　garrulous　to　the　sea…welter　alongside　as　she　logged　her　eleven　knots　under　the　press　of　the　freshening　trades。　　Instead　of　Jerry；　from　whom　he　had　last　parted　on　board　a　boat；　Michael　saw　Kwaque。

Kwaque？　　Well；　Kwaque　was　Kwaque；　an　individual；　more　unlike　all　other　men　than　most　men　are　unlike　one　another。　　No　queerer　estray　ever　drifted　along　the　stream　of　life。　　Seventeen　years　old　he　was；　as　men　measure　time；　but　a　century　was　measured　in　his　lean…　lined　face；　his　wrinkled　forehead；　his　hollowed　temples；　and　his　deep…sunk　eyes。　　From　his　thin　legs；　fragile…looking　as　windstraws；　the　bones　of　which　were　sheathed　in　withered　skin　with　apparently　no　muscle　padding　in　betweenfrom　such　frail　stems　sprouted　the　torso　of　a　fat　man。　　The　huge　and　protuberant　stomach　was　amply　supported　by　wide　and　massive　hips；　and　the　shoulders　were　broad　as　those　of　a　Hercules。　　But；　beheld　sidewise；　there　was　no　depth　to　those　shoulders　and　the　top　of　the　chest。　　Almost；　at　that　part　of　his　anatomy；　he　seemed　builded　in　two　dimensions。　Thin　his　arms　were　as　his　legs；　and；　as　Michael　first　beheld　him；　he　had　all　the　seeming　of　a　big…bellied　black　spider。

He　proceeded　to　dress；　a　matter　of　moments；　slipping　into　duck　trousers　and　blouse；　dirty　and　frayed　from　long　usage。　　Two　fingers　of　his　left　hand　were　doubled　into　a　permanent　bend；　and；　to　an　expert；　would　have　advertised　that　he　was　a　leper。　　Although　he　belonged　to　Dag　Daughtry　just　as　much　as　if　the　steward　possessed　a　chattel　bill　of　sale　of　him；　his　owner　did　not　know　that　his　anaesthetic　twist　of　ravaged　nerves　tokened　the　dread　disease。

The　manner　of　the　ownership　was　simple。　　At　King　William　Island；　in　the　Admiralties；　Kwaque　had　made；　in　the　parlance　of　the　South　Pacific；　a　pier…head　jump。　　So　to　speak；　leprosy　and　all；　he　had　jumped　into　Dag　Daughtry's　arms。　　Strolling　along　the　native　runways　in　the　fringe　of　jungle　just　beyond　the　beach；　as　was　his　custom；　to　see　whatever　he　might　pick　up；　the　steward　had　picked　up　Kwaque。　　And　he　had　picked　him　up　in　extremity。

Pursued　by　two　very　active　young　men　armed　with　fire…hardened　spears；　tottering　along　with　incredible　swiftness　on　his　two　spindle　legs；　Kwaque　had　fallen　exhausted　at　Daughtry's　feet　and　looked　up　at　him　with　the　beseeching　eyes　of　a　deer　fleeing　from　the　hounds。　　Daughtry　had　inquired　into　the　matter；　and　the　inquiry　was　violent；　for　he　had　a　wholesome　fear　of　germs　and　bacilli；　and　when　the　two　active　young　men　tried　to　run　him　through　with　their　filth…corroded　spears；　he　caught　the　spear　of　one　young　man　under　his　arm　and　put　the　other　young　man　to　sleep　with　a　left　hook　to　the　jaw。　　A　moment　later　the　young　man　whose　spear　he　held　had　joined　the　other　in　slumber。

The　elderly　steward　was　not　satisfied　with　the　mere　spears。　　While　the　rescued　Kwaque　continued　to　moan　and　slubber　thankfulness　at　his　feet；　he　proceeded　to　strip　them　that　were　naked。　　Nothing　they　wore　in　the　way　of　clothing；　but　from　around　each　of　their　necks　he　removed　a　necklace　of　porpoise　teeth　that　was　worth　a　gold　sovereign　in　mere　exchange　value。　　From　the　ki