michael, brother of jerry-第39章

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。　　Several　had　bad　sores　on　their　heads　from　being　knocked　about　by　Davis。　No　care　was　taken　of　these　sores；　and　they　were　not　improved　by　the　whitening　that　was　put　on　them　for　concealment　whenever　they　performed。　　Some　of　them　howled　lamentably　at　times；　and　every　little　while；　as　if　it　were　all　that　remained　for　them　to　do　in　their　narrow　cells；　all　of　them　would　break　out　into　barking。

Michael　was　the　only　one　who　did　not　join　in　these　choruses。　　Long　since；　as　one　feature　of　his　developing　moroseness；　he　had　ceased　from　barking。　　He　had　become　too　unsociable　for　any　such　demonstrations；　nor　did　he　pattern　after　the　example　of　some　of　the　sourer…tempered　dogs　in　the　room；　who　were　for　ever　bickering　and　snarling　through　the　slats　of　their　cages。　　In　fact；　Michael's　sourness　of　temper　had　become　too　profound　even　for　quarrelling。　All　he　desired　was　to　be　let　alone；　and　of　this　he　had　a　surfeit　for　the　first　forty…eight　hours。

Wilton　Davis　had　assembled　his　troupe　ahead　of　time；　so　that　the　change　of　programme　was　five　days　away。　　Having　taken　advantage　of　this　to　go　to　see　his　wife's　people　over　in　New　Jersey；　he　had　hired　one　of　the　stage…hands　to　feed　and　water　his　dogs。　　This　the　stage…hand　would　have　done；　had　he　not　had　the　misfortune　to　get　into　an　altercation　with　a　barkeeper　which　culminated　in　a　fractured　skull　and　an　ambulance　ride　to　the　receiving　hospital。　To　make　the　situation　perfect　for　what　followed；　the　theatre　was　closed　for　three　days　in　order　to　make　certain　alterations　demanded　by　the　Fire　Commissioners。

No　one　came　near　the　room；　and　after　several　hours　Michael　grew　aware　of　hunger　and　thirst。　　The　time　passed；　and　the　desire　for　food　was　supplanted　by　the　desire　for　water。　　By　nightfall　the　barking　and　yelping　became　continuous；　changing　through　the　long　night　hours　to　whimpering　and　whining。　　Michael　alone　made　no　sound；　suffering　dumbly　in　the　bedlam　of　misery。

Morning　of　the　second　day　dawned；　the　slow　hours　dragged　by　to　the　second　night；　and　the　darkness　of　the　second　night　drew　down　upon　a　scene　behind　the　scenes；　sufficient　of　itself　to　condemn　all　trained…animal　acts　in　all　theatres　and　show…tents　of　all　the　world。　　Whether　Michael　dreamed　or　was　in　semi…delirium；　there　is　no　telling；　but；　whichever　it　was；　he　lived　most　of　his　past　life　over　again。　　Again　he　played　as　a　puppy　on　the　broad　verandas　of　MISTER　Haggin's　plantation　bungalow　at　Meringe；　or；　with　Jerry；　stalked　the　edges　of　the　jungle　down　by　the　river…bank　to　spy　upon　the　crocodiles；　or；　learning　from　MISTER　Haggin　and　Bob；　and　patterning　after　Biddy　and　Terrence；　to　consider　black　men　as　lesser　and　despised　gods　who　must　for　ever　be　kept　strictly　in　their　places。

On　the　schooner　Eugenie　he　sailed　with　Captain　Kellar；　his　second　master；　and　on　the　beach　at　Tulagi　lost　his　heart　to　Steward　of　the　magic　fingers　and　sailed　away　with　him　and　Kwaque　on　the　steamer　Makambo。　　Steward　was　most　in　his　visions；　against　a　hazy　background　of　vessels；　and　of　individuals　like　the　Ancient　Mariner；　Simon　Nishikanta；　Grimshaw；　Captain　Doane；　and　little　old　Ah　Moy。　　Nor　least　of　all　did　Scraps　appear；　and　Cocky；　the　valiant…hearted　little　fluff　of　life　gallantly　bearing　himself　through　his　brief　adventure　in　the　sun。　　And　it　would　seem　to　Michael　that　on　one　side；　clinging　to　him；　Cocky　talked　farrago　in　his　ear；　and　on　the　other　side　Sara　clung　to　him　and　chattered　an　interminable　and　incommunicable　tale。　　And　then；　deep　about　the　roots　of　his　ears　would　seem　to　prod　the　magic；　caressing　fingers　of　Steward　the　beloved。

〃I　just　don't　I　have　no　luck；〃　Wilton　Davis　mourned；　gazing　about　at　his　dogs；　the　air　still　vibrating　with　the　string　of　oaths　he　had　at　first　ripped　out。

〃That　comes　of　trusting　a　drunken　stage…hand；〃　his　wife　remarked　placidly。　　〃I　wouldn't　be　surprised　if　half　of　them　died　on　us　now。〃

〃Well；　this　is　no　time　for　talk；〃　Davis　snarled；　proceeding　to　take　off　his　coat。　　〃Get　busy；　my　love；　and　learn　the　worst。　Water's　what　they　need。　　I'll　give　them　a　tub　of　it。〃

Bucketful　by　bucketful；　from　the　tap　at　the　sink　in　the　corner；　he　filled　a　large　galvanized…iron　tub。　　At　sound　of　the　running　water　the　dogs　began　whimpering　and　yelping　and　moaning。　　Some　tried　to　lick　his　hands　with　their　swollen　tongues　as　he　dragged　them　roughly　out　of　their　cages。　　The　weaker　ones　crawled　and　bellied　toward　the　tub；　and　were　over…trod　by　the　stronger　ones。　　There　was　not　room　for　all；　and　the　stronger　ones　drank　first；　with　much　fighting　and　squabbling　and　slashing　of　fangs。　　Into　the　foremost　of　this　was　Michael；　slashing　and　being　slashed；　but　managing　to　get　hasty　gulps　of　the　life…saving　fluid。　　Davis　danced　about　among　them；　kicking　right　and　left；　so　that　all　might　have　a　chance。　　His　wife　took　a　hand；　laying　about　her　with　a　mop。　　It　was　a　pandemonium　of　pain；　for；　their　parched　throats　softened　by　the　water；　they　were　again　able　to　yelp　and　cry　out　loudly　all　their　hurt　and　woe。

Several　were　too　weak　to　get　to　the　water；　so　it　was　carried　to　them　and　doused　and　splashed　into　their　mouths。　　It　seemed　that　they　would　never　be　satisfied。　　They　lay　in　collapse　all　about　the　room；　but　every　little　while　one　or　another　would　crawl　over　to　the　tub　and　try　to　drink　more。　　In　the　meantime　Davis　had　started　a　fire　and　filled　a　caldron　with　potatoes。

〃The　place　stinks　like　a　den　of　skunks；〃　Mrs。　Davis　observed；　pausing　from　dabbing　the　end　of　her　nose　with　a　powder…puff。　〃Dearest；　we'll　just　have　to　wash　them。〃

〃All　right；　sweetheart；〃　her　husband　agreed。　　〃And　the　quicker　the　better。　　We　can　get　through　with　it　while　the　potatoes　are　boiling　and　cooling。　　I'll　scrub　them　and　you　dry　them。　　Remember　that　pneumonia；　and　do　it　thoroughly。〃

It　was　quick；　rough　bathing。　　Reaching　out　for　the　dogs　nearest　him；　he　flung　them　in　turn　into　the　tub　from　which　they　had　drunk。　When　they　were　frightened；　or　when　they　objected　in　any　way；　he　rapped　them　on　the　head　with　the　scrubbing　brush　or　the　bar　of　yellow　laundry　soap　with　which　he　was　lathering　them。　　Several　minutes　sufficed　for　a　dog。

〃Drink；　damn　you；　drinkhave　some　more；〃　he　would　say；　as　he　shoved　their　heads　down　and　under　the　dirty；　soapy　water。

He　seemed　to　hold　them　responsible　for　their　horrible　condition；　to　look　upon　their　filthiness　as　a　personal　affront。

Michael　yielded　to　being　flung　into　the　tub。　　He　recognized　that　baths　were　necessary　and　compulsory；　although　they　were　administered　in　much　better　fashion　at　Cedarwild；　while　Kwaque　and　Steward　had　made　a　sort　of　love　function　of　it　when　they　bathed　him。　　So　he　did　his　best　to　endure　the　scrubbing；　and　all　might　have　been　well　had　not　Davis　soused　him　under。　　Michael　jerked　his　head　up　with　a　warning　growl。　　Davis　suspended　half…way　the　blow　he　was　delivering　with　the　heavy　brush；　and　emitted　a　low　whistle　of　surprise。

〃Hello！〃　he　said。　　〃And　look　who's　here！Lovey；　this　is　the　Irish　terrier　I　got　from　Collins。　　He's　no　good。　　Collins　said　so。　　Just　a　fill…in。Get　out！〃　he　commanded　Michael。　　〃That's　all　you　get　now；　Mr。　Fresh　Dog。　　But　take　it　from　me　pretty　soon　you'll　be　getting　it　fast　enough　to　make　you　dizzy。〃

While　the　potatoes　were　cooling；　Mrs。　Davis　kept　the　hungry　dogs　warned　away　by　sharp　cries。　　Michael　lay　down　sullenly　to　one　side；　and　took　no　part　in　the　rush　for　the　trough　when　permission　was　given。　　Again　Davis　danced　among　them；　kicking　away　the　stronger　and　the　more　eager。

〃If　they　get　to　fighting　after　all　we've　done　for　them；　kick　in　their　ribs；　lovey；〃　he　told　his　wife。

〃There！　　You　would；　would　you？〃this　to　a　large　black　dog；　accompanied　by　a　savage　kick　in　the　side。　　The　animal　yelped　its　pain　as　it　fled　away；　and；　from　a　safe　distance；　looked　on　piteously　at　the　steaming　food。

〃Well；　after　this　they　can't　say　I　don't　never　give　my　dogs　a　bath；〃　Davis　remarked　from　the　sink；　where　he　was　rinsing　his　arms。　　What　d'ye　say　we　call　it　a　day's　work；　my　dear？〃　　Mrs。　Davis　nodded　agreement。　　〃We　can　rehearse　them　to…morrow　and　next　day。　　That　will　be　plenty　of　time。　　I'll　run　in　to…night　and　boil　them　some　bran。　　They'll　need　an　extra　meal　after　fasting　two　days。〃

The　potatoes　finished；　the　dogs　were　put　back　in　their　cages　for　another　twenty…four　hours　of　close　confinement。　　Water　was　poured　into　their　drinking…tins；　and；　in　the　evening；　still　in　their　cages；　they　were　served　liberally　with　boiled　bran　and　dog…　biscuit。　　This　was　Michael's　first　food；　for　he　had　sulkily　refused　to　go　near　the　potatoes。


The　rehearsing　took　place　on　the　stage；　and　for　Michael　trouble　came　at　the　very　start。　　The　drop…curtain　was　supposed　to　go　up　and　reveal　the　twenty　dogs　seated　on　chairs　in　a　semi…circle。　Because；　while　they　were　being　thus　arranged；　the　preceding　turn　was　taking　place　in　front　of　the　drop…curtain；　it　was　imperative　that　rigid　silence　should　be　kept。　　Next；　when　the　curtain　rose　on　full　stage；　the　dogs　were　trained　to　make　a　great　barking。

As　a　filler…in；　Michael　had　nothing　to　do　but　sit　on　a　chair。　　But　he　had　to　get　upon　the　chair；　first；　and　when　Davis　so　ordered　him　he　accompanied　the　order　with　a　clout　on　the　side　of　the　head。　Michael　growled　warningly。

〃Oh；　ho；　eh？〃　the　man　sneered。　　〃It's　Fresh　Dog　looking　for　trouble。　　Well；　you　might　as　well　get　it　over　with　now　so　your　name　can　be　changed　to　Good　Dog。My　dear；　just　keep　the　rest　of　them　in　order　while　I　teach　Fresh　Dog　lesson　number　one。〃

Of　the　beating　that　followed；　the　least　said　the　better。　　Michael　put　up　a　fight　that　was　hopeless；　and　was　thoroughly　beaten　in　return。　　Bruised　and　bleeding；　he　sat　on　the　chair；　taking　no　part　in　the　performance　and　only　sullenly　engendering　a　deeper　and　bitterer　sourness。　　To　keep　silent　before　the　curtain　went　up　was　no　hardship　for　him。　　But　when　the　curtain　did　go　up；　he　declined　to　join　the　rest　of　the　dogs　in　their　frantic　barking　and　yelping。

The　dogs；　sometimes　alone　and　sometimes　in　couples　and　trios　and　groups；　left　their　chairs　at　command　and　performed　the　conventional　dog　tricks　such　as　walking　on　hind…legs；　hopping；　limping；　waltzing；　and　throwing　somersaults。　　Wilton　Davis's　temper　was　short　and　his　hand　heavy　throughout　the　rehearsal；　as　the　shrill　yelps　of　pain　from　the　lagging　and　stupid　attested。

In　all；　during　that　day　and　the　forenoon　of　the　next；　three　long　rehearsals　took　place。　　Michael's　troubles　ceased　for　the　time　being。　　At　command；　he　silently　got　on　the　chair　and　silently　sat　there。　　〃Which　shows；　dearest；　what　a　bit　of　the　stick　will　do；〃　Davis　bragged　to　his　wife。　　Nor　did　the　pair　of　them　dream　of　the　scandalizing　part　Michael　was　going　to　play　in　their　first　performance。

Behind　the　curtain　all　was　ready　on　the　full　stage。　　The　dogs　sat　on　their　chairs　in　abject　silence　with　Davis　and　his　wife　menacing　them　to　remain　silent；　while；　in　front　of　the　curtain；　Dick　and　Daisy　Bell　delighted　the　matinee　audience　with　their　singing　and　dancing。　　And　all　went　well；　and　no　one　in　the　audience　would　have　suspected　the　full　stage　of　dogs　behind　the　curtain　had　not　Dick　and　Daisy；　accompanied　by　the　orchestra；　begun　to　sing　〃Roll　Me　Down　to　Rio。〃

Michael　could　not　help　it。　　Even　as　Kwaque　had　long　before　mastered　him　by　the　jews'　harp；　and　Steward　by　love；　and　Harry　Del　Mar　by　the　harmonica；　so　now　was　he　mastered　by　the　strains　of　the　orche