michael, brother of jerry-第4章

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ed　a　necklace　of　porpoise　teeth　that　was　worth　a　gold　sovereign　in　mere　exchange　value。　　From　the　kinky　locks　of　one　of　the　naked　young　men　he　drew　a　hand…carved；　fine…toothed　comb；　the　lofty　back　of　which　was　inlaid　with　mother…of…pearl；　which　he　later　sold　in　Sydney　to　a　curio　shop　for　eight　shillings。　Nose　and　ear　ornaments　of　bone　and　turtle…shell　he　also　rifled；　as　well　as　a　chest…crescent　of　pearl　shell；　fourteen　inches　across；　worth　fifteen　shillings　anywhere。　　The　two　spears　ultimately　fetched　him　five　shillings　each　from　the　tourists　at　Port　Moresby。　Not　lightly　may　a　ship　steward　undertake　to　maintain　a　six…quart　reputation。

When　he　turned　to　depart　from　the　active　young　men；　who；　back　to　consciousness；　were　observing　him　with　bright；　quick；　wild…animal　eyes；　Kwaque　followed　so　close　at　his　heels　as　to　step　upon　them　and　make　him　stumble。　　Whereupon　he　loaded　Kwaque　with　his　trove　and　put　him　in　front　to　lead　along　the　runway　to　the　beach。　　And　for　the　rest　of　the　way　to　the　steamer；　Dag　Daughtry　grinned　and　chuckled　at　sight　of　his　plunder　and　at　sight　of　Kwaque；　who　fantastically　titubated　and　ambled　along；　barrel…like；　on　his　pipe…stems。

On　board　the　steamer；　which　happened　to　be　the　Cockspur；　Daughtry　persuaded　the　captain　to　enter　Kwaque　on　the　ship's　articles　as　steward's　helper　with　a　rating　of　ten　shillings　a　month。　　Also；　he　learned　Kwaque's　story。

It　was　all　an　account　of　a　pig。　　The　two　active　young　men　were　brothers　who　lived　in　the　next　village　to　his；　and　the　pig　had　been　theirsso　Kwaque　narrated　in　atrocious　beche…de…mer　English。　He；　Kwaque；　had　never　seen　the　pig。　　He　had　never　known　of　its　existence　until　after　it　was　dead。　　The　two　young　men　had　loved　the　pig。　　But　what　of　that？　　It　did　not　concern　Kwaque；　who　was　as　unaware　of　their　love　for　the　pig　as　he　was　unaware　of　the　pig　itself。

The　first　he　knew；　he　averred；　was　the　gossip　of　the　village　that　the　pig　was　dead；　and　that　somebody　would　have　to　die　for　it。　　It　was　all　right；　he　said；　in　reply　to　a　query　from　the　steward。　　It　was　the　custom。　　Whenever　a　loved　pig　died　its　owners　were　in　custom　bound　to　go　out　and　kill　somebody；　anybody。　　Of　course；　it　was　better　if　they　killed　the　one　whose　magic　had　made　the　pig　sick。　　But；　failing　that　one；　any　one　would　do。　　Hence　Kwaque　was　selected　for　the　blood…atonement。

Dag　Daughtry　drank　a　seventh　quart　as　he　listened；　so　carried　away　was　he　by　the　sombre　sense　of　romance　of　this　dark　jungle　event　wherein　men　killed　even　strangers　because　a　pig　was　dead。

Scouts　out　on　the　runways；　Kwaque　continued；　brought　word　of　the　coming　of　the　two　bereaved　pig…owners；　and　the　village　had　fled　into　the　jungle　and　climbed　treesall　except　Kwaque；　who　was　unable　to　climb　trees。

〃My　word；〃　Kwaque　concluded；　〃me　no　make　'm　that　fella　pig　sick。〃

〃My　word；〃　quoth　Dag　Daughtry；　〃you　devil…devil　along　that　fella　pig　too　much。　　You　look　'm　like　hell。　　You　make　'm　any　fella　thing　sick　look　along　you。　　You　make　'm　me　sick　too　much。〃

It　became　quite　a　custom　for　the　steward；　as　he　finished　his　sixth　bottle　before　turning　in；　to　call　upon　Kwaque　for　his　story。　　It　carried　him　back　to　his　boyhood　when　he　had　been　excited　by　tales　of　wild　cannibals　in　far　lands　and　dreamed　some　day　to　see　them　for　himself。　　And　here　he　was；　he　would　chuckle　to　himself；　with　a　real　true　cannibal　for　a　slave。

A　slave　Kwaque　was；　as　much　as　if　Daughtry　had　bought　him　on　the　auction…block。　　Whenever　the　steward　transferred　from　ship　to　ship　of　the　Burns　Philp　fleet；　he　always　stipulated　that　Kwaque　should　accompany　him　and　be　duly　rated　at　ten　shillings。　　Kwaque　had　no　say　in　the　matter。　　Even　had　he　desired　to　escape　in　Australian　ports；　there　was　no　need　for　Daughtry　to　watch　him。　　Australia；　with　her　〃all…white〃　policy；　attended　to　that。　　No　dark…skinned　human；　whether　Malay；　Japanese；　or　Polynesian；　could　land　on　her　shore　without　putting　into　the　Government's　hand　a　cash　security　of　one　hundred　pounds。

Nor　at　the　other　islands　visited　by　the　Makambo　had　Kwaque　any　desire　to　cut　and　run　for　it。　　King　William　Island；　which　was　the　only　land　he　had　ever　trod；　was　his　yard…stick　by　which　he　measured　all　other　islands。　　And　since　King　William　Island　was　cannibalistic；　he　could　only　conclude　that　the　other　islands　were　given　to　similar　dietary　practice。

As　for　King　William　Island；　the　Makambo；　on　the　former　run　of　the　Cockspur；　stopped　there　every　ten　weeks；　but　the　direst　threat　Daughtry　ever　held　over　him　was　the　putting　ashore　of　him　at　the　place　where　the　two　active　young　men　still　mourned　their　pig。　　In　fact；　it　was　their　regular　programme；　each　trip；　to　paddle　out　and　around　the　Makambo　and　make　ferocious　grimaces　up　at　Kwaque；　who　grimaced　back　at　them　from　over　the　rail。　　Daughtry　even　encouraged　this　exchange　of　facial　amenities　for　the　purpose　of　deterring　him　from　ever　hoping　to　win　ashore　to　the　village　of　his　birth。

For　that　matter；　Kwaque　had　little　desire　to　leave　his　master；　who；　after　all；　was　kindly　and　just；　and　never　lifted　a　hand　to　him。　　Having　survived　sea…sickness　at　the　first；　and　never　setting　foot　upon　the　land　so　that　he　never　again　knew　sea…sickness；　Kwaque　was　certain　he　lived　in　an　earthly　paradise。　　He　never　had　to　regret　his　inability　to　climb　trees；　because　danger　never　threatened　him。　　He　had　food　regularly；　and　all　he　wanted；　and　it　was　such　food！　　No　one　in　his　village　could　have　dreamed　of　any　delicacy　of　the　many　delicacies　which　he　consumed　all　the　time。　Because　of　these　matters　he　even　pulled　through　a　light　attack　of　home…sickness；　and　was　as　contented　a　human　as　ever　sailed　the　seas。

And　Kwaque　it　was　who　pulled　Michael　through　the　port…hole　into　Dag　Daughtry's　stateroom　and　waited　for　that　worthy　to　arrive　by　the　roundabout　way　of　the　door。　　After　a　quick　look　around　the　room　and　a　sniff　of　the　bunk　and　under　the　bunk　which　informed　him　that　Jerry　was　not　present；　Michael　turned　his　attention　to　Kwaque。

Kwaque　tried　to　be　friendly。　　He　uttered　a　clucking　noise　in　advertisement　of　his　friendliness；　and　Michael　snarled　at　this　black　who　had　dared　to　lay　hands　upon　hima　contamination；　according　to　Michael's　trainingand　who　now　dared　to　address　him　who　associated　only　with　white　gods。

Kwaque　passed　off　the　rebuff　with　a　silly　gibbering　laugh　and　started　to　step　nearer　the　door　to　be　in　readiness　to　open　it　at　his　master's　coming。　　But　at　first　lift　of　his　leg；　Michael　flew　at　it。　　Kwaque　immediately　put　it　down；　and　Michael　subsided；　though　he　kept　a　watchful　guard。　　What　did　he　know　of　this　strange　black；　save　that　he　was　a　black　and　that；　in　the　absence　of　a　white　master；　all　blacks　required　watching？　　Kwaque　tried　slowly　sliding　his　foot　along　the　floor；　but　Michael　knew　the　trick　and　with　bristle　and　growl　put　a　stop　to　it。

It　was　upon　this　tableau　that　Daughtry　entered；　and；　while　he　admired　Michael　much　under　the　bright　electric　light；　he　realized　the　situation。

〃Kwaque；　you　make　'm　walk　about　leg　belong　you；〃　he　commanded；　in　order　to　make　sure。

Kwaque's　glance　of　apprehension　at　Michael　was　convincing　enough；　but　the　steward　insisted。　　Kwaque　gingerly　obeyed；　but　scarcely　had　his　foot　moved　an　inch　when　Michael's　was　upon　him。　　The　foot　and　leg　petrified；　while　Michael　stiff…leggedly　drew　a　half…circle　of　intimidation　about　him。

〃Got　you　nailed　to　the　floor；　eh？〃　Daughtry　chuckled。　　〃Some　nigger…chaser；　my　word；　any　amount。〃

〃Hey；　you；　Kwaque；　go　fetch　'm　two　fella　bottle　of　beer　stop　'm　along　icey…chestis；〃　he　commanded　in　his　most　peremptory　manner。

Kwaque　looked　beseechingly；　but　did　not　stir。　　Nor　did　he　stir　at　a　harsher　repetition　of　the　order。

〃My　word！〃　the　steward　bullied。　　〃Suppose　'm　you　no　fetch　'm　beer　close　up；　I　knock　'm　eight　bells　'n　'a　dog…watch　onta　you。　Suppose　'm　you　no　fetch　'm　close　up；　me　make　'm　you　go　ashore　'n'　walk　about　along　King　William　Island。〃

〃No　can；〃　Kwaque　murmured　timidly。　　〃Eye　belong　dog　look　along　me　too　much。　　Me　no　like　'm　dog　kai…kai　along　me。〃

〃You　fright　along　dog？〃　his　master　demanded。

〃My　word；　me　fright　along　dog　any　amount。〃

Dag　Daughtry　was　delighted。　　Also；　he　was　thirsty　from　his　trip　ashore　and　did　not　prolong　the　situation。

〃Hey；　you；　dog；〃　he　addressed　Michael。　　〃This　fella　boy　he　all　right。　　Savvee？　　He　all　right。〃

Michael　bobbed　his　tail　and　flattened　his　ears　in　token　that　he　was　trying　to　understand。　　When　the　steward　patted　the　black　on　the　shoulder；　Michael　advanced　and　sniffed　both　the　legs　he　had　kept　nailed　to　the　floor。

〃Walk　about；〃　Daughtry　commanded。　　〃Walk　about　slow　fella；〃　he　cautioned；　though　there　was　little　need。

Michael　bristled；　but　permitted　the　first　timid　step。　　At　the　second　he　glanced　up　at　Daughtry　to　make　certain。

〃That's　right；〃　he　was　reassured。　　〃That　fella　boy　belong　me。　　He　all　right；　you　bet。〃

Michael　smiled　with　his　eyes　that　he　understood；　and　turned　casually　aside　to　investigate　an　open　box　on　the　floor　which　contained　plates　of　turtle…shell；　hack…saws；　and　emery　paper。


〃And　now；〃　Dag　Daughtry　muttered　weightily　aloud；　as；　bottle　in　hand；　he　leaned　back　in　his　arm…chair　while　Kwaque　knelt　at　his　feet　to　unlace　his　shoes；　〃now　to　consider　a　name　for　you；　Mister　Dog；　that　will　be　just　to　your　breeding　and　fair　to　my　powers　of　invention。〃



CHAPTER　IV



Irish　terriers；　when　they　have　gained　maturity；　are　notable；　not　alone　for　their　courage；　fidelity；　and　capacity　for　love；　but　for　their　cool…headedness　and　power　of　self…control　and　restraint。　They　are　less　easily　excited　off　their　balance；　they　can　recognize　and　obey　their　master's　voice　in　the　scuffle　and　rage　of　battle；　and　they　never　fly　into　nervous　hysterics　such　as　are　common；　say；　with　fox…terriers。

Michael　possessed　no　trace　of　hysteria；　though　he　was　more　temperamentally　excitable　and　explosive　than　his　blood…brother　Jerry；　while　his　father　and　mother　were　a　sedate　old　couple　indeed　compared　with　him。　　Far　more　than　mature　Jerry；　was　mature　Michael　playful　and　rowdyish。　　His　ebullient　spirits　were　always　on　tap　to　spill　over　on　the　slightest　provocation；　and；　as　he　was　afterwards　to　demonstrate；　he　could　weary　a　puppy　with　play。　　In　short；　Michael　was　a　merry　soul。

〃Soul〃　is　used　advisedly。　　Whatever　the　human　soul　may　be　informing　spirit；　identity；　personality；　consciousnessthat　intangible　thing　Michael　certainly　possessed。　　His　soul；　differing　only　in　degree；　partook　of　the　same　attributes　as　the　human　soul。　He　knew　love；　sorrow；　joy；　wrath；　pride；　self…consciousness；　humour。　　Three　cardinal　attributes　of　the　human　soul　are　memory；　will；　and　understanding；　and　memory；　will；　and　understanding　were　Michael's。

Just　like　a　human；　with　his　five　senses　he　contacted　with　the　world　exterior　to　him。　　Just　like　a　human；　the　results　to　him　of　these　contacts　were　sensations。　　Just　like　a　human；　these　sensations　on　occasion　culminated　in　emotions。　　Still　further；　like　a　human；　he　could　and　did　perceive；　and　such　perceptions　did　flower　in　his　brain　as　concepts；　certainly　not　so　wide　and　deep　and　recondite　as　those　of　humans；　but　concepts　nevertheless。

Perhaps；　to　let　the　human　down　a　trifle　from　such　disgraceful　identity　of　the　highest　life…attributes；　it　would　be　well　to　admit　that　Michael's　sensations　were　not　quite　so　poignant；　say　in　the　matter　of　a　needle…thru