michael, brother of jerry-第44章

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　suspended　by　his　neck　like　a　man　being　hanged；　his　wind　was　shut　off　and　he　began　to　suffocate。　　He　coiled　and　twisted；　the　splendid　muscles　of　his　body　enabling　him　almost　to　tie　knots　in　it。

The　block…and…tackle；　running　like　a　trolley　on　the　overhead　track；　made　it　possible　for　the　assistant　to　seize　his　tail　and　drag　him　through　the　air　till　he　was　above　the　chair。　　His　helpless　body　guided　thus　by　the　tail；　his　chest　jabbed　by　the　iron　fork　in　Mulcachy's　hands；　the　rope　was　suddenly　lowered；　and　Ben　Bolt；　with　swimming　brain；　found　himself　seated　in　the　chair。　On　the　instant　he　leaped　for　the　floor；　received　a　blow　on　the　nose　from　the　heavy　whip…handle；　and　had　a　blank　cartridge　fired　straight　into　his　nostril。　　His　madness　of　pain　and　fear　was　multiplied。　　He　sprang　away　in　flight；　but　Mulcachy's　voice　rang　out；　〃Hoist　him！〃　and　he　slowly　rose　in　the　air　again；　hanging　by　his　neck；　and　began　to　strangle。

Once　more　he　was　swung　into　position　by　his　tail；　jabbed　in　the　chest；　and　lowered　suddenly　on　the　runbut　so　suddenly；　with　a　frantic　twist　of　his　body　on　his　part；　that　he　fell　violently　across　the　chair　on　his　belly。　　What　little　wind　was　left　him　from　the　strangling；　seemed　to　have　been　ruined　out　of　him　by　the　violence　of　the　fall。　　The　glare　in　his　eyes　was　maniacal　and　swimming。　　He　panted　frightfully；　and　his　head　rolled　back　and　forth。　　Slaver　dripped　from　his　mouth；　blood　ran　from　his　nose。

〃Hoist　away！〃　Mulcachy　shouted。

And　again；　struggling　frantically　as　the　tightening　collar　shut　off　his　wind；　Ben　Bolt　was　slowly　lifted　into　the　air。　　So　wildly　did　he　struggle　that；　ere　his　hind　feet　were　off　the　floor；　he　pranced　back　and　forth；　so　that　when　he　was　heaved　clear　his　body　swung　like　a　huge　pendulum。　　Over　the　chair；　he　was　dropped；　and　for　a　fraction　of　a　second　the　posture　was　his　of　a　man　sitting　in　a　chair。　　Then　he　uttered　a　terrible　cry　and　sprang。

It　was　neither　snarl；　nor　growl；　nor　roar；　that　cry；　but　a　sheer　scream；　as　if　something　had　broken　inside　of　him。　　He　missed　Mulcachy　by　inches；　as　another　blank　cartridge　exploded　up　his　other　nostril　and　as　the　men　with　the　rope　snapped　him　back　so　abruptly　as　almost　to　break　his　neck。

This　time；　lowered　quickly；　he　sank　into　the　chair　like　a　half…　empty　sack　of　meal；　and　continued　so　to　sink；　until；　crumpling　at　the　middle；　his　great　tawny　head　falling　forward；　he　lay　on　the　floor　unconscious。　　His　tongue；　black　and　swollen；　lolled　out　of　his　mouth。　　As　buckets　of　water　were　poured　on　him　he　groaned　and　moaned。　　And　here　ended　the　first　lesson。

〃It's　all　right；〃　Mulcachy　said；　day　after　day；　as　the　teaching　went　on。　　〃Patience　and　hard　work　will　pull　off　the　trick。　　I've　got　his　goat。　　He's　afraid　of　me。　　All　that's　required　is　time；　and　time　adds　to　value　with　an　animal　like　him。〃

Not　on　that　first　day；　nor　on　the　second；　nor　on　the　third；　did　the　requisite　something　really　break　inside　Ben　Bolt。　　But　at　the　end　of　a　fortnight　it　did　break。　　For　the　day　came　when　Mulcachy　rapped　the　chair　with　his　whip…butt；　when　the　attendant　through　the　bars　jabbed　the　iron　fork　into　Ben　Bolt's　ribs；　and　when　Ben　Bolt；　anything　but　royal；　slinking　like　a　beaten　alley…cat；　in　pitiable　terror；　crawled　over　to　the　chair　and　sat　down　in　it　like　a　man。　　He　now　was　an　〃educated〃　tiger。　　The　sight　of　him；　so　sitting；　tragically　travestying　man；　has　been　considered；　and　is　considered；　〃educative〃　by　multitudinous　audiences。

The　second　case；　that　of　St。　Elias；　was　a　harder　one；　and　it　was　marked　down　against　Mulcachy　as　one　of　his　rare　failures；　though　all　admitted　that　it　was　an　unavoidable　failure。　　St。　Elias　was　a　huge　monster　of　an　Alaskan　bear；　who　was　good…natured　and　even　facetious　and　humorous　after　the　way　of　bears。　　But　he　had　a　will　of　his　own　that　was　correspondingly　as　stubborn　as　his　bulk。　　He　could　be　persuaded　to　do　things；　but　he　would　not　tolerate　being　compelled　to　do　things。　　And　in　the　trained…animal　world；　where　turns　must　go　off　like　clockwork；　is　little　or　no　space　for　persuasion。　　An　animal　must　do　its　turn；　and　do　it　promptly。　Audiences　will　not　brook　the　delay　of　waiting　while　a　trainer　tries　to　persuade　a　crusty　or　roguish　beast　to　do　what　the　audience　has　paid　to　see　it　do。

So　St。　Elias　received　his　first　lesson　in　compulsion。　　It　was　also　his　last　lesson；　and　it　never　progressed　so　far　as　the　training…　arena；　for　it　took　place　in　his　own　cage。

Noosed　in　the　customary　way；　his　four　legs　dragged　through　the　bars；　and　his　head；　by　means　of　a　〃choke〃　collar；　drawn　against　the　bars；　he　was　first　of　all　manicured。　　Each　one　of　his　great　claws　was　cut　off　flush　with　his　flesh。　　The　men　outside　did　this。　Then　Mulcachy；　on　the　inside；　punched　his　nose。　　Not　lightly　as　it　sounds　was　this　operation。　　The　punch　was　a　perforation。　Thrusting　the　instrument　into　the　huge　bear's　nostril；　Mulcachy　cut　a　clean　round　chunk　of　living　meat　out　of　one　side　of　it。　Mulcachy　knew　the　bear　business。　　At　all　times；　to　make　an　untrained　bear　obey；　one　must　be　fast　to　some　sensitive　portion　of　the　bear。　　The　ears；　the　nose；　and　the　eyes　are　the　accessible　sensitive　parts；　and；　the　eyes　being　out　of　the　question；　remain　the　nose　and　the　ears　as　the　parts　to　which　to　make　fast。

Through　the　perforation　Mulcachy　immediately　clamped　a　metal　ring。　To　the　ring　he　fastened　a　long　〃lunge〃…rope；　which　was　well　named。　Any　unruly　lunge；　at　any　time　during　all　the　subsequent　life　of　St。　Elias；　could　thus　be　checked　by　the　man　who　held　the　lunge…　rope。　　His　destiny　was　patent　and　ordained。　　For　ever；　as　long　as　he　lived　and　breathed；　would　he　be　a　prisoner　and　slave　to　the　rope　in　the　ring　in　his　nostril。

The　nooses　were　slipped；　and　St。　Elias　was　at　liberty；　within　the　confines　of　his　cage；　to　get　acquainted　with　the　ring　in　his　nose。　With　his　powerful　fore…paws；　standing　erect　and　roaring；　he　proceeded　to　get　acquainted　with　the　ring。　　It　certainly　was　not　a　thing　persuasible。　　It　was　living　fire。　　And　he　tore　at　it　with　his　paws　as　he　would　have　torn　at　the　stings　of　bees　when　raiding　a　honey…tree。　　He　tore　the　thing　out；　ripping　the　ring　clear　through　the　flesh　and　transforming　the　round　perforation　into　a　ragged　chasm　of　pain。

Mulcachy　cursed。　　〃Here's　where　hell　coughs；〃　he　said。　　The　nooses　were　introduced　again。　　Again　St。　Elias；　helpless　on　his　side　against　and　partly　through　the　bars；　had　his　nose　punched。　　This　time　it　was　the　other　nostril。　　And　hell　coughed。　　As　before；　the　moment　he　was　released；　he　tore　the　ring　out　through　his　flesh。

Mulcachy　was　disgusted。　　〃Listen　to　reason；　won't　you？〃　he　objurgated；　as；　this　time；　the　reason　he　referred　to　was　the　introduction　of　the　ring　clear　through　both　nostrils；　higher　up；　and　through　the　central　dividing　wall　of　cartilage。　　But　St。　Elias　was　unreasonable。　　Unlike　Ben　Bolt；　there　was　nothing　inside　of　him　weak　enough；　or　nervous　enough；　or　high…strung　enough；　to　break。　　The　moment　he　was　free　he　ripped　the　ring　away　with　half　of　his　nose　along　with　it。　　Mulcachy　punched　St。　Elias's　right　ear。　　St。　Elias　tore　his　right　ear　to　shreds。　　Mulcachy　punched　his　left　ear。　　He　tore　his　left　ear　to　shreds。　　And　Mulcachy　gave　in。　　He　had　to。　　As　he　said　plaintively：

〃We're　beaten。　　There　ain't　nothing　left　to　make　fast　to。〃

Later；　when　St。　Elias　was　condemned　to　be　a　〃cage…animal〃　all　his　days；　Mulcachy　was　wont　to　grumble：

〃He　was　the　most　unreasonable　animal！　　Couldn't　do　a　thing　with　him。　　Couldn't　ever　get　anything　to　make　fast　to。〃



CHAPTER　XXXIV



It　was　in　the　Orpheum　Theatre；　of　Oakland；　California；　and　Harley　Kennan　was　in　the　act　of　reaching　under　his　seat　for　his　hat；　when　his　wife　said：

〃Why；　this　isn't　the　interval。　　There's　one　more　turn　yet。〃

〃A　dog　turn；〃　he　answered；　and　thereby　explained；　for　it　was　his　practice　to　leave　a　theatre　during　the　period　of　the　performance　of　an　animal…act。

Villa　Kennan　glanced　hastily　at　the　programme。

〃Of　course；〃　she　said；　then　added：　　〃But　it's　a　singing　dog。　　A　dog　Caruso。　　And　it　points　out　that　there　is　no　one　on　the　stage　with　the　dog。　　Let　us　stay　for　once；　and　see　how　he　compares　with　Jerry。〃

〃Some　poor　brute　tormented　into　howling；〃　Harley　grumbled。

〃But　it　has　the　stage　to　itself；〃　Villa　urged。　　〃Besides；　if　it　is　painful；　then　we　can　go　out。　　I'll　go　out　with　you。　　But　I　just　would　like　to　see　how　much　better　Jerry　sings　than　does　he。　　And　it　says　an　Irish　terrier；　too。〃

So　Harley　Kennan　remained。　　The　two　burnt…cork　comedians　finished　their　turn　and　their　three　encores；　and　the　curtain　behind　them　went　up　on　a　full　set　of　an　empty　stage。　　A　rough…coated　Irish　terrier　entered　at　a　sedate　walk；　sedately　walked　forward　to　the　centre；　nearly　to　the　footlights；　and　faced　the　leader　of　the　orchestra。　　As　the　programme　had　stated；　he　had　the　stage　to　himself

The　orchestra　played　the　opening　strains　of　〃Sweet　Bye　and　Bye。〃　The　dog　yawned　and　sat　down。　　But　the　orchestra　was　thoroughly　instructed　to　play　the　opening　strains　over　and　over；　until　the　dog　responded；　and　then　to　follow　on　with　him。　　By　the　third　time；　the　dog　opened　his　mouth　and　began。　　It　was　not　a　mere　howling。　For　that　matter；　it　was　too　mellow　to　be　classified　as　a　howl　at　all。　　Nor　was　it　merely　rhythmic。　　The　notes　the　dog　sang　were　of　the　air；　and　they　were　correct。

But　Villa　Kennan　scarcely　heard。

〃He　has　Jerry　beaten　a　mile；〃　Harley　muttered　to　her。

〃Listen；〃　she　replied；　in　tense　whispers。　　〃Did　you　ever　see　that　dog　before？〃

Harley　shook　his　head。

〃You　have　seen　him　before；〃　she　insisted。　　〃Look　at　that　crinkled　ear。　　Think！　　Think　back！　　Remember！〃

Still　her　husband　shook　his　head。

〃Remember　the　Solomons；〃　she　pressed。　　〃Remember　the　Ariel。　Remember　when　we　came　back　from　Malaita；　where　we　picked　Jerry　up；　to　Tulagi；　that　he　had　a　brother　there；　a　nigger…chaser　on　a　schooner。〃

〃And　his　name　was　Michaelgo　on。〃

〃And　he　had　that　self…same　crinkled　ear；〃　she　hurried。　　〃And　he　was　rough…coated。　　And　he　was　full　brother　to　Jerry。　　And　their　father　and　mother　were　Terrence　and　Biddy　of　Meringe。　　And　Jerry　is　our　Sing　Song　Silly。　　And　this　dog　sings。　　And　he　has　a　crinkled　ear。　　And　his　name　is　Michael。〃

〃Impossible；〃　said　Harley。

〃It　is　when　the　impossible　comes　true　that　life　proves　worth　while；〃　she　retorted。　　〃And　this　is　one　of　those　worth…whiles　of　impossibles。　　I　know　it。〃

Still　the　man　of　him　said　impossible；　and　still　the　woman　of　her　insisted　that　this　was　an　impossible　come　true。　　By　this　time　the　dog　on　the　stage　was　singing　〃God　Save　the　King。〃

〃That　shows　I　am　right；〃　Villa　contended。　　〃No　American；　in　America；　would　teach　a　dog　'God　Save　the　King。'　　An　Englishman　originally　owned　that　dog　and　taught　it。　　The　Solomons　are　British。〃

〃That's　a　far　cry；〃　he　smiled。　　〃But　what　gets　me　is　that　ear。　　I　remember　it　now。　　I　remember　the　day　when　we　were　on　the　beach　at　Tulagi　with　Jerry；　and　when　his　brother　came　ashore　from　the　Eugenie　in　a　whaleboat。　　And　his　brother　had　that　self…same；　loppy；　crinkled　ear。〃

〃And　more；〃　Villa　argued。　　〃How　many　singing　dogs　have　we　ever　known！　　Only　oneJerry。　　Evidently　such　a　type　occurs　rarely。　The　same　family　would　more　likely　produce　similar　types　than　different　families。　　The　family　of　Terrence　and　Biddy　produced　Jerry。　　And　this　is　Michael。〃

〃He　WAS　rough…coated