michael, brother of jerry-第48章

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p　slope　of　moss　and　only　sprang　out　and　clear　in　the　air　in　order　to　avoid　a　fall。　　Even　so；　its　shoulder　impacted　against　the　shoulder　of　the　whirling　colt　below　it；　overthrowing　the　latter。　Harley　Kennan's　leg；　caught　under　against　the　earth；　snapped；　and　the　colt；　twisted　and　twisting　as　it　struck　the　ground；　snapped　its　backbone。

To　his　utter　disgust；　the　man；　pursued　by　an　armed　countryside；　found　Harley　Kennan；　his　latest　victim；　like　the　reporter；　to　be　weaponless。　　Dismounted；　he　snarled　in　his　rage　and　disappointment　and　deliberately　kicked　the　helpless　man　in　the　side。　　He　had　drawn　back　his　foot　for　the　second　kick；　when　Michael　took　a　hand…　…or　a　leg；　rather；　sinking　his　teeth　into　the　calf　of　the　back…　drawn　leg　about　to　administer　the　kick。

With　a　curse　the　man　jerked　his　leg　clear；　Michael's　teeth　ribboning　flesh　and　trousers。

〃Good　boy；　Michael！〃　Harley　applauded　from　where　he　lay　helplessly　pinioned　under　his　horse。　　〃Hey！　　Michael！〃　he　continued；　lapsing　back　into　beche…de…mer；　〃chase　'm　that　white　fella　marster　to　hell　outa　here　along　bush！〃

〃I'll　kick　your　head　off　for　that；〃　the　man　gritted　at　Harley　through　his　teeth。

Savage　as　were　his　acts　and　utterance；　the　man　was　nearly　ready　to　cry。　　The　long　pursuit；　his　hand　against　all　mankind　and　all　mankind　against　him；　had　begun　to　break　his　stamina。　　He　was　surrounded　by　enemies。　　Even　youths　had　risen　up　and　peppered　his　back　with　birdshot；　and　beef　cattle　had　trod　him　underfoot　and　smashed　his　rifle。　　Everything　conspired　against　him。　　And　now　it　was　a　dog　that　had　slashed　down　his　leg。　　He　was　on　the　death…　road。　　Never　before　had　this　impressed　him　with　such　clear　certainty。　　Everything　was　against　him。　　His　desire　to　cry　was　hysterical；　and　hysteria；　in　a　desperate　man；　is　prone　to　express　itself　in　terrible　savage　ways。　　Without　rhyme　or　reason　he　was　prepared　to　carry　out　his　threat　to　kick　Harley　Kennan　to　death。　Not　that　Kennan　had　done　anything　to　him。　　On　the　contrary；　it　was　he　who　had　attacked　Kennan；　hurling　him　down　on　the　road　and　breaking　his　leg　under　his　horse。　　But　Harley　Kennan　was　a　man；　and　all　mankind　was　his　enemy；　and；　in　killing　Kennan；　in　some　vague　way　it　appeared　to　him　that　he　was　avenging　himself；　at　least　in　part；　on　mankind　in　general。　　Going　down　himself　in　death；　he　would　drag　what　he　could　with　him　into　the　red　ruin。

But　ere　he　could　kick　the　man　on　the　ground；　Michael　was　back　upon　him。　　His　other　calf　and　trousers'　leg　were　ribboned　as　he　tore　clear。　　Then；　catching　Michael　in　mid…leap　with　a　kick　that　reached　him　under　the　chest；　he　sent　him　flying　through　the　air　off　the　road　and　down　the　slope。　　As　mischance　would　have　it；　Michael　did　not　reach　the　ground。　　Crashing　through　a　scrub　manzanita　bush；　his　body　was　caught　and　pinched　in　an　acute　fork　a　yard　above　the　ground。

〃Now；〃　the　man　announced　grimly　to　Harley；　〃I'm　going　to　do　what　I　said。　　I'm　just　going　to　kick　your　head　clean　off。〃

〃And　I　haven't　done　a　thing　to　you；〃　Harley　parleyed。　　〃I　don't　so　much　mind　being　murdered；　but　I'd　like　to　know　what　I'm　being　murdered　for。〃

〃Chasing　me　for　my　life；〃　the　man　snarled；　as　he　advanced。　　〃I　know　your　kind。　　You've　all　got　it　in　for　me；　and　I　ain't　got　a　chance　except　to　give　you　yours。　　I'll　take　a　whole　lot　of　it　out　on　you。〃

Kennan　was　thoroughly　aware　of　the　gravity　of　his　peril。　　Helpless　himself；　a　man…killing　lunatic　was　about　to　kill　him　and　to　kill　him　most　horribly。　　Michael；　a　prisoner　in　the　bush；　hanging　head…　downward　in　the　manzanita　from　his　loins　squeezed　in　the　fork；　and　struggling　vainly；　could　not　come　to　his　defence。

The　man's　first　kick；　aimed　at　Harley's　face；　he　blocked　with　his　fore…arm；　and；　before　the　man　could　make　a　second　kick；　Jerry　erupted　on　the　scene。　　Nor　did　he　need　encouragement　or　direction　from　his　love…master。　　He　flashed　at　the　man；　sinking　his　teeth　harmlessly　into　the　slack　of　the　man's　trousers　at　the　waist…band　above　the　hip；　but　by　his　weight　dragging　him　half　down　to　the　ground。

And　upon　Jerry　the　man　turned　with　an　increase　of　madness。　　In　truth　all　the　world　was　against　him。　　The　very　landscape　rained　dogs　upon　him。　　But　from　above；　from　the　slopes　of　Sonoma　Mountain；　the　cries　and　calls　of　the　trailing　poses　caught　his　ear；　and　deflected　his　intention。　　They　were　the　pursuing　death；　and　it　was　from　them　he　must　escape。　　With　another　kick　at　Jerry；　hurling　him　clear；　he　leaped　astride　the　reporter's　horse　which　had　continued　to　stand；　without　movement　or　excitement；　in　utter　apathy；　where　he　had　dismounted　from　it。

The　horse　went　into　a　reluctant　and　stiff…legged　gallop；　while　Jerry　followed；　snarling　and　growling　wrath　at　so　high　a　pitch　that　almost　he　squalled。

〃It's　all　right；　Michael；〃　Harley　soothed。　　〃Take　it　easy。　　Don't　hurt　yourself。　　The　trouble's　over。　　Anybody'll　happen　along　any　time　now　and　get　us　out　of　this　fix。〃

But　the　smaller　branch　of　the　two　composing　the　fork　broke；　and　Michael　fell　to　the　ground；　landing　in　momentary　confusion　on　his　head　and　shoulders。　　The　next　moment　he　was　on　his　feet　and　tearing　down　the　road　in　the　direction　of　Jerry's　noisy　pursuit。　Jerry's　noise　broke　in　a　sharp　cry　of　pain　that　added　wings　to　Michael's　feet。　　Michael　passed　him　rolling　helplessly　on　the　road。　　What　had　happened　was　that　the　livery　horse；　in　its　stiff…　jointed；　broken…kneed　gallop；　had　stumbled；　nearly　fallen；　and；　in　its　sprawling　recovery；　had　accidentally　stepped　on　Jerry；　bruising　and　breaking　his　fore…leg。

And　the　man；　looking　back　and　seeing　Michael　close　upon　him；　decided　that　it　was　still　another　dog　attacking　him。　　But　he　had　no　fear　of　dogs。　　It　was　men；　with　their　rifles　and　shot…guns；　that　might　bring　him　to　ultimate　grief。　　Nevertheless；　the　pain　of　his　bleeding　legs；　lacerated　by　Jerry　and　Michael；　maintained　his　rage　against　dogs。

〃More　dogs；〃　was　his　bitter　thought；　as　he　leaned　out　and　brought　his　whip　down　across　Michael's　face。

To　his　surprise；　the　dog　did　not　wince　under　the　blow。　　Nor　for　that　matter　did　he　yelp　or　cry　out　from　the　pain。　　Nor　did　he　bark　or　growl　or　snarl。　　He　closed　in　as　though　he　had　not　received　the　blow；　and　as　though　the　whip　was　not　brandished　above　him。　　As　Michael　leaped　for　his　right　leg　he　swung　the　whip　down；　striking　him　squarely　on　the　muzzle　midway　between　nose　and　eyes。　Deflected　by　the　blow；　Michael　dropped　back　to　earth　and　ran　on　with　his　longest　leaps　to　catch　up　and　make　his　next　spring。

But　the　man　had　noticed　another　thing。　　At　such　close　range；　bringing　his　whip　down；　he　could　not　help　noting　that　Michael　had　kept　his　eyes　open　under　the　blow。　　Neither　had　he　winced　nor　blinked　as　the　whip　slashed　down　on　him。　　The　thing　was　uncanny。　It　was　something　new　in　the　way　of　dogs。　　Michael　sprang　again；　the　man　timed　him　again　with　the　whip；　and　he　saw　the　uncanny　thing　repeated。　　By　neither　wince　nor　blink　had　the　dog　acknowledged　the　blow。

And　then　an　entirely　new　kind　of　fear　came　upon　the　man。　　Was　this　the　end　for　him；　after　all　he　had　gone　through？　　Was　this　deadly　silent；　rough…coated　terrier　the　thing　destined　to　destroy　him　where　men　had　failed？　　He　did　not　even　know　that　the　dog　was　real。　Might　it　not　be　some　terrible　avenger；　out　of　the　mystery　beyond　life；　placed　to　beset　him　and　finish　him　finally　on　this　road　that　he　was　convinced　was　surely　the　death…road？　　The　dog　was　not　real。　It　could　not　be　real。　　The　dog　did　not　live　that　could　take　a　full…arm　whip…slash　without　wince　or　flinch。

Twice　again；　as　the　dog　sprang；　he　deflected　it　with　accurately　delivered　blows。　　And　the　dog　came　on　with　the　same　surety　and　silence。　　The　man　surrendered　to　his　terror；　clapping　heels　to　his　horse's　old　ribs；　beating　it　over　the　head　and　under　the　belly　with　the　whip　until　it　galloped　as　it　had　not　galloped　in　years。　Even　on　that　apathetic　steed　the　terror　descended。　　It　was　not　terror　of　the　dog；　which　it　knew　to　be　only　a　dog；　but　terror　of　the　rider。　　In　the　past　its　knees　had　been　broken　and　its　joints　stiffened　for　ever；　by　drunken…mad　riders　who　had　hired　him　from　the　stables。　　And　here　was　another　such　drunken…mad　riderfor　the　horse　sensed　the　man's　terrorwho　ached　his　ribs　with　the　weight　of　his　heels　and　beat　him　cruelly　over　face　and　nose　and　ears。

The　best　speed　of　the　horse　was　not　very　great；　not　great　enough　to　out…distance　Michael；　although　it　was　fast　enough　to　give　the　latter　only　infrequent　opportunities　to　spring　for　the　man's　leg。　But　each　spring　was　met　by　the　unvarying　whip…blow　that　by　its　very　weight　deflected　him　in　the　air。　　Though　his　teeth　each　time　clipped　together　perilously　close　to　the　man's　leg；　each　time　he　fell　back　to　earth　he　had　to　gather　himself　together　and　run　at　his　own　top　speed　in　order　to　overtake　the　terror…stricken　man　on　the　crazy…galloping　horse。

Enrico　Piccolomini　saw　the　chase　and　was　himself　in　at　the　finish；　and　the　affair；　his　one　great　adventure　in　the　world；　gave　him　wealth　as　well　as　material　for　conversation　to　the　end　of　his　days。　　Enrico　Piccolomini　was　a　wood…chopper　on　the　Kennan　Ranch。　On　a　rounded　knoll；　overlooking　the　road；　he　had　first　heard　the　galloping　hoofs　of　the　horse　and　the　crack　of　the　whip…blows　on　its　body。　　Next；　he　had　seen　the　running　battle　of　the　man；　the　horse；　and　the　dog。　　When　directly　beneath　him；　not　twenty　feet　distant；　he　saw　the　dog　leap；　in　its　queer　silent　way；　straight　up　and　in　to　the　down…smash　of　the　whip；　and　sink　its　teeth　in　the　rider's　leg。　　He　saw　the　dog；　with　its　weight；　as　it　fell　back　to　earth；　drag　the　man　half　out　of　the　saddle。　　He　saw　the　man；　in　an　effort　to　recover　his　balance；　put　his　own　weight　on　the　bridle…　reins。　　And　he　saw　the　horse；　half…rearing；　half…tottering　and　stumbling；　overthrow　the　last　shred　of　the　man's　balance　so　that　he　followed　the　dog　to　the　ground。

〃And　then　they　are　like　two　dogs；　like　two　beasts；〃　Piccolomini　was　wont　to　tell　in　after…years　over　a　glass　of　wine　in　his　little　hotel　in　Glen　Ellen。　　〃The　dog　lets　go　the　man's　leg　and　jumps　for　the　man's　throat。　　And　the　man；　rolling　over；　is　at　the　dog's　throat。　　Both　his　handssohe　fastens　about　the　throat　of　this　dog。　　And　the　dog　makes　no　sound。　　He　never　makes　sound；　before　or　after。　　After　the　two　hands　of　the　man　stop　his　breath　he　can　not　make　sound。　　But　he　is　not　that　kind　of　a　dog。　　He　will　not　make　sound　anyway。　　And　the　horse　stands　and　looks　on；　and　the　horse　coughs。　　It　is　very　strange　all　that　I　see。

〃And　the　man　is　mad。　　Only　a　madman　will　do　what　I　see　him　do。　　I　see　the　man　show　his　teeth　like　any　dog；　and　bite　the　dog　on　the　paw；　on　the　nose；　on　the　body。　　And　when　he　bites　the　dog　on　the　nose；　the　dog　bites　him　on　the　check。　　And　the　man　and　the　dog　fight　like　hell；　and　the　dog　gets　his　hind　legs　up　like　a　cat。　And　like　a　cat　he　tears　the　man's　shirt　away　from　his　chest；　and　tears　the　skin　of　the　chest　with　his　claws　till　it　is　all　red　with　bleeding。　　And　the　man　yow…yowls；　and　makes　noises　like　a　wild　mountain　lion。　　And　always　he　chokes　the　dog。　　It　is　a　hell　of　a　fight。

〃And　the　dog　is　Mister　Kennan's　dog；　a　fine　man；　and　I　have　worked　for　him　two　years。　　So　I　will　not　stand　there　and　see　Mister　Kennan's　dog　all　killed　to　pieces　by　the　man　who　fights　like　a　mountain　lion。　　I　run　down　the　hill；　but　I　am　excited　and　forget　my　axe。　　I　run　down　the　h