michael, brother of jerry-第7章

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is　jaws　on　the　back　and　side　of　the　neck。　　Such　abrupt　arrest　in　mid…flight　by　the　heavier　dog　brought　the　fox…terrier　down　on　deck　with；　a　heavy　thump。　Simultaneous　with　this；　Captain　Duncan's　second　kick　landed；　communicating　such　propulsion　to　Michael　as　to　tear　his　clenched　teeth　through　the　flesh　and　out　of　the　flesh　of　the　fox…terrier。

And　Michael　turned　on　the　Captain。　　What　if　he　were　a　white　god？　In　his　rage　at　so　many　assaults　of　so　many　enemies；　Michael；　who　had　been　peacefully　looking　for　Kwaque　and　Steward；　did　not　stop　to　reckon。　　Besides；　it　was　a　strange　white　god　upon　whom　he　had　never　before　laid　eyes。

At　the　beginning　he　had　snarled　and　growled。　　But　it　was　a　more　serious　affair　to　attack　a　god；　and　no　sound　came　from　him　as　he　leaped　to　meet　the　leg　flying　toward　him　in　another　kick。　　As　with　the　cat；　he　did　not　leap　straight　at　it。　　To　the　side　to　avoid；　and　in　with　a　curve　of　body　as　it　passed；　was　his　way。　　He　had　learned　the　trick　with　many　blacks　at　Meringe　and　on　board　the　Eugenie；　so　that　as　often　he　succeeded　as　failed　at　it。　　His　teeth　came　together　in　the　slack　of　the　white　duck　trousers。　　The　consequent　jerk　on　Captain　Duncan's　leg　made　that　infuriated　mariner　lose　his　balance。　　Almost　he　fell　forward　on　his　face；　part　recovered　himself　with　a　violent　effort；　stumbled　over　Michael　who　was　in　for　another　bite；　tottered　wildly　around；　and　sat　down　on　the　deck。

How　long　he　might　have　sat　there　to　recover　his　breath　is　problematical；　for　he　rose　as　rapidly　as　his　stoutness　would　permit；　spurred　on　by　Michael's　teeth　already　sunk　into　the　fleshy　part　of　his　shoulder。　　Michael　missed　his　calf　as　he　uprose；　but　tore　the　other　leg　of　the　trousers　to　shreds　and　received　a　kick　that　lifted　him　a　yard　above　the　deck　in　a　half…somersault　and　landed　him　on　his　back　on　deck。

Up　to　this　time　the　Captain　had　been　on　the　ferocious　offensive；　and　he　was　in　the　act　of　following　up　the　kick　when　Michael　regained　his　feet　and　soared　up　in　the　air；　not　for　leg　or　thigh；　but　for　the　throat。　　Too　high　it　was　for　him　to　reach　it；　but　his　teeth　closed　on　the　flowing　black　scarf　and　tore　it　to　tatters　as　his　weight　drew　him　back　to　deck。

It　was　not　this　so　much　that　turned　Captain　Duncan　to　the　pure　defensive　and　started　him　retreating　backward；　as　it　was　the　silence　of　Michael。　　Ominous　as　death　it　was。　　There　were　no　snarls　nor　throat…threats。　　With　eyes　straight…looking　and　unblinking；　he　sprang　and　sprang　again。　　Neither　did　he　growl　when　he　attacked　nor　yelp　when　he　was　kicked。　　Fear　of　the　blow　was　not　in　him。　　As　Tom　Haggin　had　so　often　bragged　of　Biddy　and　Terrence；　they　bred　true　in　Jerry　and　Michael　in　the　matter　of　not　wincing　at　a　blow。　　Alwaysthey　were　so　madethey　sprang　to　meet　the　blow　and　to　encounter　the　creature　who　delivered　the　blow。　　With　a　silence　that　was　invested　with　the　seriousness　of　death；　they　were　wont　to　attack　and　to　continue　to　attack。

And　so　Michael。　　As　the　Captain　retreated　kicking；　he　attacked；　leaping　and　slashing。　　What　saved　Captain　Duncan　was　a　sailor　with　a　deck　mop　on　the　end　of　a　stick。　　Intervening；　he　managed　to　thrust　it　into　Michael's　mouth　and　shove　him　away。　　This　first　time　his　teeth　closed　automatically　upon　it。　　But；　spitting　it　out；　he　declined　thereafter　to　bite　it；　knowing　it　for　what　it　was；　an　inanimate　thing　upon　which　his　teeth　could　inflict　no　hurt。

Nor；　beyond　trying　to　avoid　him；　was　he　interested　in　the　sailor。　It　was　Captain　Duncan；　leaning　his　back　against　the　rail；　breathing　heavily；　and　wiping　the　streaming　sweat　from　his　face；　who　was　Michael's　meat。　　Long　as　it　has　taken　to　tell　the　battle；　beginning　with　the　slaying　of　the　Persian　cat　to　the　thrusting　of　the　mop　into　Michael's　jaws；　so　swift　had　been　the　rush　of　events　that　the　passengers；　springing　from　their　deck…chairs　and　hurrying　to　the　scene；　were　just　arriving　when　Michael　eluded　the　mop　of　the　sailor　by　a　successful　dodge　and　plunged　in　on　Captain　Duncan；　this　time　sinking　his　teeth　so　savagely　into　a　rotund　calf　as　to　cause　its　owner　to　splutter　an　incoherent　curse　and　howl　of　wrathful　surprise。

A　fortunate　kick　hurled　Michael　away　and　enabled　the　sailor　to　intervene　once　again　with　the　mop。　　And　upon　the　scene　came　Dag　Daughtry；　to　behold　his　captain；　frayed　and　bleeding　and　breathing　apoplectically；　Michael　raging　in　ghastly　silence　at　the　end　of　a　mop；　and　a　large　Persian　mother…cat　writhing　with　a　broken　back。

〃Killeny　Boy！〃　the　steward　cried　imperatively。

Through　no　matter　what　indignation　and　rage　that　possessed　him；　his　lord's　voice　penetrated　his　consciousness；　so　that；　cooling　almost　instantly；　Michael's　ears　flattened；　his　bristling　hair　lay　down；　and　his　lips　covered　his　fangs　as　he　turned　his　head　to　look　acknowledgment。

〃Come　here；　Killeny！〃

Michael　obeyednot　crouching　cringingly；　but　trotting　eagerly；　gladly；　to　Steward's　feet。

〃Lie　down；　Boy。〃

He　turned　half　around　as　he　flumped　himself　down　with　a　sigh　of　relief；　and；　with　a　red　flash　of　tongue；　kissed　Steward's　foot。

〃Your　dog；　Steward？〃　Captain　Duncan　demanded　in　a　smothered　voice　wherein　struggled　anger　and　shortness　of　breath。

〃Yes；　sir。　　My　dog。　　What's　he　been　up　to；　sir？〃

The　totality　of　what　Michael　had　been　up　to　choked　the　Captain　completely。　　He　could　only　gesture　around　from　the　dying　cat　to　his　torn　clothes　and　bleeding　wounds　and　the　fox…terriers　licking　their　injuries　and　whimpering　at　his　feet。

〃It's　too　bad；　sir　。　。　。　〃　Daughtry　began。

〃Too　bad；　hell！〃　the　captain　shut　him　off。　　〃Bo's'n！　　Throw　that　dog　overboard。〃

〃Throw　the　dog　overboard；　sir；　yes；　sir；〃　the　boat…swain　repeated；　but　hesitated。

Dag　Daughtry's　face　hardened　unconsciously　with　the　stiffening　of　his　will　to　dogged　opposition；　which；　in　its　own　slow　quiet　way；　would　go　to　any　length　to　have　its　way。　　But　he　answered　respectfully　enough；　his　features；　by　a　shrewd　effort；　relaxing　into　a　seeming　of　his　customary　good…nature。

〃He's　a　good　dog；　sir；　and　an　unoffending　dog。　　I　can't　imagine　what　could　a…made　'm　break　loose　this　way。　　He　must　a…had　cause；　sir〃

〃He　had；〃　one　of　the　passengers；　a　coconut　planter　from　the　Shortlands；　interjected。

The　steward　threw　him　a　grateful　glance　and　continued。

〃He's　a　good　dog；　sir；　a　most　obedient　dog；　sirlook　at　the　way　he　minded　me　right　in　the　thick　of　the　scrap　an'　come　'n'　lay　down。　　He's　smart　as　chain…lightnin'；　sir；　do　anything　I　tell　him。　I'll　make　him　make　friends。　　See。　。　。　〃

Stepping　over　to　the　two　hysterical　terriers；　Daughtry　called　Michael　to　him。

〃He's　all　right；　savvee；　Killeny；　he　all　right；〃　he　crooned；　at　the　same　time　resting　one　hand　on　a　terrier　and　the　other　on　Michael。

The　terrier　whimpered　and　backed　solidly　against　Captain　Duncan's　legs；　but　Michael；　with　a　slow　bob　of　tail　and　unbelligerent　ears；　advanced　to　him；　looked　up　to　Steward　to　make　sure；　then　sniffed　his　late　antagonist；　and　even　ran　out　his　tongue　in　a　caress　to　the　side　of　the　other's　ear。

〃See；　sir；　no　bad　feelings；〃　Daughtry　exulted。　　〃He　plays　the　game；　sir。　　He's　a　proper　dog；　he's　a　man…dog。Here；　Killeny！　The　other　one。　　He　all　right。　　Kiss　and　make　up。　　That's　the　stuff。〃

The　other　fox…terrier；　the　one　with　the　injured　foreleg；　endured　Michael's　sniff　with　no　more　than　hysterical　growls　deep　in　the　throat；　but　the　flipping　out　of　Michael's　tongue　was　too　much。　The　wounded　terrier　exploded　in　a　futile　snap　at　Michael's　tongue　and　nose。

〃He　all　right；　Killeny；　he　all　right；　sure；〃　Steward　warned　quickly。

With　a　bob　of　his　tail　in　token　of　understanding；　without　a　shade　of　resentment；　Michael　lifted　a　paw　and　with　a　playful　casual　stroke；　dab…like；　brought　its　weight　on　the　other's　neck　and　rolled　him；　head…downward；　over　on　the　deck。　　Though　he　snarled　wrathily；　Michael　turned　away　composedly　and　looked　up　into　Steward's　face　for　approval。

A　roar　of　laughter　from　the　passengers　greeted　the　capsizing　of　the　fox…terrier　and　the　good…natured　gravity　of　Michael。　　But　not　alone　at　this　did　they　laugh；　for　at　the　moment　of　the　snap　and　the　turning　over；　Captain　Duncan's　unstrung　nerves　had　exploded；　causing　him　to　jump　as　he　tensed　his　whole　body。

〃Why；　sir；〃　the　steward　went　on　with　growing　confidence；　〃I　bet　I　can　make　him　friends　with　you；　too；　by　this　time　to…morrow　。　。　。　〃

〃By　this　time　five　minutes　he'll　be　overboard；〃　the　captain　answered。　　〃Bo's'n！　　Over　with　him！〃

The　boatswain　advanced　a　tentative　step；　while　murmurs　of　protest　arose　from　the　passengers。

〃Look　at　my　cat；　and　look　at　me；〃　Captain　Duncan　defended　his　action。

The　boatswain　made　another　step；　and　Dag　Daughtry　glared　a　threat　at　him。

〃Go　on！〃　the　Captain　commanded。

〃Hold　on！〃　spoke　up　the　Shortlands　planter。　　〃Give　the　dog　a　square　deal。　　I　saw　the　whole　thing。　　He　wasn't　looking　for　trouble。　　First　the　cat　jumped　him。　　She　had　to　jump　twice　before　he　turned　loose。　　She'd　have　scratched　his　eyes　out。　　Then　the　two　dogs　jumped　him。　　He　hadn't　bothered　them。　　Then　you　jumped　him。　He　hadn't　bothered　you。　　And　then　came　that　sailor　with　the　mop。　And　now　you　want　the　bo's'n　to　jump　him　and　throw　him　overboard。　Give　him　a　square　deal。　　He's　only　been　defending　himself。　　What　do　you　expect　any　dog　that　is　a　dog　to　do？lie　down　and　be　walked　over　by　every　strange　dog　and　cat　that　comes　along？　　Play　the　game；　Skipper。　　You　gave　him　some　mighty　hard　kicks。　　He　only　defended　himself。〃

〃He's　some　defender；〃　Captain　Duncan　grinned；　with　a　hint　of　the　return　of　his　ordinary　geniality；　at　the　same　time　tenderly　pressing　his　bleeding　shoulder　and　looking　woefully　down　at　his　tattered　duck　trousers。　　〃All　right；　Steward。　　If　you　can　make　him　friends　with　me　in　five　minutes；　he　stays　on　board。　　But　you'll　have　to　make　it　up　to　me　with　a　new　pair　of　trousers。〃

〃And　gladly；　sir；　thank　you；　sir；〃　Daughtry　cried。　　〃And　I'll　make　it　up　with　a　new　cat　as　well；　sirCome　on；　Killeny　Boy。　　This　big　fella　marster　he　all　right；　you　bet。〃

And　Michael　listened。　　Not　with　the　smouldering；　smothering；　choking　hysteria　that　still　worked　in　the　fox…terriers　did　he　listen；　nor　with　quivering　of　muscles　and　jumps　of　over…wrought　nerves；　but　coolly；　composedly；　as　if　no　battle　royal　had　just　taken　place　and　no　rips　of　teeth　and　kicks　of　feet　still　burned　and　ached　his　body。

He　could　not　help　bristling；　however；　when　first　he　sniffed　a　trousers'　leg　into　which　his　teeth　had　so　recently　torn。

〃Put　your　hand　down　on　him；　sir；〃　Daughtry　begged。

And　Captain　Duncan；　his　own　good　self　once　more；　bent　and　rested　a　firm；　unhesitating　hand　on　Michael's　head。　　Nay；　more；　he　even　caressed　the　ears　and　rubbed　about　the　roots　of　them。　　And　Michael　the　merry…hearted；　who　fought　like　a　lion　and　forgave　and　forgot　like　a　man；　laid　his　neck　hair　smoothly　down；　wagged　his　stump　tail；　smiled　with　his　eyes　and　ears　and　mouth；　and　kissed　with　his　tongue　the　hand　with　which　a　short　time　before　he　had　been　at　war。



CHAPTER　VII



For　the　rest　of　the　voyage　Michael　had　the　run　of　the　ship。　Friendly　to　all；　he　reserved　his　love　for　Steward　alone；　though　he　was　not　above　many　an　undignified　romp　with　the　fox…terriers。

〃The　most　playful…minded　dog；　without　being　silly；　I　ever　saw；〃　was　Dag　Daughtry's　verdict　to　the　Shortlands　planter；　to　whom　he　had　just　sold　one　of　his　turtle…shell　combs。　　〃Yo