michael, brother of jerry-第9章

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〃TWO　slipper！　　Fetch　'm　quick！〃

He　was　off　and　away　in　a　scurry　of　speed　that　seemed　to　flatten　him　close　to　the　deck；　and　that；　as　he　turned　the　corner　of　the　deck…house　to　the　stairs；　made　his　hind　feet　slip　and　slide　across　the　smooth　planks。

Almost　in　a　trice　he　was　back；　both　slippers　in　his　mouth；　which　he　deposited　at　the　steward's　feet。

〃The　more　I　know　dogs　the　more　amazin'　marvellous　they　are　to　me；〃　Dag　Daughtry；　after　he　had　compassed　his　fourth　bottle；　confided　in　monologue　to　the　Shortlands　planter　that　night　just　before　bedtime。　　〃Take　Killeny　Boy。　　He　don't　do　things　for　me　mechanically；　just　because　he's　learned　to　do　'm。　　There's　more　to　it。　　He　does　'm　because　he　likes　me。　　I　can't　give　you　the　hang　of　it；　but　I　feel　it；　I　KNOW　it。

〃Maybe；　this　is　what　I'm　drivin'　at。　　Killeny　can't　talk；　as　you　'n　'me　talk；　I　mean；　so　he　can't　tell　me　how　he　loves　me；　an'　he's　all　love；　every　last　hair　of　'm。　　An'　actions　speakin'　louder　'n'　words；　he　tells　me　how　he　loves　me　by　doin'　these　things　for　me。　Tricks？　　Sure。　　But　they　make　human　speeches　of　eloquence　cheaper　'n　dirt。　　Sure　it's　speech。　　Dog…talk　that's　tongue…tied。　　Don't　I　know？　　Sure　as　I'm　a　livin'　man　born　to　trouble　as　the　sparks　fly　upward；　just　as　sure　am　I　that　it　makes　'm　happy　to　do　tricks　for　me　。　。　。　just　as　it　makes　a　man　happy　to　lend　a　hand　to　a　pal　in　a　ticklish　place；　or　a　lover　happy　to　put　his　coat　around　the　girl　he　loves　to　keep　her　warm。　　I　tell　you　。　。　。　〃

Here；　Dag　Daughtry　broke　down　from　inability　to　express　the　concepts　fluttering　in　his　beer…excited；　beer…sodden　brain；　and；　with　a　stutter　or　two；　made　a　fresh　start。

〃You　know；　it's　all　in　the　matter　of　talkin'；　an'　Killeny　can't　talk。　　He's　got　thoughts　inside　that　head　of　hisyou　can　see　'm　shinin'　in　his　lovely　brown　eyesbut　he　can't　get　'em　across　to　me。　　Why；　I　see　'm　tryin'　to　tell　me　sometimes　so　hard　that　he　almost　busts。　　There's　a　big　hole　between　him　an'　me；　an'　language　is　about　the　only　bridge；　and　he　can't　get　over　the　hole；　though　he's　got　all　kinds　of　ideas　an'　feelings　just　like　mine。

〃But；　say！　　The　time　we　get　closest　together　is　when　I　play　the　harmonica　an'　he　yow…yows。　　Music　comes　closest　to　makin'　the　bridge。　　It's　a　regular　song　without　words。　　And　。　。　。　I　can't　explain　how　。　。　。　but　just　the　same；　when　we've　finished　our　song；　I　know　we've　passed　a　lot　over　to　each　other　that　don't　need　words　for　the　passin'。〃

〃Why；　d'ye　know；　when　I'm　playin'　an'　he's　singin'；　it's　a　regular　duet　of　what　the　sky…pilots　'd　call　religion　an'　knowin'　God。　Sure；　when　we　sing　together　I'm　absorbin'　religion　an'　gettin'　pretty　close　up　to　God。　　An'　it's　big；　I　tell　you。　　Big　as　the　earth　an'　ocean　an'　sky　an'　all　the　stars。　　I　just　seem　to　get　hold　of　a　sense　that　we're　all　the　same　stuff　after　allyou；　me；　Killeny　Boy；　mountains；　sand；　salt　water；　worms；　mosquitoes；　suns；　an'　shootin'　stars　an'　blazin　comets　。　。　。　〃

Day　Daughtry　left　his　flight　as　beyond　his　own　grasp　of　speech；　and　concluded；　his　half　embarrassment　masked　by　braggadocio　over　Michael：

〃Oh；　believe　me；　they　don't　make　dogs　like　him　every　day　in　the　week。　　Sure；　I　stole　'm。　　He　looked　good　to　me。　　An'　if　I　had　it　over；　knowin'　as　I　do　known　'm　now；　I'd　steal　'm　again　if　I　lost　a　leg　doin'　it。　　That's　the　kind　of　a　dog　HE　is。〃



CHAPTER　IX



The　morning　the　Makambo　entered　Sydney　harbour；　Captain　Duncan　had　another　try　for　Michael。　　The　port　doctor's　launch　was　coming　alongside；　when　he　nodded　up　to　Daughtry；　who　was　passing　along　the　deck：

〃Steward；　I'll　give　you　twenty　pounds。〃

〃No；　sir；　thank　you；　sir；〃　was　Dag　Daughtry's　answer。　　〃I　couldn't　bear　to　part　with　him。〃

〃Twenty…five　pounds；　then。　　I　can't　go　beyond　that。　　Besides；　there　are　plenty　more　Irish　terriers　in　the　world。〃

〃That's　what　I'm　thinkin'；　sir。　　An'　I'll　get　one　for　you。　　Right　here　in　Sydney。　　An'　it　won't　cost　you　a　penny；　sir。〃

〃But　I　want　Killeny　Boy；〃　the　captain　persisted。

〃An'　so　do　I；　which　is　the　worst　of　it；　sir。　　Besides；　I　got　him　first。〃

〃Twenty…five　sovereigns　is　a　lot　of　money　。　。　。　for　a　dog；〃　Captain　Duncan　said。

〃An'　Killeny　Boy's　a　lot　of　dog　。　。　。　for　the　money；〃　the　steward　retorted。　　〃Why；　sir；　cuttin'　out　all　sentiment；　his　tricks　is　worth　more　'n　that。　　Him　not　recognizing　me　when　I　don't　want　'm　to　is　worth　fifty　pounds　of　itself。　　An'　there's　his　countin'　an'　his　singin'；　an'　all　the　rest　of　his　tricks。　　Now；　no　matter　how　I　got　him；　he　didn't　have　them　tricks。　　Them　tricks　are　mine。　　I　taught　him　them。　　He　ain't　the　dog　he　was　when　he　come　on　board。　He's　a　whole　lot　of　me　now；　an'　sellin'　him　would　be　like　sellin'　a　piece　of　myself。〃

〃Thirty　pounds；〃　said　the　captain　with　finality。

〃No；　sir；　thankin'　you　just　the　same；　sir；〃　was　Daughtry's　refusal。

And　Captain　Duncan　was　forced　to　turn　away　in　order　to　greet　the　port　doctor　coming　over　the　side。

Scarcely　had　the　Makambo　passed　quarantine；　and　while　on　her　way　up　harbour　to　dock；　when　a　trim　man…of…war　launch　darted　in　to　her　side　and　a　trim　lieutenant　mounted　the　Makambo's　boarding…ladder。　His　mission　was　quickly　explained。　　The　Albatross；　British　cruiser　of　the　second　class；　of　which　he　was　fourth　lieutenant；　had　called　in　at　Tulagi　with　dispatches　from　the　High　Commissioner　of　the　English　South　Seas。　　A　scant　twelve　hours　having　intervened　between　her　arrival　and　the　Makambo's　departure；　the　Commissioner　of　the　Solomons　and　Captain　Kellar　had　been　of　the　opinion　that　the　missing　dog　had　been　carried　away　on　the　steamer。　　Knowing　that　the　Albatross　would　beat　her　to　Sydney；　the　captain　of　the　Albatross　had　undertaken　to　look　up　the　dog。　　Was　the　dog；　an　Irish　terrier　answering　to　the　name　of　Michael；　on　board？

Captain　Duncan　truthfully　admitted　that　it　was；　though　he　most　unveraciously　shielded　Dag　Daughtry　by　repeating　his　yarn　of　the　dog　coming　on　board　of　itself。　　How　to　return　the　dog　to　Captain　Kellar？was　the　next　question；　for　the　Albatross　was　bound　on　to　New　Zealand。　　Captain　Duncan　settled　the　matter。

〃The　Makambo　will　be　back　in　Tulagi　in　eight　weeks；〃　he　told　the　lieutenant；　〃and　I'll　undertake　personally　to　deliver　the　dog　to　its　owner。　　In　the　meantime　we'll　take　good　care　of　it。　　Our　steward　has　sort　of　adopted　it；　so　it　will　be　in　good　hands。〃


〃Seems　we　don't　either　of　us　get　the　dog；〃　Daughtry　commented　resignedly；　when　Captain　Duncan　had　explained　the　situation。

But　when　Daughtry　turned　his　back　and　started　off　along　the　deck；　his　constitutional　obstinacy　tightened　his　brows　so　that　the　Shortlands　planter；　observing　it；　wondered　what　the　captain　had　been　rowing　him　about。


Despite　his　six　quarts　a　day　and　all　his　easy…goingness　of　disposition；　Dag　Daughtry　possessed　certain　integrities。　　Though　he　could　steal　a　dog；　or　a　cat；　without　a　twinge　of　conscience；　he　could　not　but　be　faithful　to　his　salt；　being　so　made。　　He　could　not　draw　wages　for　being　a　ship　steward　without　faithfully　performing　the　functions　of　ship　steward。　　Though　his　mind　was　firmly　made　up；　during　the　several　days　of　the　Makambo　in　Sydney；　lying　alongside　the　Burns　Philp　Dock；　he　saw　to　every　detail　of　the　cleaning　up　after　the　last　crowd　of　outgoing　passengers；　and　to　every　detail　of　preparation　for　the　next　crowd　of　incoming　passengers　who　had　tickets　bought　for　the　passage　far　away　to　the　coral　seas　and　the　cannibal　isles。

In　the　midst　of　this　devotion　to　his　duty；　he　took　a　night　off　and　part　of　two　afternoons。　　The　night　off　was　devoted　to　the　public…　houses　which　sailors　frequent；　and　where　can　be　learned　the　latest　gossip　and　news　of　ships　and　of　men　who　sail　upon　the　sea。　　Such　information　did　he　gather；　over　many　bottles　of　beer；　that　the　next　afternoon；　hiring　a　small　launch　at　a　cost　of　ten　shillings；　he　journeyed　up　the　harbour　to　Jackson　Bay；　where　lay　the　lofty…　poled；　sweet…lined；　three…topmast　American　schooner；　the　Mary　Turner。

Once　on　board；　explaining　his　errand；　he　was　taken　below　into　the　main　cabin；　where　he　interviewed；　and　was　interviewed　by；　a　quartette　of　men　whom　Daughtry　qualified　to　himself　as　〃a　rum　bunch。〃

It　was　because　he　had　talked　long　with　the　steward　who　had　left　the　ship；　that　Dag　Daughtry　recognized　and　identified　each　of　the　four　men。　　That；　surely；　was　the　〃Ancient　Mariner；〃　sitting　back　and　apart　with　washed　eyes　of　such　palest　blue　that　they　seemed　a　faded　white。　　Long　thin　wisps　of　silvery；　unkempt　hair　framed　his　face　like　an　aureole。　　He　was　slender　to　emaciation；　cavernously　checked；　roll　after　roll　of　skin；　no　longer　encasing　flesh　or　muscle；　hanging　grotesquely　down　his　neck　and　swathing　the　Adam's　apple　so　that　only　occasionally；　with　queer　swallowing　motions；　did　it　peep　out　of　the　mummy…wrappings　of　skin　and　sink　back　again　from　view。

A　proper　ancient　mariner；　thought　Daughtry。　　Might　be　seventy…　five；　might　just　as　well　be　a　hundred　and　five；　or　a　hundred　and　seventy…five。

Beginning　at　the　right　temple；　a　ghastly　scar　split　the　cheek…　bone；　sank　into　the　depths　of　the　hollow　cheek；　notched　across　the　lower　jaw；　and　plunged　to　disappearance　among　the　prodigious　skin…　folds　of　the　neck。　　The　withered　lobes　of　both　ears　were　perforated　by　tiny　gypsy…like　circles　of　gold。　　On　the　skeleton　fingers　of　his　right　hand　were　no　less　than　five　ringsnot　men's　rings；　nor　women's；　but　foppish　rings〃that　would　fetch　a　price；〃　Daughtry　adjudged。　　On　the　left　hand　were　no　rings；　for　there　were　no　fingers　to　wear　them。　　Only　was　there　a　thumb；　and；　for　that　matter；　most　of　the　hand　was　missing　as　well；　as　if　it　had　been　cut　off　by　the　same　slicing　edge　that　had　cleaved　him　from　temple　to　jaw　and　heaven　alone　knew　how　far　down　that　skin…draped　neck。

The　Ancient　Mariner's　washed　eyes　seemed　to　bore　right　through　Daughtry　（or　at　least　so　Daughtry　felt）；　and　rendered　him　so　uncomfortable　as　to　make　him　casually　step　to　the　side　for　the　matter　of　a　yard。　　This　was　possible；　because；　a　servant　seeking　a　servant's　billet；　he　was　expected　to　stand　and　face　the　four　seated　ones　as　if　they　were　judges　on　the　bench　and　he　the　felon　in　the　dock。　　Nevertheless；　the　gaze　of　the　ancient　one　pursued　him；　until；　studying　it　more　closely；　he　decided　that　it　did　not　reach　to　him　at　all。　　He　got　the　impression　that　those　washed　pale　eyes　were　filmed　with　dreams；　and　that　the　intelligence；　the　THING；　that　dwelt　within　the　skull；　fluttered　and　beat　against　the　dream…films　and　no　farther。

〃How　much　would　you　expect？〃　the　captain　was　asking；a　most　unsealike　captain；　in　Daughtry's　opinion；　rather；　a　spick…and…　span；　brisk　little　business…man　or　floor…walker　just　out　of　a　bandbox。

〃He　shall　not　share；〃　spoke　up　another　of　the　four；　huge；　raw…　boned；　middle…aged；　whom　Daughtry　identified　by　his　ham…like　hands　as　the　California　wheat…farmer　described　by　the　departed　steward。

〃Plenty　for　all；〃　the　Ancient　Mariner　startled　Daughtry　by　cackling　shrilly。　　〃Oodles　and　oodles　of　it；　my　gentlemen；　in　cask　and　chest；　in　cask　and　chest；　a　fathom　under　the　sand。〃

〃ShareWHAT；　sir？〃　Daughtry　queried；　though　well　he　knew；　the　other　steward　having　cursed　to　him　the　day　he　sailed　from　San　Francisco　on　a　blind　lay　instead　of　straight　wages。　　〃Not　that　it　matters；　sir；〃　he　hastened　to　add。　　〃I　spent　a　whalin'　voyage　once；　three　years　of　it；　an'　paid　off　with　a　dollar。　　Wages　for　mine；　an'　sixty