michael, brother of jerry-第2部分

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ch；　multiplied　by　thirty；　amounted　to　a　tidy　sum　in　the　course　of　the　month；　and；　since　that　man　was　Dag　Daughtry；　he　found　it　necessary　to　pass　Michael　inboard　on　the　Makambo　through　a　starboard　port…hole。

On　the　beach；　that　night　at　Tulagi；　vainly　wondering　what　had　become　of　the　whaleboat；　Michael　had　met　the　squat；　thick；　hair…　grizzled　ship's　steward。　　The　friendship　between　them　was　established　almost　instantly；　for　Michael；　from　a　merry　puppy；　had　matured　into　a　merry　dog。　　Far　beyond　Jerry；　was　he　a　sociable　good　fellow；　and　this；　despite　the　fact　that　he　had　known　very　few　white　men。　　First；　there　had　been　Mister　Haggin；　Derby　and　Bob；　of　Meringe；　next；　Captain　Kellar　and　Captain　Kellar's　mate　of　the　Eugenie；　and；　finally；　Harley　Kennan　and　the　officers　of　the　Ariel。　　Without　exception；　he　had　found　them　all　different；　and　delightfully　different；　from　the　hordes　of　blacks　he　had　been　taught　to　despise　and　to　lord　it　over。

And　Dag　Daughtry　had　proved　no　exception　from　his　first　greeting　of　〃Hello；　you　white　man's　dog；　what　'r'　you　doin'　herein　nigger　country？〃　　Michael　had　responded　coyly　with　an　assumption　of　dignified　aloofness　that　was　given　the　lie　by　the　eager　tilt　of　his　ears　and　the　good…humour　that　shone　in　his　eyes。　　Nothing　of　this　was　missed　by　Dag　Daughtry；　who　knew　a　dog　when　he　saw　one；　as　he　studied　Michael　in　the　light　of　the　lanterns　held　by　black　boys　where　the　whaleboats　were　landing　cargo。

Two　estimates　the　steward　quickly　made　of　Michael：　　he　was　a　likable　dog；　genial…natured　on　the　face　of　it；　and　he　was　a　valuable　dog。　　Because　of　those　estimates　Dag　Daughtry　glanced　about　him　quickly。　　No　one　was　observing。　　For　the　moment；　only　blacks　stood　about；　and　their　eyes　were　turned　seaward　where　the　sound　of　oars　out　of　the　darkness　warned　them　to　stand　ready　to　receive　the　next　cargo…laden　boat。　　Off　to　the　right；　under　another　lantern；　he　could　make　out　the　Resident　Commissioner's　clerk　and　the　Makambo's　super…cargo　heatedly　discussing　some　error　in　the　bill　of　lading。

The　steward　flung　another　quick　glance　over　Michael　and　made　up　his　mind。　　He　turned　away　casually　and　strolled　along　the　beach　out　of　the　circle　of　lantern　light。　　A　hundred　yards　away　he　sat　down　in　the　sand　and　waited。

〃Worth　twenty　pounds　if　a　penny；〃　he　muttered　to　himself。　　〃If　I　couldn't　get　ten　pounds　for　him；　just　like　that；　with　a　thank…you…　ma'am；　I'm　a　sucker　that　don't　know　a　terrier　from　a　greyhound。　Sure；　ten　pounds；　in　any　pub　on　Sydney　beach。〃

And　ten　pounds；　metamorphosed　into　quart　bottles　of　beer；　reared　an　immense　and　radiant　vision；　very　like　a　brewery；　inside　his　head。

A　scurry　of　feet　in　the　sand；　and　low　sniffings；　stiffened　him　to　alertness。　　It　was　as　he　had　hoped。　　The　dog　had　liked　him　from　the　start；　and　had　followed　him。

For　Dag　Daughtry　had　a　way　with　him；　as　Michael　was　quickly　to　learn；　when　the　man's　hand　reached　out　and　clutched　him；　half　by　the　jowl；　half　by　the　slack　of　the　neck　under　the　ear。　　There　was　no　threat　in　that　reach；　nothing　tentative　nor　timorous。　　It　was　hearty；　all…confident；　and　it　produced　confidence　in　Michael。　　It　was　roughness　without　hurt；　assertion　without　threat；　surety　without　seduction。　　To　him　it　was　the　most　natural　thing　in　the　world　thus　to　be　familiarly　seized　and　shaken　about　by　a　total　stranger；　while　a　jovial　voice　muttered：　　〃That's　right；　dog。　Stick　around；　stick　around；　and　you'll　wear　diamonds；　maybe。〃

Certainly；　Michael　had　never　met　a　man　so　immediately　likable。　Dag　Daughtry　knew；　instinctively　to　be　sure；　how　to　get　on　with　dogs。　　By　nature　there　was　no　cruelty　in　him。　　He　never　exceeded　in　peremptoriness；　nor　in　petting。　　He　did　not　overbid　for　Michael's　friendliness。　　He　did　bid；　but　in　a　manner　that　conveyed　no　sense　of　bidding。　　Scarcely　had　he　given　Michael　that　introductory　jowl…shake；　when　he　released　him　and　apparently　forgot　all　about　him。

He　proceeded　to　light　his　pipe；　using　several　matches　as　if　the　wind　blew　them　out。　　But　while　they　burned　close　up　to　his　fingers；　and　while　he　made　a　simulation　of　prodigious　puffing；　his　keen　little　blue　eyes；　under　shaggy；　grizzled　brows；　intently　studied　Michael。　　And　Michael；　ears　cocked　and　eyes　intent；　gazed　at　this　stranger　who　seemed　never　to　have　been　a　stranger　at　all。

If　anything；　it　was　disappointment　Michael　experienced；　in　that　this　delightful；　two…legged　god　took　no　further　notice　of　him。　　He　even　challenged　him　to　closer　acquaintance　with　an　invitation　to　play；　with　an　abrupt　movement　lifting　his　paws　from　the　ground　and　striking　them　down；　stretched　out　well　before；　his　body　bent　down　from　the　rump　in　such　a　curve　that　almost　his　chest　touched　the　sand；　his　stump　of　a　tail　waving　signals　of　good　nature　while　he　uttered　a　sharp；　inviting　bark。　　And　the　man　was　uninterested；　pulling　stolidly　away　at　his　pipe；　in　the　darkness　following　upon　the　third　match。

Never　was　there　a　more　consummate　love…making；　with　all　the　base　intent　of　betrayal；　than　this　cavalier　seduction　of　Michael　by　the　elderly；　six…quart　ship's　steward。　　When　Michael；　not　entirely　unwitting　of　the　snub　of　the　man's　lack　of　interest；　stirred　restlessly　with　a　threat　to　depart；　he　had　flung　at　him　gruffly：

〃Stick　around；　dog；　stick　around。〃

Dag　Daughtry　chuckled　to　himself；　as　Michael；　advancing；　sniffed　his　trousers'　legs　long　and　earnestly。　　And　the　man　took　advantage　of　his　nearness　to　study　him　some　more；　lighting　his　pipe　and　running　over　the　dog's　excellent　lines。

〃Some　dog；　some　points；〃　he　said　aloud　approvingly。　　〃Say；　dog；　you　could　pull　down　ribbons　like　a　candy…kid　in　any　bench　show　anywheres。　　Only　thing　against　you　is　that　ear；　and　I　could　almost　iron　it　out　myself。　　A　vet。　could　do　it。〃

Carelessly　he　dropped　a　hand　to　Michael's　ear；　and；　with　tips　of　fingers　instinct　with　sensuous　sympathy；　began　to　manipulate　the　base　of　the　ear　where　its　roots　bedded　in　the　tightness　of　skin…　stretch　over　the　skull。　　And　Michael　liked　it。　　Never　had　a　man's　hand　been　so　intimate　with　his　ear　without　hurting　it。　　But　these　fingers　were　provocative　only　of　physical　pleasure　so　keen　that　he　twisted　and　writhed　his　whole　body　in　acknowledgment。

Next　came　a　long；　steady；　upward　pull　of　the　ear；　the　ear　slipping　slowly　through　the　fingers　to　the　very　tip　of　it　while　it　tingled　exquisitely　down　to　its　roots。　　Now　to　one　ear；　now　to　the　other；　this　happened；　and　all　the　while　the　man　uttered　low　words　that　Michael　did　not　understand　but　which　he　accepted　as　addressed　to　him。

〃Head　all　right；　good　'n'　flat；〃　Dag　Daughtry　murmured；　first　sliding　his　fingers　over　it；　and　then　lighting　a　match。　　〃An'　no　wrinkles；　'n'　some　jaw；　good　'n'　punishing；　an'　not　a　shade　too　full　in　the　cheek　or　too　empty。〃

He　ran　his　fingers　inside　Michael's　mouth　and　noted　the　strength　and　evenness　of　the　teeth；　measured　the　breadth　of　shoulders　and　depth　of　chest；　and　picked　up　a　foot。　　In　the　light　of　another　match　he　examined　all　four　feet。

〃Black；　all　black；　every　nail　of　them；〃　said　Daughtry；　〃an'　as　clean　feet　as　ever　a　dog　walked　on；　straight…out　toes　with　the　proper　arch　'n'　small　'n'　not　too　small。　　I　bet　your　daddy　and　your　mother　cantered　away　with　the　ribbons　in　their　day。〃

Michael　was　for　growing　restless　at　such　searching　examination；　but　Daughtry；　in　the　midst　of　feeling　out　the　lines　and　build　of　the　thighs　and　hocks；　paused　and　took　Michael's　tail　in　his　magic　fingers；　exploring　the　muscles　among　which　it　rooted；　pressing　and　prodding　the　adjacent　spinal　column　from　which　it　sprang；　and　twisting　it　about　in　a　most　daringly　intimate　way。　　And　Michael　was　in　an　ecstasy；　bracing　his　hindquarters　to　one　side　or　the　other　against　the　caressing　fingers。　　With　open　hands　laid　along　his　sides　and　partly　under　him；　the　man　suddenly　lifted　him　from　the　ground。　　But　before　he　could　feel　alarm　he　was　back　on　the　ground　again。

〃Twenty…six　or　…sevenyou're　over　twenty…five　right　now；　I'll　bet　you　on　it；　shillings　to　ha'pennies；　and　you'll　make　thirty　when　you　get　your　full　weight；〃　Dag　Daughtry　told　him。　　〃But　what　of　it？　　Lots　of　the　judges　fancy　the　thirty…mark。　　An'　you　could　always　train　off　a　few　ounces。　　You're　all　dog　n'　all　correct　conformation。　　You've　got　the　racing　build　and　the　fighting　weight；　an'　there　ain't　no　feathers　on　your　legs。〃

〃No；　sir；　Mr。　Dog；　your　weight's　to　the　good；　and　that　ear　can　be　ironed　out　by　any　respectable　dogdoctor。　　I　bet　there's　a　hundred　men　in　Sydney　right　now　that　would　fork　over　twenty　quid　for　the　right　of　calling　you　his。〃

And　then；　just　that　Michael　should　not　make　the　mistake　of　thinking　he　was　being　much　made　over；　Daughtry　leaned　back；　relighted　his　pipe；　and　apparently　forgot　his　existence。　　Instead　of　bidding　for　good　will；　he　was　bent　on　making　Michael　do　the　bidding。

And　Michael　did；　bumping　his　flanks　against　Daughtry's　knee；　nudging　his　head　against　Daughtry's　hand；　in　solicitation　for　more　of　the　blissful　ear…rubbing　and　tail…twisting。　　Daughtry　caught　him　by　the　jowl　instead　and　slowly　moved　his　head　back　and　forth　as　he　addressed　him：

〃What　man's　dog　are　you？　　Maybe　you're　a　nigger's　dog；　an'　that　ain't　right。　　Maybe　some　nigger's　stole　you；　an'　that'd　be　awful。　Think　of　the　cruel　fates　that　sometimes　happens　to　dogs。　　It's　a　damn　shame。　　No　wh