michael, brother of jerry-第48部分

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uld　never　be　satisfied。　　They　lay　in　collapse　all　about　the　room；　but　every　little　while　one　or　another　would　crawl　over　to　the　tub　and　try　to　drink　more。　　In　the　meantime　Davis　had　started　a　fire　and　filled　a　caldron　with　potatoes。

〃The　place　stinks　like　a　den　of　skunks；〃　Mrs。　Davis　observed；　pausing　from　dabbing　the　end　of　her　nose　with　a　powder…puff。　〃Dearest；　we'll　just　have　to　wash　them。〃

〃All　right；　sweetheart；〃　her　husband　agreed。　　〃And　the　quicker　the　better。　　We　can　get　through　with　it　while　the　potatoes　are　boiling　and　cooling。　　I'll　scrub　them　and　you　dry　them。　　Remember　that　pneumonia；　and　do　it　thoroughly。〃

It　was　quick；　rough　bathing。　　Reaching　out　for　the　dogs　nearest　him；　he　flung　them　in　turn　into　the　tub　from　which　they　had　drunk。　When　they　were　frightened；　or　when　they　objected　in　any　way；　he　rapped　them　on　the　head　with　the　scrubbing　brush　or　the　bar　of　yellow　laundry　soap　with　which　he　was　lathering　them。　　Several　minutes　sufficed　for　a　dog。

〃Drink；　damn　you；　drinkhave　some　more；〃　he　would　say；　as　he　shoved　their　heads　down　and　under　the　dirty；　soapy　water。

He　seemed　to　hold　them　responsible　for　their　horrible　condition；　to　look　upon　their　filthiness　as　a　personal　affront。

Michael　yielded　to　being　flung　into　the　tub。　　He　recognized　that　baths　were　necessary　and　compulsory；　although　they　were　administered　in　much　better　fashion　at　Cedarwild；　while　Kwaque　and　Steward　had　made　a　sort　of　love　function　of　it　when　they　bathed　him。　　So　he　did　his　best　to　endure　the　scrubbing；　and　all　might　have　been　well　had　not　Davis　soused　him　under。　　Michael　jerked　his　head　up　with　a　warning　growl。　　Davis　suspended　half…way　the　blow　he　was　delivering　with　the　heavy　brush；　and　emitted　a　low　whistle　of　surprise。

〃Hello！〃　he　said。　　〃And　look　who's　here！Lovey；　this　is　the　Irish　terrier　I　got　from　Collins。　　He's　no　good。　　Collins　said　so。　　Just　a　fill…in。Get　out！〃　he　commanded　Michael。　　〃That's　all　you　get　now；　Mr。　Fresh　Dog。　　But　take　it　from　me　pretty　soon　you'll　be　getting　it　fast　enough　to　make　you　dizzy。〃

While　the　potatoes　were　cooling；　Mrs。　Davis　kept　the　hungry　dogs　warned　away　by　sharp　cries。　　Michael　lay　down　sullenly　to　one　side；　and　took　no　part　in　the　rush　for　the　trough　when　permission　was　given。　　Again　Davis　danced　among　them；　kicking　away　the　stronger　and　the　more　eager。

〃If　they　get　to　fighting　after　all　we've　done　for　them；　kick　in　their　ribs；　lovey；〃　he　told　his　wife。

〃There！　　You　would；　would　you？〃this　to　a　large　black　dog；　accompanied　by　a　savage　kick　in　the　side。　　The　animal　yelped　its　pain　as　it　fled　away；　and；　from　a　safe　distance；　looked　on　piteously　at　the　steaming　food。

〃Well；　after　this　they　can't　say　I　don't　never　give　my　dogs　a　bath；〃　Davis　remarked　from　the　sink；　where　he　was　rinsing　his　arms。　　What　d'ye　say　we　call　it　a　day's　work；　my　dear？〃　　Mrs。　Davis　nodded　agreement。　　〃We　can　rehearse　them　to…morrow　and　next　day。　　That　will　be　plenty　of　time。　　I'll　run　in　to…night　and　boil　them　some　bran。　　They'll　need　an　extra　meal　after　fasting　two　days。〃

The　potatoes　finished；　the　dogs　were　put　back　in　their　cages　for　another　twenty…four　hours　of　close　confinement。　　Water　was　poured　into　their　drinking…tins；　and；　in　the　evening；　still　in　their　cages；　they　were　served　liberally　with　boiled　bran　and　dog…　biscuit。　　This　was　Michael's　first　food；　for　he　had　sulkily　refused　to　go　near　the　potatoes。


The　rehearsing　took　place　on　the　stage；　and　for　Michael　trouble　came　at　the　very　start。　　The　drop…curtain　was　supposed　to　go　up　and　reveal　the　twenty　dogs　seated　on　chairs　in　a　semi…circle。　Because；　while　they　were　being　thus　arranged；　the　preceding　turn　was　taking　place　in　front　of　the　drop…curtain；　it　was　imperative　that　rigid　silence　should　be　kept。　　Next；　when　the　curtain　rose　on　full　stage；　the　dogs　were　trained　to　make　a　great　barking。

As　a　filler…in；　Michael　had　nothing　to　do　but　sit　on　a　chair。　　But　he　had　to　get　upon　the　chair；　first；　and　when　Davis　so　ordered　him　he　accompanied　the　order　with　a　clout　on　the　side　of　the　head。　Michael　growled　warningly。

〃Oh；　ho；　eh？〃　the　man　sneered。　　〃It's　Fresh　Dog　looking　for　trouble。　　Well；　you　might　as　well　get　it　over　with　now　so　your　name　can　be　changed　to　Good　Dog。My　dear；　just　keep　the　rest　of　them　in　order　while　I　teach　Fresh　Dog　lesson　number　one。〃

Of　the　beating　that　followed；　the　least　said　the　better。　　Michael　put　up　a　fight　that　was　hopeless；　and　was　thoroughly　beaten　in　return。　　Bruised　and　bleeding；　he　sat　on　the　chair；　taking　no　part　in　the　performance　and　only　sullenly　engendering　a　deeper　and　bitterer　sourness。　　To　keep　silent　before　the　curtain　went　up　was　no　hardship　for　him。　　But　when　the　curtain　did　go　up；　he　declined　to　join　the　rest　of　the　dogs　in　their　frantic　barking　and　yelping。

The　dogs；　sometimes　alone　and　sometimes　in　couples　and　trios　and　groups；　left　their　chairs　at　command　and　performed　the　conventional　dog　tricks　such　as　walking　on　hind…legs；　hopping；　limping；　waltzing；　and　throwing　somersaults。　　Wilton　Davis's　temper　was　short　and　his　hand　heavy　throughout　the　rehearsal；　as　the　shrill　yelps　of　pain　from　the　lagging　and　stupid　attested。

In　all；　during　that　day　and　the　forenoon　of　the　next；　three　long　rehearsals　took　place。　　Michael's　troubles　ceased　for　the　time　being。　　At　command；　he　silently　got　on　the　chair　and　silently　sat　there。　　〃Which　shows；　dearest；　what　a　bit　of　the　stick　will　do；〃　Davis　bragged　to　his　wife。　　Nor　did　the　pair　of　them　dream　of　the　scandalizing　part　Michael　was　going　to　play　in　their　first　performance。

Behind　the　curtain　all　was　ready　on　the　full　stage。　　The　dogs　sat　on　their　chairs　in　abject　silence　with　Davis　and　his　wife　menacing　them　to　remain　silent；　while；　in　front　of　the　curtain；　Dick　and　Daisy　Bell　delighted　the　matinee　audience　with　their　singing　and　dancing。　　And　all　went　well；　and　no　one　in　the　audience　would　have　suspected　the　full　stage　of　dogs　behind　the　curtain　had　not　Dick　and　Daisy；　accompanied　by　the　orchestra；　begun　to　sing　〃Roll　Me　Down　to　Rio。〃

Michael　could　not　help　it。　　Even　as　Kwaque　had　long　before　mastered　him　by　the　jews'　harp；　and　Steward　by　love；　and　Harry　Del　Mar　by　the　harmonica；　so　now　was　he　mastered　by　the　strains　of　the　orchestra　and　the　voices　of　the　man　and　woman　lifting　the　old　familiar　rhythm；　taught　him　by　Steward；　of　〃Roll　Me　Down　to　Rio。〃　Despite　himself；　despite　his　sullenness；　the　forces　compulsive　opened　his　jaws　and　set　all　his　throat　vibrating　in　accompaniment。

From　beyond　the　curtain　came　a　titter　of　children　and　women　that　grew　into　a　roar　and　drowned　out　the　voices　of　Dick　and　Daisy。　Wilton　Davis　cursed　unbelievably　as　he　sprang　down　the　stage　to　Michael。　　But　Michael　howled　on；　and　the　audience　laughed　on。　Michael　was　still　howling　when　the　short　club　smote　him。　　The　shock　and　hurt　of　it　made　him　break　off　and　yelp　an　involuntary　cry　of　pain。

〃Knock　his　block　off；　dearest；〃　Mrs。　Davis　counselled。

And　then　ensued　battle　royal。　　Davis　struck　shrewd　blows　that　could　be　heard；　as　were　heard　the　snarls　and　growls　of　Michael。　The　audience；　under　the　sway　of　the　comic；　ignored　Dick　and　Daisy　Bell。　　Their　turn　was　spoiled。　　The　Davis　turn　was　〃queered；〃　as　Wilton　impressed　it。　　Michael's　block　was　knocked　off　within　the　meaning　of　the　term。　　And　the　audience；　on　the　other　side　of　the　curtain；　was　edified　and　delighted。

Dick　and　Daisy　could　not　continue。　　The　audience　wanted　what　was　behind　the　curtain；　not　in　front　of　it。　　Michael　was　taken　off　stage　thoroughly　throttled　by　one　of　the　stage…hands；　and　the　curtain　arose　on　the　full　setfull；　save　for　the　one　empty　chair。　The　boys　in　the　audience　first　realized　the　connection　between　the　empty　chair　and　the　previous　uproar；　and　began　clamouring　for　the　absent　dog。　　The　audience　took　up　the　cry；　the　dogs　barked　more　excitedly；　and　five　minutes　of　hilarity　delayed　the　turn　which；　when　at　last　started；　was　marked　by　rustiness　and　erraticness　on　the　part　of　the　dogs　and　by　great　peevishness　on　the　part　of　Wilton　Davis。

〃Never　mind；　honey；〃　his　imperturbable　wife　assured　him　in　a　stage　whisper。　　〃We'll　just　ditch　that　dog　and　get　a　regular　one。　　And；　anyway；　we've　put　one　over　on　that　Daisy　Bell。　　I　ain't　told　you　yet　what　she　said　about　me；　only　last　week；　to　some　of　my　friends。〃

Several　minutes　later；　still　on　the　stage　and　handling　his　animals；　the　husband　managed　a　chance　to　mutter　to　his　wife：　〃It's　the　dog。　　It's　him　I'm　after。　　I'm　going　to　lay　him　out。〃

〃Yes；　dearest；〃　she　agreed。

The　curtain　down；　with　a　gleeful　audience　in　front　and　with　the　dogs　back　in　the　room　over　the　stage；　Wilton　Davis　descended　to　look　for　Michael；　who；　instead　of　cowering　in　some　corner；　stood　between　the　legs　of　the　stage…hand；　quivering　yet　from　his　mishandling　and　threatening　to　fight　as　hard　as　ever　if　attacked。　On　his　way；　Davis　encountered　the　song…and…dance　couple。　　The　woman　was　in　a　tearful　rage；　the　man　in　a　dry　one。

〃You're　a　peach　of　a　dog　man；　you　are；〃　he　announced　belligerently。　　〃Here's　where　you　get　yours。〃

〃You　keep　away　from　me；　or　I'll　lay　you　out；〃　Wilton　Davis　responded　desperately；　brandishing　a　short　iron　bar　in　his　right　hand。　　〃Besides；　you　just　wait　if　you　want　to；　and　I'll　lay　you　out　afterward。　　But　first　of　all　I'm　going　to　lay　out　that　dog。　Co