michael, brother of jerry- 第41部分

〃Isadora　would　be　safer　with　the　old　ones；〃　Collins　said。

〃Too　safe；〃　Isadora's　husband　objected。　　〃Of　course；　with　younger　lions；　the　work　and　responsibility　piles　up　on　me。　　But　we've　got　to　make　our　living；　and　this　turn's　about　busted。〃

Harris　Collins　shook　his　head。

〃What　d'ye　mean？what's　the　idea？〃　the　man　demanded　eagerly。

〃They'll　live　for　years　yet；　seeing　how　captivity　has　agreed　with　them；〃　Collins　elucidated。　　〃If　you　invest　in　young　lions　you　run　the　risk　of　having　them　pass　out　on　you。　　And　you　can　go　right　on　pulling　the　trick　off　with　what　you've　got。　　All　you've　got　to　do　is　to　take　my　advice　。　。　。　〃

The　master…trainer　paused；　and　the　lion　man　opened　his　mouth　to　speak。

〃Which　will　cost　you；〃　Collins　went　on　deliberately；　〃say　three　hundred　dollars。〃

〃Just　for　some　advice？〃　the　other　asked　quickly。

〃Which　I　guarantee　will　work。　　What　would　you　have　to　pay　for　three　new　lions？　　Here's　where　you　make　money　at　three　hundred。　And　it's　the　simplest　of　advice。　　I　can　tell　it　to　you　in　three　words；　which　is　at　the　rate　of　a　hundred　dollars　a　word；　and　one　of　the　words　is　'the。'〃

〃Too　steep　for　me；〃　the　other　objected。　　〃I've　got　a　make　a　living。〃

〃So　have　I；〃　Collins　assured　him。　　〃That's　why　I'm　here。　　I'm　a　specialist；　and　you're　paying　a　specialist's　fee。　　You'll　be　as　mad　as　a　hornet　when　I　tell　you；　it's　that　simple；　and　for　the　life　of　me　I　can't　understand　why　you　don't　already　know　it。〃

〃And　if　it　don't　work？〃　was　the　dubious　query。

〃If　it　don't　work；　you　don't　pay。〃

〃Well；　shoot　it　along；〃　the　lion　man　surrendered。

〃WIRE　THE　CAGE；〃　said　Collins。

At　first　the　man　could　not　comprehend；　then　the　light　began　to　break　on　him。

〃You　mean　。　。　。　？〃

〃Just　that；〃　Collins　nodded。　　〃And　nobody　need　be　the　wiser。　　Dry　batteries　will　do　it　beautifully。　　You　can　install　them　nicely　under　the　cage　floor。　　All　Isadora　has　to　do　when　she's　ready　is　to　step　on　the　button；　and　when　the　electricity　shoots　through　their　feet；　if　they　don't　go　up　in　the　air　and　rampage　and　roar　around　to　beat　the　band；　not　only　can　you　keep　the　three　hundred；　but　I'll　give　you　three　hundred　more。　　I　know。　　I've　seen　it　done；　and　it　never　misses　fire。　　It's　just　as　though　they　were　dancing　on　a　red…hot　stove。　　Up　they　go；　and　every　time　they　come　down　they　burn　their　feet　again。

〃But　you'll　have　to　put　the　juice　into　them　slowly；〃　Collins　warned。　　〃I'll　show　you　how　to　do　the　wiring。　　Just　a　weak　battery　first；　so　as　they　can　work　up　to　it；　and　then　stronger　and　stronger　to　the　curtain。　　And　they　never　get　used　to　it。　　As　long　as　they　live　they'll　dance　just　as　lively　as　the　first　time。　　What　do　you　think　of　it？〃

〃It's　worth　three　hundred　all　right；〃　the　man　admitted。　　〃I　wish　I　could　make　my　money　that　easy。〃



CHAPTER　XXIX



〃Guess　I'll　have　to　wash　my　hands　of　him；〃　Collins　told　Johnny。　〃I　know　Del　Mar　must　have　been　right　when　he　said　he　was　the　limit；　but　I　can't　get　a　clue　to　it。〃

This　followed　upon　a　fight　between　Michael　and　Collins。　　Michael；　more　morose　than　ever；　had　become　even　crusty…tempered；　and；　scarcely　with　provocation　at　all；　had　attacked　the　man　he　hated；　failing；　as　ever；　to　put　his　teeth　into　him；　and　receiving；　in　turn；　a　couple　of　smashing　kicks　under　his　jaw。

〃He's　like　a　gold…mine　all　right　all　right；〃　Collins　meditated；　〃but　I'm　hanged　if　I　can　crack　it；　and　he's　getting　grouchier　every　day。　　Look　at　him。　　What'd　he　want　to　jump　me　for？　　I　wasn't　rough　with　him。　　He's　piling　up　a　sour…ball　that'll　make　him　fight　a　policeman　some　day。〃

A　few　minutes　later；　one　of　his　patrons；　a　tow…headed　young　man　who　was　boarding　and　rehearsing　three　performing　leopards　at　Cedarwild；　was　asking　Collins　for　the　loan　of　an　Airedale。

〃I've　only　got　one　left　now；〃　he　explained；　〃and　I　ain't　safe　without　two。〃

〃What's　happened　to　the　other　one？〃　the　master…trainer　queried。

〃Alphonsothat's　the　big　buck　leopardgot　nasty　this　morning　and　settled　his　hash。　　I　had　to　put　him　out　of　his　misery。　　He　was　gutted　like　a　horse　in　the　bull…ring。　　But　he　saved　me　all　right。　If　it　hadn't　been　for　him　I'd　have　got　a　mauling。　　Alphonso　gets　these　bad　streaks　just　about　every　so　often。　　That's　the　second　dog　he's　killed　for　me。〃

Collins　shook　his　head。

〃Haven't　got　an　Airedale；〃　he　said；　and　just　then　his　eyes　chanced　to　fall　on　Michael。　　〃Try　out　the　Irish　terrier；〃　he　suggested。　〃They're　like　the　Airedale　in　disposition。　　Pretty　close　cousins；　at　any　rate。〃

〃I　pin　my　faith　on　the　Airedale　when　it　comes　to　lion　dogs；〃　the　leopard　man　demurred。

〃So's　an　Irish　terrier　a　lion　dog。　　Take　that　one　there。　　Look　at　the　size　and　weight　of　him。　　Also；　take　it　from　me；　he's　all　spunk。　　He'll　stand　up　to　anything。　　Try　him　out。　　I'll　lend　him　to　you。　　If　he　makes　good　I'll　sell　him　to　you　cheap。　　An　Irish　terrier　for　a　leopard　dog　will　be　a　novelty。〃

〃If　he　gets　fresh　with　them　cats　he'll　find　his　finish；〃　Johnny　told　Collins；　as　Michael　was　led　away　by　the　leopard　man。

〃Then；　maybe；　the　stage　will　lose　a　star；〃　Collins　answered；　with　a　shrug　of　shoulders。　　〃But　I'll　have　him　off　my　chest　anyway。　When　a　dog　gets　a　perpetual　sour…ball　like　that　he's　finished。　Never　can　do　a　thing　with　them。　　I've　had　them　on　my　hands　before。〃


And　Michael　went　to　make　the　acquaintance　of　Jack；　the　surviving　Airedale；　and　to　do　his　daily　turn　with　the　leopards。　　In　the　big　spotted　cats　he　recognized　the　hereditary　enemy；　and；　even　before　he　was　thrust　into　the　cage；　his　neck　was　all　a…prickle　as　the　skin　nervously　tightened　and　the　hair　uprose　stiff…ended。　　It　was　a　nervous　moment　for　all　concerned；　the　introduction　of　a　new　dog　into　the　cage。　　The　tow…headed　leopard　man；　who　was　billed　on　the　boards　as　Raoul　Castlemon　and　was　called　Ralph　by　his　intimates；　was　already　in　the　cage。　　The　Airedale　was　with　him；　while　outside　stood　several　men　armed　with　iron　bars　and　long　steel　forks。　These　weapons；　ready　for　immediate　use；　were　thrust　between　the　bars　as　a　menace　to　the　leopards　who　were；　very　much　against　their　wills；　to　be　made　to　perform。

They　resented　Michael's　intrusion　on　the　instant；　spitting；　lashing　their　long　tails；　and　crouching　to　spring。　　At　the　same　instant　the　trainer　spoke　with　sharp　imperativeness　and　raised　his　whip；　while　the　men　on　the　outside　lifted　their　irons　and　advanced　them　intimidatingly　into　the　cage。　　And　the　leopards；　bitter…wise　of　the　taste　of　the　iron；　remained　crouched；　although　they　still　spat　and　whipped　their　tails　angrily。

Michael　was　no　coward。　　He　did　not　slink　behind　the　man　for　protection。　　On　the　other　hand；　he　was　too　sensible　to　rush　to　attack　such　formidable　creatures。　　What　he　did　do；　with　bristling　neck…hair；　was　to　stalk　stiff…leggedly　across　the　cage；　turn　about　with　his　face　toward　the　danger；　and　stalk　stiffly　back；　coming　to　a　pause　alongside　of　Jack；　who　gave　him　a　good…natured　sniff　of　greeting。

〃He's　the　stuff；〃　the　trainer　muttered　in　a　curiously　tense　voice。　〃They　don't　get　his　goat。〃

The　situation　was　deservedly　tense；　and　Ralph　developed　it　with　cautious　care；　making　no　abrupt　movements；　his　eyes　playing　everywhere　over　dogs　and　leopards　and　the　men　outside　with　the　prods　and　bars。　　He　made　the　savage　cats　come　out　of　their　crouch　and　separate　from　one　another。　　At　his　word　of　command；　Jack　walked　about　among　them。　　Michael；　on　his　own　initiative；　followed。　　And；　like　Jack；　he　walked　very　stiffly　on　his　guard　and　very　circumspectly。

One　of　them；　Alphonso；　spat　suddenly　at　him。　　He　did　not　startle；　though　his　hair　rippled　erect　and　he　bared　his　fangs　in　a　silent　snarl。　　At　the　same　moment　the　nearest　iron　bar　was　shoved　in　threateningly　close　to　Alphonso；　who　shifted　his　yellow　eyes　from　Michael　to　the　bar　and　back　again　and　did　not　strike　out。

The　first　day　was　the　hardest。　　After　that　the　leopards　accepted　Michael　as　they　accepted　Jack。　　No　love　was　lost　on　either　side；　nor　were　friendly　overtures　ever　offered。　　Michael　was　quick　to　realize　that　it　was　the　men　and　dogs　against　the　cats　and　that　the　men　and　does　must　stand　together。　　Each　day　he　spent　from　an　hour　to　two　hours　in　the　cage；　watching　the　rehearsing；　with　nothing　for　him　and　Jack　to　do　save　stand　vigilantly　on　guard。　　Sometimes；　when　the　leopards　seemed　better　natured；　Ralph　even　encouraged　the　two　dogs　to　lie　down。　　But；　on　bad　mornings；　he　saw　to　it　that　they　were　ever　ready　to　spring　in　between　him　and　any　possible　attack。

For　the　rest　of　the　time　Michael　shared　his　large　pen　with　Jack。　They　were　well　cared　for；　as　were　all　animals　at　Cedarwild；　receiving　frequent　scrubbings　and　being　kept　clean　of　vermin。　　For　a　dog　only　three　years　old；　Jack　was　very　sedate。　　Either　he　had　never　learned　to　play　or　had　already　forgotten　how。　　On　the　other　hand；　he　was　sweet…tempered　and　equable；　and　he　did　not　resent　the　early　shows　of　crustiness　which　Michael　made。　　And　Michael　quickly　ceased　from　being　crusty　and　took　pleasure　in　their　quiet　companionship。　　There　were　no　demonstrations。　　They　were　content　to　lie　awake　by　the　hour；　merely　pleasantly　aware　of　each　other's　proximity。

Occasionally；　Michael　could　hear　Sara　making　a　distant　scene　or　sending　out　calls　which　he　knew　were　for　him。　　Once　she　got　away　from　her　keeper　and　located　Michael　coming　out　of　the　leopard　cage。　　With　a　shrill　squeal　of　joy　she　was　upon　him；　clinging　to　him　and　chattering　the　hysterical　tale　of　all　her　woes　since　they　had　been　parted。　　The　leopard　man　looked　on　tolerantly　and　let　her　have　her　few　minutes。　　It　was　her　keeper　who　tore　her　away　in　the　end；　cling　as　she　would　to　Michael；　screaming　all　the　while　like　a　harridan。　　When　her　hold　was　broken；　she　sprang　at　the　man　in　a　fury；　and；　before　he　could　throttle　her　to　subjection；　sank　her　teeth　into　his　thumb　and　wrist。　　All　of　which　was　provocative　of　great　hilarity　to　the　onlookers；　while　her　squalls　and　cries　excited　the　leopards　to　spitting　and　leaping　against　their　bars。　And；　as　she　was　borne　away；　she　set　up　a　soft　wailing　like　that　of　a　heart…broken　child。


Although　Michael　proved　a　success　with　the　leopards；　Raoul　Castlemon　never　bought　him　from　Collins。　　One　morning；　several　days　later；　the　arena　was　vexed　by　uproar　and　commotion　from　the　animal　cages。　　The　excitement；　starting　with　revolver　shots；　was　communicated　every