michael, brother of jerry-第47部分

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e　others　failed；　and；　endowed　with　fearlessness；　callousness；　and　cunning；　he　never　let　his　reputation　wane。　　There　was　nothing　he　dared　not　tackle；　and；　when　he　gave　up　an　animal；　the　last　word　was　said。　　For　it；　remained　nothing　but　to　be　a　cage…animal；　in　solitary　confinement；　pacing　ever　up　and　down；　embittered　with　all　the　world　of　man　and　roaring　its　bitterness　to　the　most　delicious　enthrillment　of　the　pay…　spectators。

During　the　three　months　spent　by　Michael　in　Mulcachy's　Animal　Home；　occurred　two　especially　hard　cases。　　Of　course；　the　daily　chant　of　ordinary　pain　of　training　went　on　all　the　time　through　the　working　hours；　such　as　of　〃good〃　bears　and　lions　and　tigers　that　were　made　amenable　under　stress；　and　of　elephants　derricked　and　gaffed　into　making　the　head…stand　or　into　the　beating　of　a　bass　drum。　　But　the　two　cases　that　were　exceptional；　put　a　mood　of　depression　and　fear　into　all　the　listening　animals；　such　as　humans　might　experience　in　an　ante…room　of　hell；　listening　to　the　flailing　and　the　flaying　of　their　fellows　who　had　preceded　them　into　the　torture…chamber。

The　first　was　of　the　big　Indian　tiger。　　Free…born　in　the　jungle；　and　free　all　his　days；　master；　according　to　his　nature　and　prowess；　of　all　other　living　creatures　including　his　fellow…　tigers；　he　had　come　to　grief　in　the　end；　and；　from　the　trap　to　the　cramped　cage；　by　elephant…back　and　railroad　and　steamship；　ever　in　the　cramped　cage；　he　had　journeyed　across　seas　and　continents　to　Mulcachy's　Animal　Home。　　Prospective　buyers　had　examined　but　not　dared　to　purchase。　　But　Mulcachy　had　been　undeterred。　　His　own　fighting　blood　leapt　hot　at　sight　of　the　magnificent　striped　cat。　It　was　a　challenge　of　the　brute　in　him　to　excel。　　And；　two　weeks　of　hell；　for　the　great　tiger　and　for　all　the　other　animals；　were　required　to　teach　him　his　first　lesson。

Ben　Bolt　he　had　been　named；　and　he　arrived　indomitable　and　irreconcilable；　though　almost　paralysed　from　eight　weeks　of　cramp　in　his　narrow　cage　which　had　restricted　all　movement。　　Mulcachy　should　have　undertaken　the　job　immediately；　but　two　weeks　were　lost　by　the　fact　that　he　had　got　married　and　honeymooned　for　that　length　of　time。　　And　in　that　time；　in　a　large　cage　of　concrete　and　iron；　Ben　Bolt　had　exercised　and　recovered　the　use　of　his　muscles；　and　added　to　his　hatred　of　the　two…legged　things；　puny　against　him　in　themselves；　who　by　trick　and　wile　had　so　helplessly　imprisoned　him。

So；　on　this　morning　when　hell　yawned　for　him；　he　was　ready　and　eager　to　meet　all　comers。　　They　came；　equipped　with　formulas；　nooses；　and　forked　iron　bars。　　Five　of　them　tossed　nooses　in　through　the　bars　upon　the　floor　of　his　cage。　　He　snarled　and　struck　at　the　curling　ropes；　and　for　ten　minutes　was　a　grand　and　impossible　wild　creature；　lacking　in　nothing　save　the　wit　and　the　patience　possessed　by　the　miserable　two…legged　things。　　And　then；　impatient　and　careless　of　the　inanimate　ropes；　he　paused；　snarling　at　the　men；　with　one　hind　foot　resting　inside　a　noose。　　The　next　moment；　craftily　lifted　up　about　the　girth　of　his　leg　by　an　iron　fork；　the　noose　tightened　and　the　bite　of　it　sank　home　into　his　flesh　and　pride。　　He　leaped；　he　roared；　he　was　a　maniac　of　ferocity。　　Again　and　again；　almost　burning　their　palms；　he　tore　the　rope　smoking　through　their　hands。　　But　ever　they　took　in　the　slack　and　paid　it　out　again；　until；　ere　he　was　aware；　a　similar　noose　tightened　on　his　fore…leg。　　What　he　had　done　was　nothing　to　what　he　now　did。　　But　he　was　stupid　and　impatient。　　The　man…　creatures　were　wise　and　patient；　and　a　third　leg　and　a　fourth　leg　were　finally　noosed；　so　that；　with　many　men　tailing　on　to　the　ropes；　he　was　dragged　ignominiously　on　his　side　to　the　bars；　and；　ignominiously；　through　the　bars　were　hauled　his　four　legs；　his　chiefest　weapons　of　offence　after　his　terribly　fanged　jaws。

And　then　a　puny　man…creature；　Mulcachy　himself；　dared　openly　and　brazenly　to　enter　the　cage　and　approach　him。　　He　sprang　to　be　at　him；　or；　rather；　strove　so　to　spring；　but　was　withstrained　by　his　four　legs　through　the　bars　which　he　could　not　draw　back　and　get　under　him。　　And　Mulcachy　knelt　beside　him；　dared　kneel　beside　him；　and　helped　the　fifth　noose　over　his　head　and　round　his　neck。　　Then　his　head　was　drawn　to　the　bars　as　helplessly　as　his　legs　had　been　drawn　through。　　Next；　Mulcachy　laid　hands　on　him；　on　his　head；　on　his　ears；　on　his　very　nose　within　an　inch　of　his　fangs；　and　he　could　do　nothing　but　snarl　and　roar　and　pant　for　breath　as　the　noose　shut　off　his　breathing。

Quivering；　not　with　fear　but　with　rage；　Ben　Bolt　perforce　endured　the　buckling　around　his　throat　of　a　thick；　broad　collar　of　leather　to　which　was　attached　a　very　stout　and　a　very　long　trailing　rope。　After　that；　when　Mulcachy　had　left　the　cage；　one　by　one　the　five　nooses　were　artfully　manipulated　off　his　legs　and　his　neck。　Again；　after　this　prodigious　indignity；　he　was　freewithin　his　cage。　　He　went　up　into　the　air。　　With　returning　breath　he　roared　his　rage。　　He　struck　at　the　trailing　rope　that　offended　his　nerves；　clawed　at　the　trap　of　the　collar　that　encased　his　neck；　fell；　rolled　over；　offended　his　body…nerves　more　and　more　by　entangling　contacts　with　the　rope；　and　for　half　an　hour　exhausted　himself　in　the　futile　battle　with　the　inanimate　thing。　　Thus　tigers　are　broken。

At　the　last；　wearied；　even　with　sensations　of　sickness　from　the　nervous　strain　put　upon　himself　by　his　own　anger；　he　lay　down　in　the　middle　of　the　floor；　lashing　his　tail；　hating　with　his　eyes；　and　accepting　the　clinging　thing　about　his　neck　which　he　had　learned　he　could　not　get　rid　of。

To　his　amazement；　if　such　a　thing　be　possible　in　the　mental　processes　of　a　tiger；　the　rear　door　to　his　cage　was　thrown　open　and　left　open。　　He　regarded　the　aperture　with　belligerent　suspicion。　　No　one　and　no　threatening　danger　appeared　in　the　doorway。　　But　his　suspicion　grew。　　Always；　among　these　man…　animals；　occurred　what　he　did　not　know　and　could　not　comprehend。　His　preference　was　to　remain　where　he　was；　but　from　behind；　through　the　bars　of　the　cage；　came　shouts　and　yells；　the　lash　of　whips；　and　the　painful　thrusts　of　the　long　iron　forks。　　Dragging　the　rope　behind　him；　with　no　thought　of　escape；　but　in　the　hope　that　he　would　get　at　his　tormentors；　he　leaped　into　the　rear　passage　that　ran　behind　the　circle　of　permanent　cages。　　The　passage　way　was　deserted　and　dark；　but　ahead　he　saw　light。　　With　great　leaps　and　roars；　he　rushed　in　that　direction；　arousing　a　pandemonium　of　roars　and　screams　from　the　animals　in　the　cages。

He　bounded　through　the　light；　and　into　the　light；　dazzled　by　the　brightness　of　it；　and　crouched　down；　with　long；　lashing　tail；　to　orient　himself　to　the　situation。　　But　it　was　only　another　and　larger　cage　that　he　was　in；　a　very　large　cage；　a　big；　bright　performing…arena　that　was　all　cage。　　Save　for　himself；　the　arena　was　deserted；　although；　overhead；　suspended　from　the　roof…bars；　were　block…and…tackle　and　seven　strong　iron　chairs　that　drew　his　instant　suspicion　and　caused　him　to　roar　at　them。

For　half　an　hour　he　roamed　the　arena；　which　was　the　greatest　area　of　restricted　freedom　he　had　known　in　the　ten　weeks　of　his　captivity。　　Then；　a　hooked　iron　rod；　thrust　through　the　bars；　caught　and　drew　the　bight　of　his　trailing　rope　into　the　hands　of　the　men　outside。　　Immediately　ten　of　them　had　hold　of　it；　and　he　would　have　charged　up　to　the　bars　at　them　had　not；　at　that　moment；　Mulcachy　entered　the　arena　through　a　door　on　the　opposite　side。　No　bars　stood　between　Ben　Bolt　and　this　creature；　and　Ben　Bolt　charged　him。　　Even　as　he　charged　he　was　aware　of　suspicion　in　that　the　small；　fragile　man…creature　before　him　did　not　flee　or　crouch　down；　but　stood　awaiting　him。

Ben　Bolt　never　reached　him。　　First；　with　an　access　of　caution；　he　craftily　ceased　from　his　charge；　and；　crouching；　with　lashing　tail；　studied　the　man　who　seemed　so　easily　his。　　Mulcachy　was　equipped　with　a　long…lashed　whip　and　a　sharp…pronged　fork　of　iron。

In　his　belt；　loaded　with　blank　cartridges；　was　a　revolver。

Bellying　closer　to　the　ground；　Ben　Bolt　advanced　upon　him；　creeping　slowly　like　a　cat　stalking　a　mouse。　　When　he　came　to　his　next　pause；　which　was　within　certain　leaping　distance；　he　crouched　lower；　gathered　himself　for　the　leap；　then　turned　his　head　to　regard　the　men　at　his　back　outside　the　cage。　　The　trailing　rope　in　their　hands；　to　his　neck；　he　had　forgotten。

〃Now　you　might　as　well　be　good；　old　man；〃　Mulcachy　addressed　him　in　soft；　caressing　tones；　taking　a　step　toward　him　and　holding　in　advance　the　iron　fork。

This　merely　incensed　the　huge；　magnificent　creature。　　He　rumbled　a　low；　tense　growl；　flattened　his　ears　back；　and　soared　into　the　air；　his　paws　spread　so　that　the　claws　stood　out　like　talons；　his　tail　behind　him　as　stiff　and　straight　as　a　rod。　　Neither　did　the　man　crouch　or　flee；　nor　did　the　beast　attain　to　him。　　At　the　height　of　his　leap　the　rope　tightened　taut　on　his　neck；　causing　him　to　describe　a　somersault　and　fall　heavily　to　the　floor　on　his　side。

Before　he　could　regain　his　feet；　Mulcachy　was　upon　him；　shouting　to　his　small　audience：　　〃Here's　where　we　pound　the　argument　out　of　him！〃　　And　pound　he　did；　on　the　nose　with　the　butt　of　the　whip；　and　jab　he　did；　with　the　iron　fork　to　the　ribs。　　He　rained　a　hurricane　of　blows　and　jabs　on　the　animal's　most　sensitive　parts。　Ever　Ben　Bolt　leaped　to　retaliate；　but　was　thrown　by　the　ten　men　tailed　on　to　the　rope；　and；　each　time；　even　as　he　struck　the　floor　on　his　side；　Mulcachy　was　upon　him；　pounding；　smashing；　jabbing。　His　pain　was　exquisite；　especially　that　of　his　tender　nose。　　And　the　creature　who　inflicted　the　pain　was　as　fierce　and　terrible　as　he；　even　more　so　because　he　was　more　intelligent。　　In　but　few　minutes；　dazed　by　the　pain；　appalled　by　his　inability　to　rend　and　destroy　the　man　who　inflicted　it；　Ben　Bolt　lost　his　courage。　　He　fled　ignominiously　before　the　little；　two…legged　creature　who　was　more　terrible　than　himself　who　was　a　full…grown　Royal　Bengal　tiger。　　He　leaped　high　in　the　air　in　sheer　panic；　he　ran　here　and　there；　with　lowered　head；　to　avoid　the　rain　of　pain。　　He　even　charged　the　sides　of　the　arena；　springing　up　and　vainly　trying　to　climb　the　slippery　vertical　bars。

Ever；　like　an　avenging　devil；　Mulcachy　pursued　and　smashed　and　jabbed；　gritting　through　his　teeth：　　〃You　w