The interior of the place was papered in olive and bronze tints2 of imitation leather. A shining bar of counterfeit3 massiveness extended down the side of the room. Behind it a great mahogany-appearing sideboard reached the ceiling. Upon its shelves rested pyramids of shimmering4 glasses that were never disturbed. Mirrors set in the face of the sideboard multiplied them. Lemons, oranges and paper napkins, arranged with mathematical precision, sat among the glasses. Many-hued decanters of liquor perched at regular intervals6 on the lower shelves. A nickel-plated cash register occupied a position in the exact centre of the general effect. The elementary senses of it all seemed to be opulence7 and geometrical accuracy.
Across from the bar a smaller counter held a collection of plates upon which swarmed8 frayed9 fragments of crackers10, slices of boiled ham, dishevelled bits of cheese, and pickles11 swimming in vinegar. An odor of grasping, begrimed hands and munching12 mouths pervaded13.
Pete, in a white jacket, was behind the bar bending expectantly toward a quiet stranger. "A beeh," said the man. Pete drew a foam-topped glassful and set it dripping upon the bar.
At this moment the light bamboo doors at the entrance swung open and crashed against the siding. Jimmie and a companion entered. They swaggered unsteadily but belligerently14 toward the bar and looked at Pete with bleared and blinking eyes.
"Gin," said Jimmie.
"Gin," said the companion.
Pete slid a bottle and two glasses along the bar. He bended his head sideways as he assiduously polished away with a napkin at the gleaming wood. He had a look of watchfulness15 upon his features.
Jimmie and his companion kept their eyes upon the bartender and conversed16 loudly in tones of contempt.
"He's a dindy masher, ain't he, by Gawd?" laughed Jimmie.
"Oh, hell, yes," said the companion, sneering17 widely. "He's great, he is. Git onto deh mug on deh blokie. Dat's enough to make a feller turn hand-springs in 'is sleep."
The quiet stranger moved himself and his glass a trifle further away and maintained an attitude of oblivion.
"Git onto his shape! Great Gawd!"
"Hey," cried Jimmie, in tones of command. Pete came along slowly, with a sullen19 dropping of the under lip.
"Gin," said Jimmie.
"Gin," said the companion.
As Pete confronted them with the bottle and the glasses, they laughed in his face. Jimmie's companion, evidently overcome with merriment, pointed22 a grimy forefinger23 in Pete's direction.
"Say, Jimmie," demanded he, "what deh hell is dat behind deh bar?"
"Damned if I knows," replied Jimmie. They laughed loudly. Pete put down a bottle with a bang and turned a formidable face toward them. He disclosed his teeth and his shoulders heaved restlessly.
"You fellers can't guy me," he said. "Drink yer stuff an' git out an' don' make no trouble."
Instantly the laughter faded from the faces of the two men and expressions of offended dignity immediately came.
"Who deh hell has said anyt'ing teh you," cried they in the same breath.
The quiet stranger looked at the door calculatingly.
"Ah, come off," said Pete to the two men. "Don't pick me up for no jay. Drink yer rum an' git out an' don' make no trouble."
"Oh, deh hell," airily cried Jimmie.
"Oh, deh hell," airily repeated his companion.
"We goes when we git ready! See!" continued Jimmie.
"Well," said Pete in a threatening voice, "don' make no trouble."
"Well, what if we does? See?" said he.
The quiet stranger moved modestly toward the door.
"Don' pick me up fer no tenderfoot. When yeh tackles me yeh tackles one of deh bes' men in deh city. See? I'm a scrapper30, I am. Ain't dat right, Billie?"
"Sure, Mike," responded his companion in tones of conviction.
"Oh, hell," said Pete, easily. "Go fall on yerself."
The two men again began to laugh.
"What deh hell is dat talkin'?" cried the companion.
"Damned if I knows," replied Jimmie with exaggerated contempt.
Pete made a furious gesture. "Git outa here now, an' don' make no trouble. See? Youse fellers er lookin' fer a scrap29 an' it's damn likely yeh'll fin24' one if yeh keeps on shootin' off yer mout's. I know yehs! See? I kin5 lick better men dan yehs ever saw in yer lifes. Dat's right! See? Don' pick me up fer no stuff er yeh might be jolted31 out in deh street before yeh knows where yeh is. When I comes from behind dis bar, I t'rows yehs bote inteh deh street. See?"
"Oh, hell," cried the two men in chorus.
The glare of a panther came into Pete's eyes. "Dat's what I said! Unnerstan'?"
He came through a passage at the end of the bar and swelled32 down upon the two men. They stepped promptly33 forward and crowded close to him.
They bristled34 like three roosters. They moved their heads pugnaciously35 and kept their shoulders braced36. The nervous muscles about each mouth twitched37 with a forced smile of mockery.
"Well, what deh hell yer goin' teh do?" repeated Jimmie's ally. They kept close to him, taunting40 and leering. They strove to make him attempt the initial blow.
Again they chorused in contempt. "Oh, hell!"
In a small, tossing group, the three men edged for positions like frigates42 contemplating43 battle.
"Well, why deh hell don' yeh try teh t'row us out?" cried Jimmie and his ally with copious44 sneers45.
The bravery of bull-dogs sat upon the faces of the men. Their clenched46 fists moved like eager weapons.
The allied47 two jostled the bartender's elbows, glaring at him with feverish48 eyes and forcing him toward the wall.
Suddenly Pete swore redly. The flash of action gleamed from his eyes. He threw back his arm and aimed a tremendous, lightning-like blow at Jimmie's face. His foot swung a step forward and the weight of his body was behind his fist. Jimmie ducked his head, Bowery-like, with the quickness of a cat. The fierce, answering blows of him and his ally crushed on Pete's bowed head.
The quiet stranger vanished.
The arms of the combatants whirled in the air like flails49. The faces of the men, at first flushed to flame-colored anger, now began to fade to the pallor of warriors50 in the blood and heat of a battle. Their lips curled back and stretched tightly over the gums in ghoul-like grins. Through their white, gripped teeth struggled hoarse51 whisperings of oaths. Their eyes glittered with murderous fire.
Each head was huddled52 between its owner's shoulders, and arms were swinging with marvelous rapidity. Feet scraped to and fro with a loud scratching sound upon the sanded floor. Blows left crimson53 blotches54 upon pale skin. The curses of the first quarter minute of the fight died away. The breaths of the fighters came wheezingly55 from their lips and the three chests were straining and heaving. Pete at intervals gave vent56 to low, labored57 hisses58, that sounded like a desire to kill. Jimmie's ally gibbered at times like a wounded maniac59. Jimmie was silent, fighting with the face of a sacrificial priest. The rage of fear shone in all their eyes and their blood-colored fists swirled60.
At a tottering61 moment a blow from Pete's hand struck the ally and he crashed to the floor. He wriggled62 instantly to his feet and grasping the quiet stranger's beer glass from the bar, hurled63 it at Pete's head.
High on the wall it burst like a bomb, shivering fragments flying in all directions. Then missiles came to every man's hand. The place had heretofore appeared free of things to throw, but suddenly glass and bottles went singing through the air. They were thrown point blank at bobbing heads. The pyramid of shimmering glasses, that had never been disturbed, changed to cascades64 as heavy bottles were flung into them. Mirrors splintered to nothing.
The three frothing creatures on the floor buried themselves in a frenzy65 for blood. There followed in the wake of missiles and fists some unknown prayers, perhaps for death.
The quiet stranger had sprawled66 very pyrotechnically out on the sidewalk. A laugh ran up and down the avenue for the half of a block.
"Dey've trowed a bloke inteh deh street."
People heard the sound of breaking glass and shuffling67 feet within the saloon and came running. A small group, bending down to look under the bamboo doors, watching the fall of glass, and three pairs of violent legs, changed in a moment to a crowd.
A policeman came charging down the sidewalk and bounced through the doors into the saloon. The crowd bended and surged in absorbing anxiety to see.
Jimmie caught first sight of the on-coming interruption. On his feet he had the same regard for a policeman that, when on his truck, he had for a fire engine. He howled and ran for the side door.
The officer made a terrific advance, club in hand. One comprehensive sweep of the long night stick threw the ally to the floor and forced Pete to a corner. With his disengaged hand he made a furious effort at Jimmie's coat-tails. Then he regained68 his balance and paused.
"Well, well, you are a pair of pictures. What in hell yeh been up to?"
Jimmie, with his face drenched69 in blood, escaped up a side street, pursued a short distance by some of the more law-loving, or excited individuals of the crowd.
Later, from a corner safely dark, he saw the policeman, the ally and the bartender emerge from the saloon. Pete locked the doors and then followed up the avenue in the rear of the crowd-encompassed policeman and his charge.
On first thoughts Jimmie, with his heart throbbing70 at battle heat, started to go desperately71 to the rescue of his friend, but he halted.
"Ah, what deh hell?" he demanded of himself.
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1
annihilate
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| v.使无效；毁灭；取消 | |
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2
tints
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| 色彩( tint的名词复数 )； 带白的颜色； （淡色）染发剂； 痕迹 | |
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counterfeit
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| vt.伪造，仿造；adj.伪造的，假冒的 | |
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shimmering
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| v.闪闪发光，发微光( shimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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5
kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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7
opulence
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| n.财富，富裕 | |
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8
swarmed
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| 密集( swarm的过去式和过去分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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9
frayed
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| adj.磨损的v.（使布、绳等）磨损，磨破( fray的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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10
crackers
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| adj.精神错乱的，癫狂的n.爆竹( cracker的名词复数 )；薄脆饼干；（认为）十分愉快的事；迷人的姑娘 | |
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11
pickles
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| n.腌菜( pickle的名词复数 )；处于困境；遇到麻烦；菜酱 | |
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12
munching
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| v.用力咀嚼（某物），大嚼( munch的现在分词 ) | |
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13
pervaded
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| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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14
belligerently
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15
watchfulness
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| 警惕，留心； 警觉（性） | |
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16
conversed
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的过去式 ) | |
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17
sneering
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| 嘲笑的，轻蔑的 | |
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18
gee
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| n.马；int.向右！前进！，惊讶时所发声音；v.向右转 | |
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19
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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20
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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21
den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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22
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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23
forefinger
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| n.食指 | |
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24
fin
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| n.鳍；(飞机的)安定翼 | |
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25
snarled
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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26
lurid
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| adj.可怕的；血红的；苍白的 | |
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27
swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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28
valor
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| n.勇气，英勇 | |
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29
scrap
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| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
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scrapper
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| 好打架的人，拳击手； 爱吵架的人 | |
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31
jolted
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| （使）摇动， （使）震惊( jolt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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33
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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34
bristled
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| adj. 直立的，多刺毛的 动词bristle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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35
pugnaciously
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36
braced
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| adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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37
twitched
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| vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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38
gritted
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| v.以沙砾覆盖（某物），撒沙砾于( grit的过去式和过去分词 )；咬紧牙关 | |
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39
warily
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| adv.留心地 | |
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40
taunting
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| 嘲讽( taunt的现在分词 )； 嘲弄； 辱骂； 奚落 | |
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41
ominously
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| adv.恶兆地，不吉利地；预示地 | |
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42
frigates
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| n.快速军舰( frigate的名词复数 ) | |
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43
contemplating
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| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
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44
copious
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| adj.丰富的，大量的 | |
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45
sneers
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| 讥笑的表情（言语）( sneer的名词复数 ) | |
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46
clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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47
allied
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| adj.协约国的；同盟国的 | |
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48
feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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49
flails
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| v.鞭打( flail的第三人称单数 )；用连枷脱粒；（臂或腿）无法控制地乱动；扫雷坦克 | |
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50
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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51
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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52
huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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53
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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54
blotches
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| n.（皮肤上的）红斑，疹块( blotch的名词复数 )；大滴 [大片]（墨水或颜色的）污渍 | |
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55
wheezingly
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| adv.哮喘地，喘息地 | |
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56
vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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57
labored
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| adj.吃力的，谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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58
hisses
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| 嘶嘶声( hiss的名词复数 ) | |
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59
maniac
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| n.精神癫狂的人；疯子 | |
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60
swirled
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| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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61
tottering
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| adj.蹒跚的，动摇的v.走得或动得不稳( totter的现在分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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62
wriggled
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的过去式和过去分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等） | |
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63
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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64
cascades
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| 倾泻( cascade的名词复数 )； 小瀑布（尤指一连串瀑布中的一支）； 瀑布状物； 倾泻（或涌出）的东西 | |
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65
frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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66
sprawled
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| v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的过去式和过去分词)；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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67
shuffling
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| adj. 慢慢移动的, 滑移的 动词shuffle的现在分词形式 | |
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68
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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69
drenched
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| adj.湿透的；充满的v.使湿透( drench的过去式和过去分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体） | |
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70
throbbing
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| a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
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71
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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