This followed upon a fight between Michael and Collins. Michael, more morose2 than ever, had become even crusty-tempered, and, scarcely with provocation3 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 jaw4.
“He’s like a gold-mine all right all right,” Collins meditated5, “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 leopards6 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.”
“Alphonso—that’s the big buck9 leopard7—got nasty this morning and settled his hash. I had to put him out of his misery10. He was gutted11 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 streaks12 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 disposition13. Pretty close cousins, at any rate.”
“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 spunk15. 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 shrug16 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 Jack17, the surviving Airedale, and to do his daily turn with the leopards. In the big spotted18 cats he recognized the hereditary19 enemy, and, even before he was thrust into the cage, his neck was all a-prickle as the skin nervously20 tightened21 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 immediate22 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, lashing23 their long tails, and crouching25 to spring. At the same instant the trainer spoke26 with sharp imperativeness27 and raised his whip, while the men on the outside lifted their irons and advanced them intimidatingly28 into the cage. And the leopards, bitter-wise of the taste of the iron, remained crouched29, although they still spat30 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 bristling31 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 sniff32 of greeting.
The situation was deservedly tense, and Ralph developed it with cautious care, making no abrupt34 movements, his eyes playing everywhere over dogs and leopards and the men outside with the prods36 and bars. He made the savage37 cats come out of their crouch24 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 circumspectly38.
One of them, Alphonso, spat suddenly at him. He did not startle, though his hair rippled39 erect40 and he bared his fangs41 in a silent snarl42. 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 overtures43 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 vigilantly44 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 sedate45. 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 demonstrations46. They were content to lie awake by the hour, merely pleasantly aware of each other’s proximity48.
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 shrill49 squeal50 of joy she was upon him, clinging to him and chattering51 the hysterical52 tale of all her woes53 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 harridan54. When her hold was broken, she sprang at the man in a fury, and, before he could throttle55 her to subjection, sank her teeth into his thumb and wrist. All of which was provocative56 of great hilarity57 to the onlookers58, 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 wailing59 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 arena60 was vexed61 by uproar62 and commotion63 from the animal cages. The excitement, starting with revolver shots, was communicated everywhere. The various lions raised a great roaring, and the many dogs barked frantically64. All tricks in the arena stopped, the animals temporarily unstrung and unable to continue. Several men, among them Collins, ran in the direction of the cages. Sara’s keeper dropped her chain in order to follow.
“It’s Alphonso—shillings to pence it is,” Collins called to one of his assistants who was running beside him. “He’ll get Ralph yet.”
The affair was all but over and leaping to its culmination65 when Collins arrived. Castlemon was just being dragged out, and as Collins ran he could see the two men drop him to the ground so that they might slam the cage-door shut. Inside, in so wildly struggling a tangle66 on the floor that it was difficult to discern what animals composed it, were Alphonso, Jack, and Michael looked together. Men danced about outside, thrusting in with iron bars and trying to separate them. In the far end of the cage were the other two leopards, nursing their wounds and snarling67 and striking at the iron rods that kept them out of the combat.
Sara’s arrival and what followed was a matter of seconds. Trailing her chain behind her, the little green monkey, the tailed female who knew love and hysteria and was remote cousin to human women, flashed up to the narrow cage-bars and squeezed through. Simultaneously68 the tangle underwent a violent upheaval69. Flung out with such force as to be smashed against the near end of the cage, Michael fell to the floor, tried to spring up, but crumpled70 and sank down, his right shoulder streaming blood from a terrible mauling and crushing. To him Sara leaped, throwing her arms around him and mothering him up to her flat little hairy breast. She uttered solicitous71 cries, and, as Michael strove to rise on his ruined foreleg, scolded him with sharp gentleness and with her arms tried to hold him away from the battle. Also, in an interval72, her eyes malevolent73 in her rage, she chattered74 piercing curses at Alphonso.
A crowbar, shoved into his side, distracted the big leopard. He struck at the weapon with his paw, and, when it was poked75 into him again, flung himself upon it, biting the naked iron with his teeth. With a second fling he was against the cage bars, with a single slash76 of paw ripping down the forearm of the man who had poked him. The crowbar was dropped as the man leaped away. Alphonso flung back on Jack, a sorry antagonist77 by this time, who could only pant and quiver where he lay in the welter of what was left of him.
Michael had managed to get up on his three legs and was striving to stumble forward against the restraining arms of Sara. The mad leopard was on the verge78 of springing upon them when deflected79 by another prod35 of the iron. This time he went straight at the man, fetching up against the cage-bars with such fierceness as to shake the structure.
More men began thrusting with more rods, but Alphonso was not to be balked80. Sara saw him coming and screamed her shrillest and savagest at him. Collins snatched a revolver from one of the men.
“Don’t kill him!” Castlemon cried, seizing Collins’s arm.
The leopard man was in a bad way himself. One arm dangled81 helplessly at his side, while his eyes, filling with blood from a scalp wound, he wiped on the master-trainer’s shoulder so that he might see.
“He’s my property,” he protested. “And he’s worth a hundred sick monkeys and sour-balled terriers. Anyway, we’ll get them out all right. Give me a chance.—Somebody mop my eyes out, please. I can’t see. I’ve used up my blank cartridges82. Has anybody any blanks?”
One moment Sara would interpose her body between Michael and the leopard, which was still being delayed by the prodding83 irons; and the next moment she would turn to screech84 at the fanged85 cat is if by very advertisement of her malignancy she might intimidate86 him into keeping back.
Michael, dragging her with him, growling87 and bristling, staggered forward a couple of three-legged steps, gave at the ruined shoulder, and collapsed88. And then Sara did the great deed. With one last scream of utmost fury, she sprang full into the face of the monstrous89 cat, tearing and scratching with hands and feet, her mouth buried into the roots of one of its stubby ears. The astounded90 leopard upreared, with his forepaws striking and ripping at the little demon47 that would not let go.
The fight and the life in the little green monkey lasted a short ten seconds. But this was sufficient for Collins to get the door ajar and with a quick clutch on Michael’s hind-leg jerk him out and to the ground.
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1
mar
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| vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟 | |
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morose
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| adj.脾气坏的，不高兴的 | |
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provocation
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| n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因 | |
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jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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5
meditated
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| 深思，沉思，冥想( meditate的过去式和过去分词 )； 内心策划，考虑 | |
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leopards
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| n.豹( leopard的名词复数 )；本性难移 | |
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leopard
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| n.豹 | |
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queried
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| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
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buck
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| n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃 | |
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10
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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11
gutted
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| adj.容易消化的v.毁坏（建筑物等）的内部( gut的过去式和过去分词 )；取出…的内脏 | |
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12
streaks
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| n.（与周围有所不同的）条纹( streak的名词复数 )；（通常指不好的）特征（倾向）；（不断经历成功或失败的）一段时期v.快速移动( streak的第三人称单数 )；使布满条纹 | |
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13
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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demurred
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| v.表示异议，反对( demur的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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spunk
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| n.勇气，胆量 | |
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shrug
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| v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) | |
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jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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18
spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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hereditary
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| adj.遗传的，遗传性的，可继承的，世袭的 | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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21
tightened
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| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
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22
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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23
lashing
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| n.鞭打；痛斥；大量；许多v.鞭打( lash的现在分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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24
crouch
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| v.蹲伏，蜷缩，低头弯腰；n.蹲伏 | |
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25
crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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26
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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imperativeness
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intimidatingly
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| 吓人 | |
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29
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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32
sniff
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| vi.嗅…味道；抽鼻涕；对嗤之以鼻，蔑视 | |
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33
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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prod
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| vt.戳，刺；刺激，激励 | |
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prods
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| n.刺，戳( prod的名词复数 )；刺激；促使；（用手指或尖物）戳v.刺，戳( prod的第三人称单数 )；刺激；促使；（用手指或尖物）戳 | |
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37
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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circumspectly
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| adv.慎重地，留心地 | |
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rippled
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| 使泛起涟漪（ripple的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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41
fangs
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| n.（尤指狗和狼的）长而尖的牙( fang的名词复数 )；（蛇的）毒牙；罐座 | |
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42
snarl
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| v.吼叫，怒骂，纠缠，混乱；n.混乱，缠结，咆哮 | |
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43
overtures
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| n.主动的表示，提议；（向某人做出的）友好表示、姿态或提议( overture的名词复数 )；（歌剧、芭蕾舞、音乐剧等的）序曲，前奏曲 | |
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44
vigilantly
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| adv.警觉地，警惕地 | |
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45
sedate
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| adj.沉着的，镇静的，安静的 | |
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46
demonstrations
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| 证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威 | |
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47
demon
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| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
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48
proximity
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| n.接近，邻近 | |
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49
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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50
squeal
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| v.发出长而尖的声音；n.长而尖的声音 | |
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51
chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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52
hysterical
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| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
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53
woes
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| 困境( woe的名词复数 )； 悲伤； 我好苦哇； 某人就要倒霉 | |
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54
harridan
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| n.恶妇；丑老大婆 | |
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55
throttle
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| n.节流阀，节气阀，喉咙；v.扼喉咙，使窒息，压 | |
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56
provocative
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| adj.挑衅的，煽动的，刺激的，挑逗的 | |
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57
hilarity
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| n.欢乐；热闹 | |
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onlookers
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| n.旁观者，观看者( onlooker的名词复数 ) | |
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59
wailing
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱 | |
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60
arena
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| n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台 | |
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vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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62
uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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63
commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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64
frantically
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| ad.发狂地, 发疯地 | |
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culmination
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| n.顶点；最高潮 | |
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tangle
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| n.纠缠；缠结；混乱；v.(使)缠绕；变乱 | |
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67
snarling
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的现在分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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68
simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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upheaval
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| n.胀起，(地壳)的隆起；剧变，动乱 | |
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crumpled
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| adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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71
solicitous
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| adj.热切的，挂念的 | |
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72
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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73
malevolent
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| adj.有恶意的，恶毒的 | |
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74
chattered
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| （人）喋喋不休( chatter的过去式 )； 唠叨； （牙齿）打战； （机器）震颤 | |
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75
poked
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| v.伸出( poke的过去式和过去分词 )；戳出；拨弄；与（某人）性交 | |
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76
slash
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| vi.大幅度削减；vt.猛砍，尖锐抨击，大幅减少；n.猛砍，斜线，长切口，衣衩 | |
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77
antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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78
verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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79
deflected
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| 偏离的 | |
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80
balked
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| v.畏缩不前，犹豫( balk的过去式和过去分词 )；（指马）不肯跑 | |
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81
dangled
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| 悬吊着( dangle的过去式和过去分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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82
cartridges
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| 子弹( cartridge的名词复数 )； （打印机的）墨盒； 录音带盒； （唱机的）唱头 | |
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prodding
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| v.刺，戳( prod的现在分词 )；刺激；促使；（用手指或尖物）戳 | |
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84
screech
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| n./v.尖叫；(发出)刺耳的声音 | |
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85
fanged
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| adj.有尖牙的，有牙根的，有毒牙的 | |
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86
intimidate
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| vt.恐吓，威胁 | |
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87
growling
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| n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼 | |
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collapsed
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| adj.倒塌的 | |
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monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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astounded
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| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
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