michael, brother of jerry-第59章
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ack 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 will argue； will you？ I'll teach you what argument is！ There！ Take that！ And that！ And that！〃
〃Now I've got him afraid of me； and the rest ought to be easy；〃 he announced； resting off and panting hard from his exertions； while the great tiger crouched and quivered and shrank back from him against the base of the arena…bars。 〃Take a five…minute spell； you fellows； and we'll got our breaths。〃
Lowering one of the iron chairs； and attaching it firmly in its place on the floor； Mulcachy prepared for the teaching of the first trick。 Ben Bolt； jungle…born and jungle…reared； was to be compelled to sit in the chair in ludicrous and tragic imitation of man…creatures。 But Mulcachy was not quite ready。 The first lesson of fear of him must be reiterated and driven home。
Stepping to a near safe distance； he lashed Ben Bolt on the nose。 He repeated it。 He did it a score of times； and scores of times。 Turn his head as he would； ever Ben Bolt received the bite of the whip on his fearfully bruised nose； for Mulcachy was as expert as a stage…driver in his manipulation of the whip； and unerringly the lash snapped and cracked and stung Ben Bolt's nose wherever Ben Bolt at the moment might have it。
When it became maddeningly unendurable； he sprang； only to be jerked back by the ten strong men who held the rope to his neck。 And wrath； and ferocity； and intent to destroy； passed out utterly from the tiger's inflamed brain； until he knew fear； again and again； always fear and only fear； utter and abject fear； of this human mite who searched him with such pain。
Then the lesson of the first trick was taken up。 Mulcachy tapped the chair sharply with the butt of the whip to draw the animal's attention to it； then flicked the whip…lash sharply on his nose。 At the same moment； an attendant； through the bars behind； drove an iron fork into his ribs to force him away from the bars and toward the chair。 He crouched forward； then shrank back against the side…bars。 Again the chair was rapped； his nose was lashed； his ribs w
