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tack the wall of a room with his teeth； or a tree…trunk； or a cliff of rock； Michael leapt bare…fanged for the throat。 And all that he leapt against was training； formula。 The experience was repeated。 His throat was gripped； the thumbs shut off the blood from his brain； and darkness smote him。 Had he been more than a normal thoroughbred dog； he would have continued to assail his impregnable enemy until he burst his heart or fell in a fit。 But he was normal。 Here was something unassailable； adamantine。 As little might he win victory from it； as from the cement…paved side…walk of a city。 The thing was a devil； with the hardness and coldness； the wickedness and wisdom； of a devil。 It was as bad as Steward was good。 Both were two…legged。 Both were gods。 But this one was an evil god。
He did not reason all this； nor any of it。 Yet； transmuted into human terms of thought and understanding； it adequately describes the fulness of his state of mind toward Del Mar。 Had Michael been entangled in a fight with a warm god； he could have raged and battled blindly； inflicting and receiving hurt in the chaos of conflict； as such a god； being warm； would have likewise received and given hurt； being only a flesh…and…blood； living； breathing entity after all。 But this two…legged god…devil did not rage blindly and was incapable of passional heat。 He was like so much cunning； massive steel machinery； and he did what Michael could never dream he didand； for that matter； which few humans do and which all animal trainers do： HE KEPT ONE THOUGHT AHEAD OF MICHAEL'S THOUGHT ALL THE TIME； and therefore； was able to have ready one action always in anticipation of Michael's next action。 This was the training he had received from Harris Collins； who； withal he was a sentimental and doting husband and father； was the arch…devil when it came to animals other than human ones； and who reigned in an animal hell which he had created and made lucrative。
Michael went ashore in Seattle all eagerness； straining at his leash until he choked and coughed and was coldly cursed by Del Mar。 For Michael was mastered by his expectation that he would meet Steward； and he looked for him around the first corner； and around all corners with undiminished zeal。 But amongst the multitudes of men there was no Steward。 Instead； down in the basement of the New Washington Hotel； where electric lights burned always； under the care of the baggage porter； he was tied securely by the neck in the midst of Alpine ranges of trunks which were for ever being heaped up； sought over； taken down； carried away； or added to。
Three days of this dolorous existence he passed。 The porters made friends with him and offered him prodigious quantities of cooked meats from the leavings of the dining…room。 Michael was too disappointed and grief…stricken over Steward to overeat himself； while Del Mar； accompanied by the manager of the hotel； raised a great row with the porters for violating the feeding instructions。
〃That guy's no good；〃 said the head porter to assistant； when Del Mar had departed。 〃He's greasy。 I never liked greasy brunettes anyway。 My wife's a brunette； but thank the Lord she ain't greasy。〃
〃Sure；〃 agreed the assistant。 〃I know his kind。 Why； if you'd stick a knife into him he wouldn't bleed blood。 It'd be straight liquid lard。〃
Whereupon the pair of them immediately presented Michael with vaster quantities of meat which he could not eat because the desire for Steward was too much with him。
In the meantime Del Mar sent off two telegrams to New York； the first to Harris Collins' animal training school； where his troupe of dogs was boarding through his vacation：
〃Sell my dogs。 You know what they can do and what they are worth。 Am done with them。 Deduct the board and hold the balance for me until I see you。 I have the limit here of a dog。 Every turn I ever pulled is put in the shade by this one。 He's a ten strike。 Wait till you see him。〃
The second； to his booking agent：
〃Get busy。 Book me over the best。 Talk it up。 I have the turn。 A winner。 Nothing like it。 Don't talk up top price but way over top price。 Prepare them for the dog when I give them the chance for the once over。 You know me。 I am giving it straight。 This will head the bill anywhere all the time。〃
CHAPTER XXIII
Came the crate。 Because Del Mar brought it into the baggage…room； Michael was suspicious of it。 A minute later his suspicion was justified。 Del Mar invited him to go into the crate； and he declined。 With a quick deft clutch on the collar at the back of his neck； Del Mar jerked him off his footing and thrust him in； or partly in； rather； because he had managed to get a hold on the edge of the crate with his two fore…paws。 The animal trainer wasted no time。 He brought the clenched fist of his free hand down in two blows； rat…tat； on Michael's paws。 And Michael； at the pain； relaxed both holds。 The next instant he was thrust inside； snarling his indignation and rage as he vainly flung himself at the open bars； while Del Mar was locking the stout door。
Next； the crate was carried out to an express wagon and loaded in along with a number of trunks。 Del Mar had disappeared the moment he had locked the door； and the two men in the wagon； which was now bouncing along over the cobblestones； were strangers。 There was just room in the crate for Michael to stand upright； although he could not lift his head above the level of his shoulders。 And so standing； his head pressed against the top； a rut in the road； jolting the wagon and its contents； caused his head to bump violently。
The crate was not quite so long as Michael； so that he was compelled to stand with the end of his nose pressing against the end of the crate。 An automobile； darting out from a cross…street； caused the driver of the wagon to pull in abruptly and apply the brake。 With the crate thus suddenly arrested； Michael's body was precipitated forward。 There was no brake to stop him； unless the soft end of his nose be considered the brake； for it was his nose that brought his body to rest inside the crate。
He tried lying down； confined as the space was； and made out better； although his lips were cut and bleeding by having been forced so sharply against his teeth。 But the worst was to come。 One of his fore…paws slipped out through the slats or bars and rested on the bottom of the wagon where the trunks were squeaking； screeching； and jigging。 A rut in the roadway made the nearest trunk tilt one edge in the air and shift position； so that when it tilted back again it rested on Michael's paw。 The unexpectedness of the crushing hurt of it caused him to yelp and at the same time instinctively and spasmodically to pull back with all his strength。 This wrenched his shoulder and added to the agony of the imprisoned foot。
And blind fear descended upon Michael； the fear that is implanted in all animals and in man himselfTHE FEAR OF THE TRAP。 Utterly beside himself； though he no longer yelped； he flung himself madly about； straining the tendons and muscles of his shoulder and leg and further and severely injuring the crushed foot。 He even attacked the bars with his t