按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
hest in utter abjectness； resting his weight on his elbows and shielding his poor nose with his massive paws； a single stroke of which could have ripped the life of Collins quivering from his body。
〃Now he might be tricky；〃 Collins announced； 〃but he's got to kiss my foot and the stick just the same。 Watch！〃
He lifted and advanced his left foot； not tentatively and hesitantly； but quickly and firmly； bringing it to rest on the lion's neck。 The stick was poised to strike； one act ahead of the lion's next possible act； as Collins's mind was one thought ahead of the lion's next thought。
And Hannibal did the forecasted and predestined。 His head flashed up； huge jaws distended； fangs gleaming； to sink into the slender； silken…hosed ankle above the tan low…cut shoes。 But the fangs never sank。 They were scarcely started a fifth of the way of the distance； when the waiting broomstick rapped on his nose and made him sink it in the floor under his chest and cover it again with his paws。
〃He ain't crazy；〃 said Collins。 〃He knows； from the little he knows； that I know more than him and that I've got him licked to a fare…you…well。 If he was crazy； he wouldn't know； and I wouldn't know his mind either； and I wouldn't be that one jump ahead of him； and he'd get me and mess the whole cage up with my insides。〃
He prodded Hannibal with the end of the broom…handle； after each prod poising it for a stroke。 And the great lion lay and roared in helplessness； and at each prod exposed his nose more and lifted it higher； until； at the end； his red tongue ran out between his fangs and licked the boot resting none too gently on his neck； and； after that； licked the broomstick that had administered all the punishment。
〃Going to be a good lion now？〃 Collins demanded； roughly rubbing his foot back and forth on Hannibal's neck。
Hannibal could not refrain from growling his hatred。
〃Going to be a good lion？〃 Collins repeated； rubbing his foot back and forth still more roughly。
And Hannibal exposed his nose and with his red tongue licked again the tan shoe and the slender； tan…silken ankle that he could have destroyed with one crunch。
CHAPTER XXVIII
One friend Michael made among the many animals he encountered in the Cedarwild School； and a strange； sad friendship it was。 Sara she was called； a small； green monkey from South America； who seemed to have been born hysterical and indignant； and with no appreciation of humour。 Sometimes； following Collins about the arena； Michael would meet her while she waited to be tried out on some new turn。 For； unable or unwilling to try； she was for ever being tried out on turns； or； with little herself to do； as a filler…in for more important performers。
But she always caused confusion； either chattering and squealing with fright or bickering at the other animals。 Whenever they attempted to make her do anything； she protested indignantly； and if they tried force； her squalls and cries excited all the animals in the arena and set the work back。
〃Never mind；〃 said Collins finally。 〃She'll go into the next monkey band we make up。〃
This was the last and most horrible fate that could befall a monkey on the stage； to be a helpless marionette； compelled by unseen sticks and wires； poked and jerked by concealed men； to move and act throughout an entire turn。
But it was before this doom was passed upon her that Michael made her acquaintance。 Their first meeting； she sprang suddenly at him； a screaming； chattering little demon； threatening him with nails and teeth。 And Michael； already deep…sunk in habitual moroseness merely looked at her calmly； not a ripple to his neck… hair nor a prick to his ears。 The next moment； her fuss and fury quite ignored； she saw him turn his head away。 This gave her pause。 Had he sprung at her； or snarled； or shown any anger or resentment such as did the other dogs when so treated by her； she would have screamed and screeched and raised a hubbub of expostulation； crying for help and calling all men to witness how she was being unwarrantably attacked。
As it was； Michael's unusual behaviour seemed to fascinate her。 She approached him tentatively； without further racket； and the boy who had her in charge slacked the thin chain that held her。
〃Hope he breaks her back for her；〃 was his unholy wish； for he hated Sara intensely； desiring to be with the lions or elephants rather than dancing attendance on a cantankerous female monkey there was no reasoning with。
And because Michael took no notice of her； she made up to him。 It was not long before she had her hands on him； and； quickly after that； an arm around his neck and her head snuggled against his。 Then began her interminable tale。 Day after day； catching him at odd times in the ring； she would cling closely to him and in a low voice； running on and on； never pausing for breath； tell him； for all he knew； the story of her life。 At any rate； it sounded like the story of her woes and of all the indignities which had been wreaked upon her。 It was one long complaint； and some of it might have been about her health； for she sniffed and coughed a great deal and her chest seemed always to hurt her from the way she had of continually and gingerly pressing the palm of her hand to it。 Sometimes； however； she would cease her complaining； and love and mother him； uttering occasional series of gentle mellow sounds that were like croonings。
Hers was the only hand of affection that was laid on him at Cedarwild； and she was ever gentle； never pinching him； never pulling his ears。 By the same token； he was the only friend she had； and he came to look forward to meeting her in the course of the morning workand this； despite that every meeting always concluded in a scene； when she fought with her keeper against being taken away。 Her cries and protests would give way to whimperings and wailings； while the men about laughed at the strangeness of the love…affair between her and the Irish terrier。
But Harris Collins tolerated； even encouraged； their friendship。
〃The two sour…balls get along best together；〃 he said。 〃And it does them good。 Gives them something to live for； and that way lies health。 But some day； mark my words； she'll turn on him and give him what for； and their friendship will get a terrible smash。〃
And half of it he spoke with the voice of prophecy； and； though she never turned on Michael； the day in the world was written when their friendship would truly receive a terrible smash。
〃Now seals are too wise；〃 Collins explained one day； in a sort of extempore lecture to several of his apprentice trainers。 〃You've just got to toss fish to them when they perform。 If you don't； they won't； and there's an end of it。 But you can't depend on feeding dainties to dogs； for instance； though you can make a young； untrained pig perform creditably by means of a nursing bottle hidden up your sleeve。〃
〃All you have to do is think it over。 Do you think you can make those greyhounds extend themselves with the promise of a bite of meat？ It's the whip that makes them extend。Look over there at Billy Green。 There ain't another way to teach that dog that trick。 You can't love her