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tle puppies in Dag Daughtry's coat pocketsDaughtry； in his usual fashion； having appropriated them ashore in Sydney and sold them to Captain Duncan for a guinea apiece。
By this time； scrambling to his feet； Michael was really angry。 In truth； it was raining cats and dogs； such belligerent shower all unprovoked by him who had picked no quarrels nor even been aware of his enemies until they assailed him。 Brave the fox… terriers were； despite the hysterical rage they were in； and they were upon him as he got his legs under him。 The fangs of one clashed with his； cutting the lips of both of them； and the lighter dog recoiled from the impact。 The other succeeded in taking Michael in flank； fetching blood and hurt with his teeth。 With an instant curve； that was almost spasmodic； of his body； Michael flung his flank clear； leaving the other's mouth full of his hair； and at the same moment drove his teeth through an ear till they met。 The fox…terrier； with a shrill yelp of pain； sprang back so impetuously as to ribbon its ear as Michael's teeth combed through it。
The first terrier was back upon him； and he was whirling to meet it； when a new and equally unprovoked assault was made upon him。 This time it was Captain Duncan； in a rage at sight of his slain cat。 The instep of his foot caught Michael squarely under the chest； half knocking the breath out of him and wholly lifting him into the air； so that he fell heavily on his side。 The two terriers were upon him； filling their mouths with his straight； wiry hair as they sank their teeth in。 Still on his side； as he was beginning to struggle to his feet； he clipped his jaws together on a leg of one； who screamed with pain and retreated on three legs； holding up the fourth； a fore leg； the bone of which Michael's teeth had all but crushed。
Twice Michael slashed the other four…footed foe and then pursued him in a circle with Captain Duncan pursuing him in turn。 Shortening the distance by leaping across a chord of the arc of the other's flight； Michael closed his jaws on the back and side of the neck。 Such abrupt arrest in mid…flight by the heavier dog brought the fox…terrier down on deck with； a heavy thump。 Simultaneous with this； Captain Duncan's second kick landed； communicating such propulsion to Michael as to tear his clenched teeth through the flesh and out of the flesh of the fox…terrier。
And Michael turned on the Captain。 What if he were a white god？ In his rage at so many assaults of so many enemies； Michael； who had been peacefully looking for Kwaque and Steward； did not stop to reckon。 Besides； it was a strange white god upon whom he had never before laid eyes。
At the beginning he had snarled and growled。 But it was a more serious affair to attack a god； and no sound came from him as he leaped to meet the leg flying toward him in another kick。 As with the cat； he did not leap straight at it。 To the side to avoid； and in with a curve of body as it passed； was his way。 He had learned the trick with many blacks at Meringe and on board the Eugenie； so that as often he succeeded as failed at it。 His teeth came together in the slack of the white duck trousers。 The consequent jerk on Captain Duncan's leg made that infuriated mariner lose his balance。 Almost he fell forward on his face； part recovered himself with a violent effort； stumbled over Michael who was in for another bite； tottered wildly around； and sat down on the deck。
How long he might have sat there to recover his breath is problematical； for he rose as rapidly as his stoutness would permit； spurred on by Michael's teeth already sunk into the fleshy part of his shoulder。 Michael missed his calf as he uprose； but tore the other leg of the trousers to shreds and received a kick that lifted him a yard above the deck in a half…somersault and landed him on his back on deck。
Up to this time the Captain had been on the ferocious offensive； and he was in the act of following up the kick when Michael regained his feet and soared up in the air； not for leg or thigh； but for the throat。 Too high it was for him to reach it； but his teeth closed on the flowing black scarf and tore it to tatters as his weight drew him back to deck。
It was not this so much that turned Captain Duncan to the pure defensive and started him retreating backward； as it was the silence of Michael。 Ominous as death it was。 There were no snarls nor throat…threats。 With eyes straight…looking and unblinking； he sprang and sprang again。 Neither did he growl when he attacked nor yelp when he was kicked。 Fear of the blow was not in him。 As Tom Haggin had so often bragged of Biddy and Terrence； they bred true in Jerry and Michael in the matter of not wincing at a blow。 Alwaysthey were so madethey sprang to meet the blow and to encounter the creature who delivered the blow。 With a silence that was invested with the seriousness of death； they were wont to attack and to continue to attack。
And so Michael。 As the Captain retreated kicking； he attacked； leaping and slashing。 What saved Captain Duncan was a sailor with a deck mop on the end of a stick。 Intervening； he managed to thrust it into Michael's mouth and shove him away。 This first time his teeth closed automatically upon it。 But； spitting it out； he declined thereafter to bite it； knowing it for what it was； an inanimate thing upon which his teeth could inflict no hurt。
Nor； beyond trying to avoid him； was he interested in the sailor。 It was Captain Duncan； leaning his back against the rail； breathing heavily； and wiping the streaming sweat from his face； who was Michael's meat。 Long as it has taken to tell the battle； beginning with the slaying of the Persian cat to the thrusting of the mop into Michael's jaws； so swift had been the rush of events that the passengers； springing from their deck…chairs and hurrying to the scene； were just arriving when Michael eluded the mop of the sailor by a successful dodge and plunged in on Captain Duncan； this time sinking his teeth so savagely into a rotund calf as to cause its owner to splutter an incoherent curse and howl of wrathful surprise。
A fortunate kick hurled Michael away and enabled the sailor to intervene once again with the mop。 And upon the scene came Dag Daughtry； to behold his captain； frayed and bleeding and breathing apoplectically； Michael raging in ghastly silence at the end of a mop； and a large Persian mother…cat writhing with a broken back。
〃Killeny Boy！〃 the steward cried imperatively。
Through no matter what indignation and rage that possessed him； his lord's voice penetrated his consciousness； so that； cooling almost instantly； Michael's ears flattened； his bristling hair lay down； and his lips covered his fangs as he turned his head to look acknowledgment。
〃Come here； Killeny！〃
Michael obeyednot crouching cringingly； but trotting eagerly； gladly； to Steward's feet。
〃Lie down； Boy。〃
He turned half around as he flumped himself down with a sigh of relief； and； with a red flash of tongue； kissed Steward's foot。
〃Your dog； Steward？〃 Captain Duncan demanded in a smothered voice wherein struggled anger and shortness of breath。
〃Yes； sir。 My dog。 What's he been up to； sir？〃
The totality of what Michael had been up to choked the Captain completely。 He could only gesture around from the dying cat to his torn clothes and bleeding wounds and the fox…terriers licking their injuries and whimpering at his feet。
〃It's too bad； sir 。 。 。 〃 Daughtry began。
〃Too bad； hell！〃 the captain shut him off。 〃Bo's'n！ Throw that dog overboard。〃
〃Throw the dog overboard； sir； yes； sir；〃 the boat…swain repeated； but hesitated。
Dag Daughtry's face hardened unconsciously with the stiffening of his will to dogged opposition； which； in its own slow quiet way； would go to any length to have its way。 But he answered respectfully enough； his features； by a shrewd effort； relaxing into a seeming of his customary good…nature。
〃He's a good dog； sir； and an unoffending dog。 I can't imagine what could a…made 'm break loose this way。 He must a…had cause； sir〃
〃He had；〃 one of the passengers； a coconut planter from the Shortlands； interjected。
The steward threw him a grateful glance