further adventures of lad-第1部分

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！



Further　Adventures　of　Lad

by　Albert　Payson　Terhune


　FOREWORD

Sunnybank　Lad　won　a　million　friends　through　my　book；　〃LAD：　A　DOG〃；　and　through　the　Lad…anecdotes　in　〃Buff：　A　Collie。〃　These　books　themselves　were　in　no　sense　great。　But　Laddie　was　great　in　every　sense；　and　his　life…story　could　not　be　marred；　past　interest；　by　my　clumsy　way　of　telling　it。

People　have　written　in　gratifying　numbers　asking　for　more　stories　about　Lad。　More　than　seventeen　hundred　visitors　have　come　all　the　way　to　Sunnybank　to　see　his　grave。　So　I　wrote　the　collection　of　tales　which　are　now　included　in　〃Further　Adventures　of　Lad。〃　Most　of　them　appeared；　in　condensed　form；　in　the　Ladies'　Home　Journal。

Very　much；　I　hope　you　may　like　them。

ALBERT　PAYSON　TERHUNE　〃Sunnybank〃　Pompton　Lakes；　New　Jersey



FURTHER　ADVENTURES　OF　LAD


CHAPTER　I。　The　Coming　Of　Lad

In　the　mile…away　village　of　Hampton；　there　had　been　a　veritable　epidemic　of　burglariesranging　from　the　theft　of　a　brand…new　ash…can　from　the　steps　of　the　Methodist　chapel　to　the　ravaging　of　Mrs。　Blauvelt's　whole　lineful　of　clothes；　on　a　washday　dusk。

Up　the　Valley　and　down　it；　from　Tuxedo　to　Ridgewood；　there　had　been　a　half…score　robberies　of　a　very　different　orderdepredations　wrought；　manifestly；　by　professionals；　thieves　whose　motor　cars　served　the　twentieth　century　purpose　of　such　historic　steeds　as　Dick　Turpin's　Black　Bess　and　Jack　Shepard's　Ranter。　These　thefts　were　in　the　line　of　jewelry　and　the　like；　and　were　as　daringly　wrought　as　were　the　modest　local　operators'　raids　on　ash…can　and　laundry。

It　is　the　easiest　thing　in　the　world　to　stir　humankind's　ever…　tense　burglar…nerves　into　hysterical　jangling。　In　house　after　house；　for　miles　of　the　peaceful　North　Jersey　region；　old　pistols　were　cleaned　and　loaded；　window　fastenings　and　doorlocks　were　inspected　and　new　hiding…places　found　for　portable　family　treasures。

Across　the　lake　from　the　village；　and　down　the　Valley　from　a　dozen　country　homes；　seeped　the　tide　of　precautions。　And　it　swirled　at　last　around　the　Place；a　thirty…acre　homestead；　isolated　and　sweet；　whose　grounds　ran　from　highway　to　lake；　and　whose　wistaria…clad　gray　house　drowsed　among　big　oaks　midway　between　road　and　water；　a　furlong　or　more　distant　from　either。

The　Place's　family　dog；a　pointer；had　died；　rich　in　years　and　honor。　And　the　new　peril　of　burglary　made　it　highly　needful　to　choose　a　successor　for　him。

The　Master　talked　of　buying　a　whalebone…and…steel…and…snow　bull　terrier；　or　a　more　formidable　if　more　greedy　Great　Dane。　But　the　Mistress　wanted　a　collie。　So　they　compromised　by　getting　the　collie。

He　reached　the　Place　in　a　crampy　and　smelly　crate；　preceded　by　a　long　envelope　containing　an　intricate　and　imposing　pedigree。　The　burglary…preventing　problem　seemed　solved。

But　when　the　crate　was　opened　and　its　occupant　stepped　gravely　forth；　on　the　Place's　veranda；　the　problem　was　revived。

All　the　Master　and　the　Mistress　had　known　about　the　newcomer；apart　from　his　price　and　lofty　lineage；was　that　his　breeder　had　named　him　〃Lad。〃

From　these　meager　facts　they　had　somehow　built　up　a　picture　of　a　huge　and　grimly　ferocious　animal　that　should　be　a　terror　to　all　intruders　and　that　might　in　time　be　induced　to　make　friends　with　the　Place's　vouched…for　occupants。　In　view　of　this；　they　had　had　a　stout　kennel　made　and　to　it　they　had　affixed　with　double　staples　a　chain　strong　enough　to　restrain　a　bull。

（It　may　as　well　be　said　here　that　never　in　all　the　sixteen　years　of　his　beautiful　life　did　Lad　occupy　that　or　any　other　kennel　nor　wear　that　or　any　other　chain。）

Even　the　crate　which　brought　the　new　dog　to　the　Place　failed　somehow　to　destroy　the　illusion　of　size　and　fierceness。　But；　the　moment　the　crate　door　was　opened　the　delusion　was　wrecked　by　Lad　himself。

Out　on　to　the　porch　he　walked。　The　ramshackle　crate　behind　him　had　a　ridiculous　air　of　a　chrysalis　from　which　some　bright　thing　had　departed。　For　a　shaft　of　sunlight　was　shimmering　athwart　the　veranda　floor。　And　into　the　middle　of　the　warm　bar　of　radiance　Laddie　stepped；and　stood。

His　fluffy　puppy…coat　of　wavy　mahogany…and…white　caught　a　million　sunbeams；　reflecting　them　back　in　tawny…orange　glints　and　in　a　dazzle　as　of　snow。　His　forepaws　were　absurdly　small；　even　for　a　puppy's。　Above　them　the　ridging　of　the　stocky　leg…bones　gave　as　clear　promise　of　mighty　size　and　strength　as　did　the　amazingly　deep　little　chest　and　square　shoulders。

Here　one　day　would　stand　a　giant　among　dogs；　powerful　as　a　timber…wolf；　lithe　as　a　cat；　as　dangerous　to　foes　as　an　angry　tiger；　a　dog　without　fear　or　treachery；　a　dog　of　uncanny　brain　and　great　lovingly　loyal　heart　and；　withal；　a　dancing　sense　of　fun。　A　dog　with　a　soul。

All　this；　any　canine　physiologist　might　have　read　from　the　compact　frame；　the　proud　head…carriage；　the　smolder　in　the　deep…set　sorrowful　dark　eyes。　To　the　casual　observer；　he　was　but　a　beautiful　and　appealing　and　wonderfully　cuddleable　bunch　of　puppyhood。

Lad's　dark　eyes　swept　the　porch；　the　soft　swelling　green　of　the　lawn；　the　flash　of　fire…blue　lake　among　the　trees　below。　Then；　he　deigned　to　look　at　the　group　of　humans　at　one　side　of　him。　Gravely；　impersonally；　he　surveyed　them；　not　at　all　cowed　or　strange　in　his　new　surroundings；　courteously　inquisitive　as　to　the　twist　of　luck　that　had　set　him　down　here　and　as　to　the　people　who；　presumably；　were　to　be　his　future　companions。

Perhaps　the　stout　little　heart　quivered　just　a　bit；　if　memory　went　back　to　his　home　kennel　and　to　the　rowdy　throng　of　brothers　and　sisters　and　most　of　all；　to　the　soft　furry　mother　against　whose　side　he　had　nestled　every　night　since　he　was　born。　But　if　so；　Lad　was　too　valiant　to　show　homesickness　by　so　much　as　a　whimper。　And；　assuredly；　this　House　of　Peace　was　infinitely　better　than　the　miserable　crate　wherein　he　had　spent　twenty　horrible　and　jouncing　and　smelly　and　noisy　hours。

From　one　to　another　of　the　group　strayed　the　level　sorrowful　gaze。　After　the　swift　inspection；　Laddie's　eyes　rested　again　on　the　Mistress。　For　an　instant；　he　stood；　looking　at　her；　in　that　mildly　polite　curiosity　which　held　no　hint　of　personal　interest。

Then；　all　at　once；　his　plumy　tail　began　to　wave。　Into　his　sad　eyes　sprang　a　flicker　of　warm　friendliness。　Unbiddenoblivious　of　everyone　else　he　trotted　across　to　where　the　Mistress　sat。　He　put　one　tiny　white　paw　in　her　lap；　and　stood　thus；　looking　up　lovingly　into　her　face；　tail　awag；　eyes　shining。

〃There's　no　question　whose　dog　he's　going　to　be；〃　laughed　the　Master。　〃He's　elected　you；by　acclamation。〃

The　Mistress　caught　up　into　her　arms　the　halfgrown　youngster；　petting　his　silken　head；　running　her　white　fingers　through　his　shining　mahogany　coat；　making　crooning　little　friendly　noises　to　him。

Lad　forgot　he　was　a　dignified　and　stately　pocket…edition　of　a　collie。　Under　this　spell；　he　changed　in　a　second　to　an　excessively　loving　and　nestling　and　adoring　puppy。

〃Just　the　same；〃　interposed　the　Master；　〃we've　been　stung。　I　wanted　a　dog　to　guard　the　Place　and　to　be　a　menace　to　burglars　and　all　that　sort　of　thing。　And　they've　sent　us　a　Teddy…Bear。　I　think　I'll　ship　him　back　and　get　a　grown　one。　What　sort　of　use　is？〃

〃He　is　going　to　be　all　those　things；〃　eagerly　prophesied　the　Mistress。　〃And　a　hundred　more。　See　how　he　loves　to　have　me　pet　him！　And；　lookhe's　learned；　already；　to　shake　hands；　and〃

〃Fine！〃　applauded　the　Master。　〃So　when　it　comes　our　turn　to　be　visited　by　this　motor…Raffles；　the　puppy　will　shake　hands　with　him；　and　register　love　of　petting；　and　the　burly　marauder　will　be　so　touched　by　Lad's　friendliness　that　he'll　not　only　spare　our　house　but　lead　an　upright　life　ever　after。　I〃

〃Don't　send　him　back！〃　she　pleaded。　〃He'll　grow　up；　soon；　and〃

〃And　if　only　the　courteous　burglars　will　wait　till　he's　a　couple　of　years　old；〃　suggested　the　Master；　〃he〃

Set　gently　on　the　floor　by　the　Mistress；　Laddie　had　crossed　to　where　the　Master　stood。　The　man；　glancing　down；　met　the　puppy's　gaze。　For　an　instant　he　scowled　at　the　miniature　watchdog；　so　ludicrously　different　from　the　ferocious　brute　he　had　expected。　Then；for　some　queer　reason；he　stooped　and　ran　his　hand　roughly　over　the　tawny　coat；　letting　it　rest　at　last　on　the　shapely　head　that　did　not　flinch　or　wriggle　at　his　touch。

〃All　right；〃　be　decreed。　〃Let　him　stay。　He'll　be　an　amusing　pet　for　you；　anyhow。　And　his　eye　has　the　true　thoroughbred　expression；'the　look　of　eagles。'　He　may　amount　to　something　after　all。　Let　him　stay。　We'll　take　a　chance　on　burglars。〃

So　it　was　that　Lad　came　to　the　Place。　So　it　was　that　he　demanded　and　received　due　welcome　which　was　ever　Lad's　way。　The　Master　had　been　right　about　the　pup's　proving　〃an　amusing　pet；〃　for　the　Mistress。　From　that　first　hour；　Lad　was　never　willingly　out　of　her　sight。　He　had　adopted　her。　The　Master；　too；in　only　a　little　lesser　wholeheartedness；he　adopted。　Toward　the　rest　of　the　world；　from　the　first；　he　was　friendly　but　more　or　less　indifferent。

Almost　at　once；　his　owners　noted　an　odd　trait　in　the　dog's　nature。　He　would　of　course　get　into　any　or　all　of　the　thousand　mischief…scrapes　which　are　the　heritage　of　puppies。　But；　a　single　reproof　was　enough　to　cure　him　forever　of　the　particular　form　of　mischief　which　had　just　been　chidden。　He　was　one　of　those　rare　dogs　that　learn　the　Law　by　instinct；　and　that　remember　for　all　time　a　command　or　a　prohibition　once　given　them。

For　example：On　his　second　day　at　the　Place；　he　made　a　furious　rush　at　a　neurotic　mother　hen　and　her　golden　convoy　of　chicks。　The　Mistress；luckily　for　all　concerned；was　within　call。　At　her　sharp　summons　the　puppy　wheeled；　midway　in　his　charge；　and　trotted　back　to　her。　Severely；　yet　trying　not　to　laugh　at　his　worried　aspect；　she　scolded　Lad　for　his　misdeed。

An　hour　later；　as　Lad　was　scampering　ahead　of　her；　past　the　stables；　they　rounded　a　corner　and　came　flush　upon　the　same　nerve…wrecked　hen　and　her　brood。　Lad　halted　in　his　scamper；　with　a　suddenness　that　made　him　skid。　Then；　walking　as　though　on　eggs；　he　made　an　idiotically　wide　circle　about　the　feathered　dam　and　her　silly　chicks。　Never　thereafter　did　he　assail　any　of　the　Place's　fowls。

It　was　the　same；　when　he　sprang　up　merrily　at　a　line　of　laundry；　flapping　in　alluring　invitation　from　the　drying　ground　lines。　A　single　word　of　rebuke；and　the