further adventures of lad-第10部分

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ion。　On　returning　toward　the　beach；　he　had　found　the　Master　and　Lad　standing　in　his　way。　Loftily；　he　made　as　though　to　skirt　them　and　reach　the　canoe。

〃WATCH　him；　Laddie！〃　whispered　the　Master；　loosing　his　hold　on　the　dog's　ruff。

This；　in　the　midst　of　Rice's　tirade。　Higham　stood　extremely　still。　As　the　others　applauded；　he　began；　very　fervently；　to　swear。

〃Higham；〃　suggested　the　Master；　〃I've　no　personal　objection　to　your　blasphemy。　If　the　women　of　your　party　can　stand　it；　I　can。　But　aren't　you　wasting　a　good　deal　of　time！　These　papers　have　all　got　to　be　picked　up；　you　know；　and　the　camp　nicely　policed。　Get　busy。〃

Higham　glowered　on　him　in　murderous　hate；　then　at　the　tensely　watching　dog。　Lad's　upper　lip　curled。　The　man　took　a　tentative　step　toward　the　beach。　Lad　crouched；　panther…like；　and　a　low　growl　parted　still　further　his　writhing　lips。

Higham　was　enough　of　a　collie　man　to　foresee　the　inevitable　next　move。　He　stood　stock　still。　The　Master　put　his　hand　once　more　on　Lad's　ruff；　but　none　too　tightly。　And　he　nodded　toward　the　clutter　of　newspapers　and　wooden　plates。　Higham's　language　soared　spoutingly　to　high　heaven。　But　he　turned　back　and；　with　vicious　grabs；　cleared　the　lawn　of　its　unsightly　litter。

〃Take　it　into　the　boat　with　you。〃　said　the　Master。　〃That's　all。　Goodbye。　See　you　at　the　Beauville　show。〃

Waiting　only　for　the　canoe　and　its　four　vociferous　occupants　to　start　safely　from　shore；　the　Master　returned　to　the　house；　Lad　at　his　heels；　pursued　by　a　quadruple　avalanche　of　abuse　from　the　damp　trespassers。

〃There'll　be　a　comeback　of　some　kind　to　this；　Laddie；〃　he　told　the　collie；　as　they　moved　on。　〃I　don't　know　just　what　it'll　be。　But　those　two　worthy　youths　didn't　look　at　all　lovingly　at　us。　And　there's　nothing　else　in　country　life　so　filthily　mean　as　an　evicted　trespasser。　Don't　let's　say　anything　to　the　Mistress　about　it；　Lad。　It'd　only　worry　her！　Andand　she'll　think　I　ought　to　have　invited　all　those　panhandlers　up　to　the　house　to　get　dry。　Perhaps　she'd　be　right；　too。　She　generally　is。〃

A　week　later；　Lad　received　a　summons　that　made　his　heart　sink。　For　he　knew　precisely　what　it　foretold。　He　was　called　to　the　bathroom；　where　awaited　him　a　tub　half　full　of　warm　water。

Now；　baths　were　no　novelty　to　Lad。　But　when　a　bath　tub　contained　certain　ingredients　from　boxes　on　the　dog…closet　shelf；ingredients　that　fluff　the　coat　and　burnish　it　and　make　all　its　hairs　stand　out　like　a　Circassian　Beauty's；　that　meant　but　one　thing。

It　meant　a　dog…show　was　at　hand。

And　Lad　loathed　dog…shows；　as　he　loathed　tramps　and　castor　oil　and　motorcycles。

After　a　single　experience；　he　had　never　been　taken　to　one　of　those　canine　ordeals　known　as　〃three…or…more…day　shows。〃　But　the　Mistress　and　the　Master　rejoiced　at　his　triumphs　at　such　local　one…day　shows　as　were　within　pleasant　driving　distance　of　the　Place。　These　exhibitions　entailed　no　great　strain　or　danger。　Lad's　chief　objection　to　them　was　that　he　hated　to　be　chirped　to　and　pawed　and　stared　upon　by　an　army　of　strangers。

Such　a　one…day　event　was　the　outdoor　Charity　Dogshow　at　the　Beauville　Country　Club；　forty　miles　to　northeast　of　the　Place；　an　easy　two…hour　drive。　It　was　to　be　a　〃specialty　show〃；　at　which　the　richness　and　variety　of　prizes　were　expected　to　atone　for　the　lack　of　A。　K。　C。　points　involved。

A　premium…list　of　the　show　had　been　mailed　to　the　Place；　and　one　of　its　〃specials〃　had　caught　the　Mistress's　quick　eye　and　quicker　imagination。　The　special　was　offered　by　Angus　McGilead；　an　exiled　Scot　whose　life　fad　was　the　Collie；　and　whose　chief　grievance　was　that　most　American　breeders　did　not　seem　able　to　produce　collies　with　the　unbelievable　wealth　of　outer…and…undercoat　displayed　by　the　oversea　dogs。　This　particular　special　was　offered　in　the　following　terms：

Embossed　Sterling　Silver　Cup；　9　Inches　High　（Genuine　Antique）　For　The　Best…Coated　Collie　Shown。

Now；　Lad's　coat　was　the　pride　of　the　Mistress's　heart。　By　daily　brushings　she　kept　it　in　perfect　condition　and　encouraged　its　luxuriant　growth。　When　she　read　of　McGilead's　eccentric　offer；　she　fell　to　visualizing　the　〃embossed　sterling　silver　cup；　9　inches　high　（genuine　antique）〃　as　it　would　loom　up　from　the　hedge　of　dog…show　prizes　already　adorning　the　living　room　trophy…shelves。

Summer　is　the　zero　hour　for　collies'　coats。　Yet；　this　year；　Lad　had　not　yet　begun　to　shed　his　winter　raiment；　and　he　was　still　in　full　bloom。　This　fact　decided　the　Mistress。　Not　one　collie　in　ten　would　be　in　anything　like　perfect　coat。　And　the　prize　cup　grew　clearer　and　nearer；　to　her　mental　vision。　Hence　the　series　of　special　baths　and　brushings。　Hence；　too；　Laddie's　daily…increasing　gloom。

At　eight　o'clock　on　the　morning　of　the　show；　the　Mistress　and　the　Master；　with　Lad　stretched　forlornly　on　the　rear　seat　of　the　car；　set　forth　up　the　Valley　on　the　forty…mile　run　to　Beauville。　On　the　tonneau　floor；　in　front　of　Lad；　rested　a　battered　suitcase；　which　held　his　toilet　appurtenances；brushes；　comb；　talcum；　French　chalk；　show…leash；　sponge；　crash　towel；　squeaking　rubber　doll　（this　to　attract　his　bored　interest　in　the　ring　and　make　him　〃show〃）　and　a　box　of　liver　cut　in　small　bits　and　fried　stiff。

Lad　blinked　down　at　the　suitcase　in　morose　disapproval。　He　hated　that　bag。　It　spelt　〃dogshow〃　to　him。　Even　the　presence　of　the　delicious　fried　liver　and　of　the　mildly　dramatic　squeaking　doll　could　not　atone　for　the　rest　of　its　contents　and　for　all　they　implied。

As　the　car　sent　the　miles　slipping　behind　and　as　the　Mistress　and　the　Master　glanced　back　less　and　less　often　for　a　pat　or　a　cheery　word　to　their　sulking　chum；　Lad's　dislike　for　that　pestilential　bag　grew　sharper。　True；　it　held　squares　of　fried　liver；liver　whose　heavenly　odor　penetrated　through　the　musty　leather　smell　of　the　suitcase　and　to　the　dog's　acute　senses。　Also；　it　held　a　doll　which　exuded　thrilling　squeaks　when　gently　bitten。　But　these　things；　he　knew　full　well；　were　designed　as　show…ring　baits；　not　as　free　gifts。

No；　the　bag　was　his　enemy。　And；　unlike　his　few　other　natural　foes；　Lad　had　never　been　bidden　to　leave　it　unmolested。　This　memory　came　to　him；　in　the　midst　of　his　blues。　He　eyed　the　loathsome　suitcase　through　quizzical　half…shut　eyes；　as　it　rocked　and　careened　at　his　feet　with　every　jounce　of　the　car。　And　into　his　brain　shot　the　devil　of　mischief。

Bending　down　his　shapely　head；　he　took　the　handle　of　the　case　between　his　teeth。　Then；　bracing　his　little　white　forepaws　on　the　slippery　leather　seat；　he　heaved　with　all　the　mighty　strength　of　his　back　and　shoulders。　Under　such　urgence；　the　light　suitcase　swung　high　in　air。　A　sideways　toss　of　the　muscular　throat；　and　the　suitcase　whirled　clear　of　the　car　door　and　of　the　running…board　beneath。　Then　Lad　let　go；　and　settled　himself　back　smugly　in　the　seat。　The　luckless　suitcase　smote　the　road　dust　and　rolled　into　a　grassy　ditch。　The　car　sped　on。　Lad；　for　the　moment；　was　nearly　happy。　If　he　were　not　able　to　dodge　the　show　itself；　at　least　he　had　gotten　rid　of　the　odious　thing　which　held　so　much　he　detested　and　which　was　always　an　inseparable　part　of　the　ordeals　he　was　taken　to。

Arrived　at　the　country　club　whose　grounds　had　been　fitted　for　the　charity　show；　Lad　was　benched　in　the　shade。　And　there；　all　the　rest　of　the　morning；　he　remained。　For　Loder；　judge　of　the　collies　and　Old　English　Sheepdogs　and　of　two　other　breeds；　had　missed　a　train　from　Canada；　and　had　not　yet　arrived。　His　various　classes　were　held　up；　pending　his　advent。

〃Loder's　a　lucky　man；　at　that；〃　commented　the　Toy　Breeds　judge；　with　whom　the　Master　chanced　to　be　talking。　〃And　he'll　be　still　luckier　if　he　misses　the　whole　show。　You　'small　exhibitors'　have　no　notion　of　the　rotten　deal　handed　to　a　dog…show　judge；though　lots　of　you　do　more　than　your　share　toward　making　his　life　a　burden。　Before　the　judging　begins；　some　of　the　exhibitors　act　as　if　they　wanted　to　kiss　him。　Nothing's　too　good　for　him。　He　wades　chin…deep　through　flattery　and　loving　attentions。　Then；　after　the　judging　is　over；　he　is　about　as　popular　with　those　same　exhibitors　as　a　typhoid　germ。　No　one　can　say　bad　enough　things　about　him。　He's　'incompetent；'　he's　'a　grafter；'he's　'afraid　of　the　big　kennels；'he's　'drunk。'　He's　any　of　these　things；　or　all　of　them　put　together。　Nobody's　satisfied。　Everybody　has　had　a　raw　deal。　Everybody's　hammer　is　out　for　the　poor　slob　of　a　judge。　Well；　not　everybody's；　of　course。　There　are　some　real　sportsmen　left　crawling　on　the　surface　of　the　earth。　But　the　big　majority　pan　him；　all　the　way　home；　and　then　some　of　them　roast　him　in　print。　The　Income　Tax　man　is　a　popular　favorite；　compared　with　a　dog…show　judge。〃

〃But〃

〃Then；　again；〃　pursued　the　Toy　Breeds　man；　〃he's　got　to　leave　his　heart　at　home；　if　he　doesn't　want　it　to　ache　when　he　has　to　'gate'　the　second…rate　mutts　shown　by　outsiders　who　never　exhibited　before　and　who　think　their　pet　dog　ought　to　get　every　prize　because　he's　so　cunning　and　friendly。　I　hate　to〃

The　Mistress　came　hurrying　up　from　a　careful　inspection　of　the　line　of　collies。　Drawing　her　husband　aside；　she　whispered；　excitedly

〃There's　only　one　other　collie　here；　whose　coat　can　anywhere　near　equal　Laddie's。　The　rest　are　all　in　shabby　summer　coat。　Come　across　and　let　me　show　him　to　you。　I'mI'm　afraid　he　has　a　gorgeous　coat。　Not　that　_I_　think　it's　half　as　good　as　Lad's；〃　she　added；　loyally；　as　she　piloted　the　Master　between　the　double　lines　of　clamorous　dogs。　〃Butoh；　I'm　so　afraid　the　judge　may　think　it　is！　You　see；　he　doesn't　know　Laddie　as　we　do。〃

She　stopped　before　a　bench　whereon　lay　a　pale　golden　sable　collie；　almost　corn…colored；　who　boasted　a　wealth　and　magnificence　of　coat　that　made　the　Master　open　his　eyes　wide。

The　dog　was　smaller　and　slighter　of　frame　than　was　Lad。　Nor；　in　head　and　expression；　was　he　Lad's　equal。　But　his　coat　was　every　bit　as　luxuriant。　Indeed；　there　was　perhaps　a　shade　more　of　it　than　Lad　carried。

A　collie's　coat；　as　a　rule；　takes　about　seven　months　to　grow。　Thus；　each　year；　it　comes　into　full　bloom　a　little　later　than　on　the　year　before。　And；　in　course　of　time；　it　is　prone　to　reach　its　climax　of　excellence　in　summer。　This　was　the　lot　of　both　Lad　and　the　paler…hued　dog。

〃Lochaber　King；〃　read　the　Master；　from　his　catalog。　〃H'm！　That's　Colonel　Osbourne's　greatest　pup。　Remember；　we　sa