further adventures of lad-第11部分

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〃Lochaber　King；〃　read　the　Master；　from　his　catalog。　〃H'm！　That's　Colonel　Osbourne's　greatest　pup。　Remember；　we　saw　him　at　Westminster？　It's　nip…and…tuck；　between　him　and　Lad；　with　a　little　in　this　dog's　favor。　Tough　luck！〃

〃Oh；　this　has　been　just　one　of　those　days　nobody　wants！〃　mourned　the　Mistress。　〃First；　our　forgetting　to　bring　along　Laddie's　suitcase；　though　I　could　have　sworn　I　saw　you　lift　it　aboard；and　then　the　judge　not　being　here；　and　now　this　horrid　collie　with　his　wonderful　coat！　What　next；　I　wonder？〃

Like　a　well…staged　bit　of　mechanism；　the　reply　to　her　rhetorical　question　came　down　to　her　from　heaven。　It　came　in　the　shape　of　a　thunder…roll　that　began　far　off　and　reverberated　from　mountain　to　mountain；　then　muttered　itself　into　silence　in　the　more　distant　hills。　The　Mistress；　like　everyone　else；　looked　skyward。

The　hazy　blue　of　the　summer　noon　was　paling　to　dirty　gray　and　black。　Up　from　the　Hudson；　a　fast…mounting　array　of　dun　and　flame…shot　clouds　were　butting　their　bullying　way。　No　weather…prophet　was　needed　to　tell　these　hillcountry　folk　that　they　were　in　for　a　thunderstorm；and　for　what　one　kennel…man　described　as　〃a　reg'lar　ol'　　he…one；〃　at　that。

Now；　under　right　conditions；　an　open…air　dogshow　is　a　thing　of　beauty　and　of　joy。　At　such　places　as　Tuxedo　and　one　or　two　others　it　is　a　sight　to　be　remembered。　But　in　rainy　weather；especially　in　a　tumultuous　thunderstorm；　it　has　not　one　redeeming　feature。

The　Beauville　Show　Committee；like　all　experts　in　such　matters；　had　taken　this　chance　into　account。　Down　the　aisles　of　benches　and　through　the　questioning　and　scared　groups　of　exhibitors　ran　attendants　and　officials；　shouting　that　the　Country　Club　polo　stables　and　the　wide　spaces　under　the　clubhouse　verandas　had　been　fitted　up　for　emergency　quarters；　where　the　dogs　might　be　housed；　dry　and　safe；　until　the　passing　of　the　storm。

Up　to　the　Master　hurried　a　club　page…boy。

〃This　way；　sir！〃　he　panted。　〃I　saved　a　special　box　stall；　in　the　first　stable；　for　your　collie。〃

〃YOU　saved　it？〃　queried　the　puzzled　Master；　while　the　Mistress　began　to　unfasten　Lad's　leash。　〃How　did　you　happen　to　do　that？〃

〃I　was　told　to；　sir；〃　answered　the　boy。　〃Aa　gentleman　told　me　to；　just　now。　One　of　the　of'cers　of　the　club。　I　don't　know　his　name。　He　showed　me　the　stall；　and　he　told　me　to　take　your　dog　there。〃

〃That's　mighty；　decent；　whoever　did　it；〃　said　the　Master；　whistling　the　freed　dog　to　him　and　setting　forth　in　the　boy's　wake；　toward　the　welcoming　stables。　〃I　wish　you　knew　his　name。　I'd　like　to　thank　him。〃

The　stable　was　dim…lit；　at　best。　Now；　the　gathering　storm　made　it　as　dark　as　twilight。　The　box　stall　to　which　Lad　was　led　was　almost　pitch　black；　its　shuttered　window　being　closed。　Still；　it　was　shelter。　Leaving　the　Master　and　the　Mistress　to　consign　Lad　to　his　new　quarters；　the　boy　scuttled　of　to　a　harness…room。　There；　an　eagerly…questioning　man　was　awaiting　him。

〃Yep；〃　broke　in　the　boy；　through　a　volley　of　inquiries。　〃I　done　it；　all　right；　all　right；　Mr。　Higham。　They're　moorin'　him　in　Stall　Five；　right　now。　How　about　those　two　soft　dollars？　Hey？〃

〃You　earned　'em；　O。　K。；〃　grinned　Higham。　〃Here　you　are。　Two；count　'em；　two。　And　now；　chase　along；　sonny。　I'm　busy。〃

He　turned　to　a　large　bowl　in　which　he　had　been　mixing　the　contents　of　three　or　four　bottles。　And　the　boy　saw　his　fingers　were　fiery　red。

〃What's　the　matter？〃　demanded　the　youngster；　in　high　excitement。　〃That's　blood；　ain't　it？〃

〃No；〃　denied　Higham。　〃Blood's　light　red。　This　is　crimson。　Remember　the　time　we　run　in　that　joke　on　Daddy　Price；　by　dipping　his　prize　white　leghorns　in　crimson　dye；　just　before　the　Madison　Square　Garden　Poultry　Show？　Well；　this　is　the　same　stuff。〃

〃Do　I　remember　it？〃　snickered　the　boy。　〃He　was　ragin'；　for　fair。　Couldn't　get　it　off；　to　save　him。　It　stayed；　that　color；　on　'em；　till　they'd　shed　the　last　one　of　last　year's　crop　of　feathers。　Sure；　I　remember。　Why　wouldn't　I？　Didn't　I　git　a　dollar　for　holdin'　'em　for　you？　And　another　dollar　for　keepin'　my　mouth　shut？　But　what　are　you　lottin'　to　do　with　the　stuff；　this　time？　No　chickens　here；　　or〃

〃Nope；〃　assented　Higham。　〃No　chickens　here。　Hold　on；　a　second！〃

He　stood；　musing。　Then　he　spoke。

〃I　was　going　to　play　a　lone　hand；　on　this；〃　he　said；　presently。　〃I　didn't　even　dare　let　Rice　in　on　it。　He'd　be　dead…sure　to　tell　that　gabby　girl　he's　going　to　marry。　And　it'd　get　all　over　the　country　in　a　week。　And　that'd　lose　me　my　job；　if　the　boss　heard　of　it。　I　was　going　to　play　it　alone。　That's　why　I　left　Rice　and　Willett　to　put　up　the　dogs　for　me。　But；I'm　blest　if　I　know　how　I'm　to　hold　him　and　dye　him　at　the　same　time。　He's　as　strong　as　an　ox。　Youyou're　a　good；　close…tongued　kid；　Harry。　You　kept　your　mouth　shut　about　Price's　chickens。　Could　you　keep　it　shut；for　another　dollar；about　this？　If　you'll　do　that；　and　lend　me　a　handHow　about　it？〃

〃What's　the　main　idea？〃　asked　the　boy；　much　intrigued　by　the　beauty　of　the　dye　on　Higham's　fingers；　and　squirming　with　embarrassed　self…importance　at　the　man's　flattering　tone。　〃I'll　help　out；　all　right。　Only；〃

〃Here's　the　notion；〃　said　Higham；　coming　out　of　momentary　self…communion。　〃And　if　you　ever　spill　it；　your　mail　will　be　sent　to　you　at　the　hosp't'l；　for　a　spell。　You　saw　that　big　dark　sable　collie　I　had　you　steer　into　Stall　Five？　It　cost　me　another　two　dollars　to　get　Abrams　to　let　me　have　the　use　of　that　stall。　The　idea　come　to　me；　in　a　jolt；　first　crack　of　thunder　I　heard。　Well；　I'm　due　to　'get'　that　dog　and　the　mucker　who　owns　him；　too。　Them　and　I　had　a　run…in；　once；　and　I　been　honing　for　a　chance　to　square　things；　ever　since。　I've　seen　'em　at　shows　and　I've　asked　folks　about　'em；　too。　He　sets　more　store　by　that　dog　than　he'd　set　by　most　humans。　He's　pleased　as　Punch；　every　time　the　collie　hauls　down　a　cup　at　one　of　these　neighborhood　shows。　Well；　that　dog　ain't　going　to　be　fit　to　go　to　another　show；　for　a　year。　He　ain't　going　to　be　fit　to　look　at；　for　that　long。　He's　going　to　be　a　laughing　stock。　His　owners　won't　brag　any　more　about　him；　neither。　They'll　be　glad　enough　to　keep　him　out　of　sight。〃

The　boy；　listening　with　ever…widening　eyes；　chanced　to　shift　his　gaze　to　the　big　bowl　of　new…mixed　dye。　And　a　light　broke　on　him。

〃Youyou're　aimin'　to　soak　him　with　that　stuff？〃　he　whispered；　in　awe　at　such　combined　courage　and　genius。

〃Uh…uh；〃　assented　Higham。　〃I　don't　know　what　color　the　crimson　stuff　will　turn　the　dark　part　of　his　coat。　But　whatever　color　it　is；　it'll　be　as　funny　as　a　box　of　three…tailed　snakes。　I've　put　a　glass　of　ammonia　into　the　dye；　to　make　it　'set'　quicker。　It〃

〃Gee；　but　you're　a　wonder！〃　sighed　the　worshiping　boy。　〃D'ye　s'pose　I'll　ever　git　to　be　as　smart　as　you　are？〃

〃It　all　depends　on　how　you　make　use　of　your　brains；〃　returned　Higbam；　complacently。　〃But　I　was　some　smarter　than　you　to　begin　with。　I〃

〃But〃

Higham　went　on；　more　briskly：

〃I've　got　this　bag　to　put　over　his　head　when　I　open　the　stall　door。　That'll　put　him　out　of　the　biting　business；　till　it's　peeled　away　from　his　jaws；　after　he's　got　a　real　good　rubbing。　But　he'll　likely　wriggle；　a　lot。　And　I'll　need　you　to　sit　on　his　head。　Likewise　to　carry　this　bowl　and　the　sponge；　while　I'm　opening　the　door　and　getting　the　bag　over　his　head。　Are　you　game？〃

〃I　sure　am！〃　breathed　the　enraptured　boy。

〃Come　'long；　then。　The　stuff's　ready；　and　we　don't　want　to　waste　any　time。　Go　ahead　and　see　if　there's　anyone　in　that　end　of　the　stable。〃　Two　minutes　later；　the　pair　groped　their　way　through　the　dense　gloom；　to　Stall　Five。　They　walked　with　exaggerated　care；　though　the　roar　of　the　storm　would　have　deadened　the　sound　of　a　cavalry　charge。　Handing　over　the　bowl　and　sponge　to　his　assistant；　Higham　produced　from　under　his　coat　a　thick　burlap　bag　with　a　drawstring　at　its　neck。　Then；　he　opened　the　door　of　the　box　stall；　a　few　inches　and　stared　in。

By　straining　his　eyes；　he　could　just　see　the　vague　outline　of　the　big　collie。　The　dog　arose　from　a　bundle　of　straw；　stretched　himself　fore　and　aft；　and　walked　gravely　forward　to　welcome　the　visitors　who　were　so　kindly　easing　his　loneliness。　He　was　barely　visible；　in　the　dimness。

But　there　was　light　enough　for　Higham's　purpose。　With　practiced　hand；　he　shoved　the　bag　over　the　beautiful　silken　head；　as　the　collie　stepped　majestically　toward　him。　Then；　deftly；　he　threw　the　indignant　and　struggling　dog　to　the　floor；　and　bade　the　boy　come　in；　and　shut　the　gate　behind　him。

With　the　passing　of　another　hour；　the　rain　ceased；　and　a　glory　of　afternoon　sunlight　bathed　the　freshened　world。　At　about　the　same　time；　the　belated　collie　judge　arrived　at　the　clubhouse。　Word　was　sent　forth　that　all　dogs　were　to　he　returned　to　their　benches　and　that　the　judging　of　the　collies　and　of　certain　other　breeds　would　begin　at　once。

There　was　a　general　hustle　and　confusion；　as　exhibitors　led　forth　their　dogs　from　shelter；　benching　them　and　plying　brush　and　chalk　and　towel　in　frantic　haste。

Higham　summoned　Rice　and　another　of　the　kennel　men　and　bade　them　bring　forth　the　Lochaber　dogs。　Instead　of　helping　them　with　his　task；　Higham　himself　ran　to　the　top　of　the　clubhouse　steps；　from　which　he　could　survey　not　only　the　benches　but　also　the　stables　and　the　lawn　between。　There；　quivering　with　hard…held　excitement；　he　stood；　with　the　air　of　one　who　has　chosen　a　grandstand　seat　for　some　thrilling　event。　He　wore　a　pair　of　thick　gloves。　As　he　had　discarded　the　linen　duster　which　he　had　worn　during　the　dyeing　process；　there　was　no　betraying　splash　of　color　on　his　severely　correct　garb。

People　were　trooping　out　from　the　shelter　of　the　clubhouse。　With　half　an　eye；　Higham　observed　these；　chuckling　at　thought　of　the　everincreasing　number　of　spectators　to　his　rare　comedy。　Of　a　sudden；　the　chuckle　changed　to　a　gasp。

Out　through　the　doorway；　and　onto　the　veranda；　strolled　Colonel　Osbourne；　owner　of　the　Lochaber　Collie　Kennels。　With　him　walked　the　Mistress　and　the　Master。

At　the　Mistress's　side　paced　Lad。

〃It　was　so　careless　of　us　to　leave　the　suitcase　at　home！〃　the　Mistress　was　saying。　〃I　don't　know　how　we　could　have　groomed　him；　Colonel；　if　you　hadn't　come　to　our　rescue　by　turning　that　kit　bag's　heaven…sent　contents　over　to　us。　Besides；　it　gave　us　the　excuse　to　bring　Laddie　up　into　the　house；　instead　of　leaving　him　all　alone