further adventures of lad-第12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！


ave　us　the　excuse　to　bring　Laddie　up　into　the　house；　instead　of　leaving　him　all　alone　in　that　black　stall。　He　hates　thunderstorms；　and〃

A　yell；　from　somewhere；　interrupted　her。　The　yell　was　caught　up。　It　merged　into　a　multiple　roar　of　inextinguishable　laughter。　The　Mistress　saw　a　hundred　faces　all　turned　in　one　direction；　The　faces　were　convulsed　with　mirth。　A　hundred　derisively　wondering　fingers　were　pointing。　She　ran　to　the　veranda　rail　and　looked　down。

Across　the　patch　of　greensward；　from　the　stables；　a　man　and　a　dog　were　advancing。　The　man　was　shaking　his　fist　at　the　world　at　large　and　fairly　dancing　with　rage。

But　it　was　the　dog；　and　not　he；　that　caused　the　Homeric　gusts　of　merriment　and　the　gobbling　chorus　of　amazed　questions。　The　dog　was　a　collie；　noble　of　aspect；　massive　of　coat。

But　that　same　coat　vied　with　the　setting　sun　in　garish　brilliancy　of　hue。　Never　since　the　birth　of　time；　had　such　a　beast　been　seen　by　mortals。　From　the　tip　of　his　aristocratic　nose　to　the　plume　of　his　sweeping　tail；　the　collie　was　one　blazingly　vivid　mass　of　crimson！　He　fairly　irradiated　flaring　red　lights。　His　coat　was　wet　and　it　hung　stickily　to　his　lean　sides；　as　if　he　had　just　come　from　a　swim。　And　it　was　tinted　like　a　chromo　of　a　prairie　fire。

Following　more　slowly　to　the　veranda's　edge；　Colonel　Osbourne　had　begun　a　reply　to　the　Mistress's　half…finished　speech　of　gratitude　for　his　hospitality。

〃I　was　only　too　glad　to　be　of　service；〃　said　he。　〃That's　a　grand　dog　you　have。　It　was　a　real　pleasure　to　help　in　his　grooming。　Besides；　I　profited　by　it。　You　see；　my　Lochaber　King　was　quartered　in　a　muddy　corner　under　the　veranda。　So　I　took　the　liberty　of　telling　my　man；　Rice；　to　put　him　in　that　comfortable　big　stall　of　Lad's。　I　am　the　chief　gainer　by　the〃

His　courtly　speech　became　a　gurgle　of　horror。　For；　his　eyes　fell　on　the　ragingly　advancing　Rice。　And；　by　deduction；　he　recognized　the　crimson　monstrosity　at　Rice's　heels　as　his　beloved　Lochaber　King。

Before　the　apoplectic　Colonel　could　speak；　Lad　created　a　diversion　on　his　own　account。　He　had　been　sniffing　the　air；　reminiscently；　for　a　few　seconds。　Now；　his　eyes　verified　what　his　nostrils　had　told　him。　A　pallidly　glaring　and　shaking　man；　leaning　against　the　veranda　rail　for　support；　had　an　oddly　familiar　scent　and　appearance　to　Laddie。

The　collie　stepped　forward　to　investigate。　The　nerve…smashed　Higham　saw　him　coming；　and　thrust　out　one　gloved　hand　in　frightened　rebuff。

The　flicking　gesture　was　unpleasantly　like　a　blow。　As　the　menacing　hand　slapped　toward　his　jaws；　Lad　caught　at　it；　in　wary　self…defense。

He　recalled　this　man；　now。　He　remembered　he　had　been　bidden　to　〃watch〃　him。　He　did　not　spring　at　his　assailant。　But　a　warning　snap　answered　the　frenzied　thrust　of　the　hand。　His　teeth　closed　lightly　on　the　glove…fingers；　just　as　Higham；　in　fear；　jerked　back　his　arm。

The　loose　glove　came　away　in　the　dog's　mouth。

Colonel　Osbourne；　wheeling　about　to　demand　some　explanation　of　his　kennel…manager；　beheld　a　bare　hand　as　vividly　crimson　as　Lochaber　King's　ruined　coat。

〃Laddie；〃　observed　the　Mistress；　that　evening；　as　she　placed　on　the　top　trophy…shelf　an　embossed　silver　cup；　antique；　and　nine　inches　high；　and　stood　back　pride　fully；　to　note　the　effect。　〃Laddie；　I　knowI　just　KNOW；you'd　have　won　it；　even　if　poor　Lochaber　King　had　competed。　But；oh；　I　wish　I　could　make　head　or　tail　of　any　of　the　things　that　have　happened；　today！　How　do　you　suppose　it　all　started；　anyhow；　dear？〃　she　asked；　turning　to　her　husband　for　help　in　the　riddle。

〃I'd　be　willing　to　bet　a　year's　pay　it　'all　started'　about　six　feet　from　shore　in　this　lake；〃　responded　the　Master；　〃and　about　a　fortnight　ago。〃

But　he　spoke　it　in　the　depths　of　his　own　guiltily　exultant　heart。　Outwardly；　he　merely　grinned；　and　said　with　vacuous　conviction：

〃Laddie；　you're　a　grand　dog。　And；if　you　didn't　win　that　cup　from　Lochaber　King　in　one　way；　you　certainly　won　it　in　another！〃



CHAPTER　IV。　Hero…Stuff

Life　was　monstrous　pleasant；　for　Lad；　at　the　Place。　And　never；　except　in　early　puppyhood；　was　he　lonely。　Never　until　the　Master　was　so　foolish　as　to　decide　in　his　own　shallow　human　mind　that　the　big　collie　would　be　happier　with　another　collie　for　comrade　and　mate。

After　that；　loneliness　more　than　once　crept　into　Laddie's　serene　life；　and　into　the　dark　sorrowful　eyes　behind　which　lurked　a　soul。　For；　until　one　has　known　and　relied　on　the　companionship　of　one's　kind；　there　can　be　no　loneliness。

The　Master　made　another　blunderthis　one　on　his　own　account　and　on　the　Mistress's；when　he　bought　a　second　collie；　to　share　Lad's　realm　of　forest　and　lawn　and　lake。　For；　it　is　always　a　mistake　to　own　two　dogs　at　a　time。　A　single　dog　is　one's　chum　and　guard　and　worshiper。　If　he　be　rightly　treated　and　talked　to　and　taught；　he　becomes　all…but　human。　Because　he　is　forced　to　rely　solely　on　humans；　for　everything。　And　his　mind　and　heart　respond　to　this。　There　is　no　divided　allegiance。

One　dog　in　a　home　is　worth　ten　times　as　much　to　his　owners；　in　every　way；　as　are　two　or　more　dogs。　Especially　if　the　one　dog　be　such　a　collie　as　Sunnybank　Lad。　This　the　Master　was　due　to　discover。

On　a　sloppy　and　drippy　and　muggy　afternoon；　late　in　October；one　of　those　days　nobody　wants；the　Master　came　home　from　town；　his　fall　overcoat　showing　a　decided　list　to　starboard　in　the　shape　of　an　egregiously　bulged　side…pocket。

The　Mistress　and　Lad；　as　ever；　came　forth　to　greet　the　returning　man。　Lad；　with　the　gayly　trumpeting　bark　which　always　he　reserved　for　the　Mistress　or　the　Master　after　an　absence　of　any　length；　cavorted　rapturously　up　to　his　deity。　But；　midway　in　his　welcoming　advance；　he　checked　himself；　sniffing　the　sodden　October　air；　and　seeking　to　locate　a　new　and　highly　interesting　scent　which　had　just　assailed　his　sensitive　nostrils。

The　Master　put　an　end　to　the　mystery；　forthwith；　by　reaching　deep　into　his　overcoat's　swollen　pocket　and　fishing　out　a　grayish　golden　ball　of　squirming　fluff。

This　handful　of　liveliness　he　set　gingerly　on　the　veranda　floor；　where　it　revealed　itself　as　an　eight…weeks　old　collie　pup。

〃Her　name　is　'Lady；'〃　expounded　the　Master；　as　he　and　the　Mistress　gazed　interestedly　down　upon　the　sprawling　and　wiggling　puppy。　〃Her　pedigree　reads　like　a　page　in　Burke's　Peerage。　She〃

He　paused。　For　Lad　had　moved　forward　to　where　the　infant　collie　was　trying　valiantly　to　walk　on　the　slippery　boards。　The　big　dog　regarded　the　puppy；　his　head　on　one　side；　his　tulip　ears　cocked；　his　deep…set　eyes　friendily　curious。　This　was　Lad's　first　experience　with　one　of　the　young　of　his　species。　And　he　was　a　bit　puzzled；　albeit　vastly　interested。

Experimentally；　he　laid　one　of　his　tiny　white　forepaws　lightly　on　the　mite's　fuzzy　shoulder。　Instantly；　the　puppy　growled　a　falsetto　warning　to　him　to　keep　his　distance。　Lad's　plumed　tail　began　to　wag　at　this　sign　of　spirit　in　the　pigmy。　And；　with　his　curved　pink　ribbon　of　tongue；　he　essayed　to　lick　the　shivering　Lady。　A　second　growl　rewarded　this　attention。　And　Lady　sought　to　avoid　further　contact　with　the　shaggy　giant；　by　scrambling　at　top　speed　to　the　edge　of　the　veranda。

She　miscalculated　the　distance　or　else　her　nearsighted　baby　eyes　failed　to　take　account　of　the　four…foot　drop　to　the　gravel　drive　below。　Too　late；　she　tried　to　check　her　awkward　rush。　And；　for　a　moment；　her　fat　little　body　swayed　perilously　on　the　brink。

The　Mistress　and　the　Master　were　too　far　away　to　catch　her　in　time　to　prevent　a　fall　which　might　well　have　entailed　a　broken　rib　or　a　wrenched　shoulder。　But　Lad　was　nearer。　Also；　he　moved　faster。

With　the　speed　of　lightning；　he　made　a　dive　for　the　tumbling　Lady。　As　tenderly　as　if　he　were　picking　up　a　ball　of　needles；　he　caught　her　by　the　scruff　of　the　neck；　lifting　her　in　the　air　and　depositing　her　at　the　Mistress's　feet。

The　puppy　repaid　this　life…saving　exploit　by　growling　still　more　wrathfully　and　by　snapping　in　helpless　menace　at　the　big　dog's　nose。　But　Lad　was　in　no　wise　offended。　Deaf　to　the　praise　of　the　Mistress；a　praise　which　ordinarily　threw　him　into　transports　of　embarrassed　delight；he　stood　over　the　rescued　pup；　every　inch　of　his　magnificent　body　vibrant　with　homage　and　protectiveness。

From　that　hour；　Lad　was　the　adoring　slave　of　Lady。

He　watched　over　her；　in　her　increasingly　active　rambles　about　the　Place。　Always；　on　the　advent　of　doubtful　strangers；　he　interposed　his　own　furry　bulk　between　her　and　possible　kidnaping。　He　stood　beside　her　as　she　lapped　her　bread…and…milk　or　as　she　chewed　laboriously　at　her　fragment　of　dog…biscuit。

At　such　times；　he　proved　himself　the　mortal　foe　of　Peter　Grimm；　the　Mistress's　temperamental　gray　kitten；　with　whom　he　was　ordinarily　on　very　comfortable　terms。　Peter　Grimm　was　the　one　creature　on　the　Place　whom　Lady　feared。　On　the　day　after　her　arrival；　she　essayed　to　worry　the　haughty　catkin。　And；　a　second　later；　the　puppy　was　nursing　a　brace　of　deep　red　scratches　at　the　tip　of　her　inquiring　black　nostrils。

Thereafter；　she　gave　Peter　Grimm　a　wide　berth。　And　the　cat　was　wont　to　take　advantage　of　this　dread　by　making　forays　on　Lady's　supper　dish。　But；　ever；　Lad　would　swoop　down　upon　the　marauder；　as　Lady　cowered　whimperingly　back　on　her　haunches；　and　would　harry　the　indignant　cat　up　the　nearest　tree；　herding　her　there　until　Lady　had　licked　the　dish　clean。

Lad　went　further；　in　his　fealty　to　the　puppy。　Sacrificing　his　own　regal　dignity；　he　would　romp　with　her；　at　times　when　it　would　have　been　far　more　comfortable　to　drowse。　He　bore；　without　murmur；　her　growling　assaults　on　his　food；　amusedly　standing　aside　while　she　annexed　his　supper's　choicest　bits。

He　endured；　too；　her　occasional　flurries　of　hot　temper；　and　made　no　protest　when　Lady　chose　to　wreak　some　grievance　against　life　by　flying　at　him　with　bristling　ruff　and　jaws　asnarl。　Her　keen　little　milk　teeth　hurt　like　the　mischief；　when　they　dug　into　his　ears　or　his　paws；　in　one　of　these　rage…gusts。　But　he　did　not　resent　the　pain　or　the　indignity　by　so　much　as　drawing　back　out　of　harm's　way。　And；　afterward；　when　quick　repentance　replaced　anger　and　she　strove　to　make　friends　with　him　again；　Lad　was　inordinately　happy。

To　both　the　Mistress　and　the　Master；　from　the　very　outset；　it　was　plain　that　Lady　was　not　in　any　way　such　a　dog　as　their　beloved　Lad。