further adventures of lad-第23部分

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d　the　stricken　wildcat　over　the　edge　and　out　the　ninety…foot　drop　into　the　ravine。　Lad　was　all…but　carried　along　with　his　adversary。　He　clawed　wildly　with　his　toes　for　a　purchase　on　the　smooth　cliff　wall；　over　which　his　hindquarters　had　slipped。　For　a　second　he　hung；　swaying；　above　the　abyss。

Cyril；　scared　into　semi…insanity　by　sight　of　the　sudden　brief　battle；　had　caught　up　a　stick　from　the　rubbish　at　his　feet。　With　this；　not　at　all　knowing　what　he　did；　he　smote　the　struggling　Lad　with　every　atom　of　his　feeble　force；　over　the　head。

Luckily　for　the　gallant　dog；　the　stick　was　rotten。　It　broke；　in　the　blow；　but　not　before　its　impact　had　well…nigh　destroyed　Lad's　precarious　balance。

One　clawing　hindfoot　found　toe…room　in　a　flaw　of　rock。　A　tremendous　heave　of　all　his　strained　muscles；　and　Lad　was　scrambling　to　safety　on　the　ledge。

Cyril's　last　atom　of　vigor　and　resistance　had　gone　into　that　panic　blow　at　the　dog。　Now；　the　child　had　flung　himself　helplessly　down；　against　the　wall　of　the　ledge；　and　was　weeping　in　delirious　hysterics。　　Lad　moved　over　to　him；　hesitated　a　moment；　looking　wistfully　upward　at　the　solid　ground　above。　Then；　he　seemed　to　decide　which　way　his　duty　pointed。　Lying　down　beside　the　freezing　child；　he　pressed　his　great　shaggy　body　close　to　Cyril's；　protecting　him　from　the　swirling　snow　and　from　the　worst　of　the　cold。

The　dog's　dark；　deep…set　eyes　roved　watchfully　toward　the　crevice；　alert　for　sign　of　any　other　marauder　that　might　issue　forth。　His　own　shaggy　shoulder　was　hurting　him；　annoyingly；　from　the　wildcat's　bite。　But　to　this　he　gave　no　heed。　Closer　yet；　he　pressed　his　warm；　furry　body　to　the　ice…cold　youngster；　fending　off　the　elements　as　valorously　as　he　had　fended　off　the　wildcat。

The　warmth　of　the　great　body　began　to　penetrate　Cyril's　numbed　senses。　The　child　snuggled　to　the　dog；　gratefully。　Lad's　pink　tongue　licked　caressingly　at　the　white　face；　and　the　collie　whimpered　crooning　sympathy　to　the　little　sufferer。

So；　for　a　time　the　dog　and　the　child　lay　there；　Cyril's　numb　body　warming　under　the　contact。

Then；　at　a　swift　intake　of　the　windy　air；　Lad's　whimper　changed　to　a　thunder　of　wild　barking。　His　nostrils　had　told　him　of　the　search　party's　approach；　a　few　hundred　yards　to　the　windward。

Their　dispiritingly　aimless　hunt　changing　into　a　scrambling　rush　in　the　direction　whence　came　the　faint…heard　barks；　the　searchers　trooped　toward　the　ledge。

〃Here　we　are！〃　shrilled　the　child；　as　the　Master's　halloo　sounded　directly　above。　〃Here　we　are！　Down　here！　Aa　　lion　tackled　us；　awhile　back。　But　we　licked　him；I　and　　Laddie！〃



CHAPTER　VII。　The　Juggernaut

Long　shadows　were　stretching　lazily　athwart　the　lawn　from　the　gnarled　old　giant　trees。　Over　the　whole　drowsing　world　brooded　the　solemn　hush　of　late　summer　afternoon。

An　amber　light　hung　in　the　sleepy　air；　touching　with　gold　the　fire…blue　lake；　the　circle　of　lovingly　protecting　green　hills；　the　emerald　slope　which　billowed　up　from　the　water…edge　to　the　red…roofed　gray　house　in　its　setting　of　ancient　oaks。

On　the　bare　flooring；　in　the　coolest　corner　of　the　veranda；　two　collies　lay　sprawled。　They　were　fast　asleep；　which　means　that　they　were　ready　to　come　back　to　complete　wakefulness　at　the　first　untoward　sound。


Of　the　two　slumbrous　collies；　one　was　slenderly　graceful　of　outline；　gold…and…white　of　hue。　She　was　Lady；　imperious　and　temperamental　wisp　of　thoroughbred　caninity。

The　second　dog　had　been　crowded　out　of　the　shadiest　spot　of　the　veranda；　by　his　mate；　so　that　a　part　of　his　burnished　mahogany　coat　was　under　the　direct　glare　of　the　afternoon　sun。　Shimmering　orange　tints　blazed　back　the　reflection　of　the　torrid　light。

He　was　Sunnybank　Lad；　eighty…pound　collie；　tawny　and　powerful；　with　absurdly　tiny　white　forepaws　and　with　a　Soul　looking　out　from　his　deep…set　dark　eyes。　Chum　and　housemate　he　was　to　his　two　human　gods；a　dog；　alone　of　all　worshipers；　having　the　privilege　of　looking　on　the　face　of　his　gods　and　of　communing　with　them　without　the　medium　of　priest　or　of　prayer。

Lady；　only；　of　the　Place's　bevy　of　Little　People；　refused　from　earliest　puppyhood　to　acknowledge　Lad's　benevolent　rulership。　She　bossed　and　teased　and　pestered　him；　unmercifully。　And　Lad　not　only　let　her　do　all　this；　but　he　actually　reveled　in　it。　She　was　his　mate。　More；she　was　his　idol。　This　idolizing　of　one　mate；　by　the　way；　is　far　less　uncommon　among　dogs　than　we　mere　humans　realize。

The　summer　afternoon　hush　was　split　by　the　whirring　chug　of　a　motor…car；　that　turned　in　from　the　highroad；　two　hundred　yards　beyond　the　house；　and　started　down　through　the　oak　grove；　along　the　winding　driveway。　Immediately；　Lady　was　not　only　awake；　but　on　her　feet；　and　in　motion。　A　furry　gold…white　whirlwind；　she　flashed　off　of　the　vine…shaded　veranda　and　tore　at　top　speed　up　the　hill　to　meet　the　coming　car。

No；　it　was　not　the　Mistress　and　the　Master　whose　approach　stirred　the　fiery　little　collie　to　lightning　activity。　Lad　knew　the　purr　of　the　Place's　car　and　he　could　distinguish　it　from　any　other；　as　far　as　his　sensitive　ears　could　catch　its　sound。　But　to　Lady；　all　cars　were　alike；　and　all　were　signals　for　wild　excitement。

Like　too　many　other　collies；　she　had　a　mania　for　rushing　at　any　motor　vehicle；　and　for　whizzing　along　beside　it；　perilously　close　to　its　fast…moving　wheels；　barking　and　screaming　hysterically　and　bounding　upward　at　its　polished　sides。

Nor　had　punishment　and　scolding　cured　her　of　the　trait。　She　was　an　addict　at　car…chasing。　She　was　wholly　incurable。　There　are　such　dogs。　Soon　or　late；　many　of　them　pay　high　for　the　habit。

In　early　days；　Lad　also　had　dashed　after　motors。　But　a　single　sharp　lecture　from　the　Master　had　taught　him　that　this　was　one　of　the　direst　breaches　of　the　Place's　simple　Law。　And；　thenceforth；though　he　might　tremble　with　eagerness；he　stood　statue…still　when　an　automobile　spun　temptingly　past　him。

More；he　had　cured　pup　after　pup；　at　the　Place；　of　car…chasing。　But　Lady　he　could　not　cure；　though　he　never　gave　up　the　useless　attempt。

Down　the　drive　came　a　delivery　truck；　driven　fast　and　with　none　too　great　skill。　Before　it　had　covered　half　the　distance　between　gate　and　house；　Lady　was　alongside。　A　wheel　grazed　her　shoulder　fur　as；　deftly；　she　slipped　from　in　front　of　the　vehicle　and　sprang　up　at　its　tonneau。　With　a　ceaseless　fanfare　of　barks；　delirious　in　her　excitement；she　circled　the　car；　springing；　dodging；　wheeling。

The　delivery　boy　checked　speed　and　shouted　futile　warnings　to　the　insane　collie。　As　he　slowed　down　a　bit　on　the　steep　grade；　Lady　hurled　herself　in　front　of　the　machine；　as　though　taunting　it　for　cowardice　in　abating　its　hot　pace　on　her　account。

Again　and　again　had　she　run；　head　on；　at　advancing　cars。　It　seemed　to　delight　her　when　such　cars　slackened　speed　or　swerved；　in　order　not　to　kill　her。

Now；　as　she　whizzed　backward；　her　vibrant　muzzle　a　bare　six　inches　from　the　shiny　buffer；　one　of　her　flying　feet　slipped　in　a　mud　rut。　Her　balance　gone；　she　tumbled。

A　collie　down　is　a　collie　up；　in　less　than　a　second。　But　there　was　still　less　than　a　second's　space　between　to　overthrown　Lady　and　the　car's　front　wheels。

The　boy　slammed　on　the　emergency　brake。　Through　his　mind　ran　the　formless　thought　of　his　fate　at　the　hands　of　his　employer　when　he　should　return　to　the　store　with　tidings　that　he　had　run　over　and　killed　a　good　customer's　costly　collie；　and　on　the　customer's　own　grounds。

In　that　single　breathless　instant；　a　huge　mahogany…and…snow　shape　flashed　forward；　into　the　path　of　the　machine。

Lad；　following　his　mate；　had　tried　to　shoulder　her　aside　and　to　herd　her　too　far　back　from　the　drive　for　any　possible　return　to　the　danger　zone；　until　the　car　should　have　passed。　More　than　once；　at　other　times；　had　he　done　this。　But；　today；　she　had　eluded　his　mighty　shoulder　and　had　flung　herself　back　to　the　assault。

As　she　fell；　she　rolled　over；　twice；　from　her　own　momentum。　The　second　revolution　left　her　directly　in　front　of　the　skidding　wheels。　One　of　them　had　actually　touched　her　squirming　spine；　when　white　teeth　gripped　her　by　the　scruff　of　the　neck。　Those　teeth　could　crush　a　mutton…bone　as　a　child　cracks　a　peanut。　But；　on　Lady；　today；　their　power　was　exerted　only　to　the　extent　of　lifting　her；　in　one　swift　wrench；　clear　of　the　ground　and　high　in　air。

The　mischievous　collie　flew　through　space　like　a　lithe　mass　of　golden　fluff；　and　came　to　earth；　in　a　heap；　at　the　edge　of　the　drive；　well　clear　of　the　menacing　wheels。　With　Lad；　it　fared　otherwise。

The　great　dog　had　braced　himself；　with　all　his　might；　for　the　muscle…wrenching　heave。　Wherefore；　he　had　no　chance　to　spring　clear；　in　time　to　avoid　the　car。　This；　no　doubt；　he　had　realized；　when　he　sprang　to　his　adored　mate's　rescue。　For　Lad's　brain　was　uncanny　in　its　cleverness。　That　same　cleverness；　more　likely　than　mere　chance；now　came　to　his　own　aid。

The　left　front　wheel　struck　him　and　struck　him　fair。　It　hit　his　massive　shoulder；　dislocating　the　joint　and　knocking　the　eighty…pound　dog　prone　to　earth；　his　ruff　within　an　inch　of　the　wheel。　There　was　no　time　to　gather　his　feet　under　him　or　to　coerce　the　dislocated　shoulder　into　doing　its　share　toward　lifting　him　in　a　sideways　spring　that　should　carry　him　out　of　the　machine's　way。　There　was　but　one　thing　Lad　could　do。　And　he　did　it。

His　body　in　a　compact　bunch；　he　rolled　midway　between　the　wheels；　making　the　single　revolution　at　a　speed　the　eye　could　scarce　follow；a　speed　which　jerked　him　from　under　the　impending　left　wheel　which　already　had　smitten　him　down。

Over　him　slid　the　wheel…locked　car；　through　the　mud　of　a　recent　rain；　while　the　boy　clung　to　the　emergency　brake　and　yelled。

Over　him　and　past　him　skidded　the　car。　It　missed　the　prostrate　dog；missed　him　with　all　four　wheels；　though　the　rear　axle's　housing　smeared　his　snowy　ruff　with　a　blur　of　black　grease。

On　went　the　machine　for　another　ten　feet；　before　it　could　halt。　Then　a　chalk…faced　delivery　boy　peered　backward　in　fright；to　see　Lad　getting　painfully　to　his　feet　and　holding　perplexedly　aloft　his　tiny　right　forepaw　in　token　of　the　dislocated　shoulder。

The　delivery　boy　saw　more。　In　a　swirl　of　black　bad　temper；　Lady　had　gathered　herself　up　from　the　ditch　where　Lad's　toss　had　landed　her。　Without　a　moment's　pause　she　threw　hersel