further adventures of lad-第25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！


endangered　collie。

Lady；　for　once　overawed　by　speed；　leaped　to　one　side　of　the　road。　Not　far；　but　leaving　ample　space　for　the　driver　to　miss　her　by　at　least　a　yard。　He　had　honked　loudly；　at　sight　of　her。　But；　he　had　abated　not　an　atom　of　his　fifty…mile…an…hour　pace。

Whether　the　man　was　rattled　by　the　collie's　antics；whether　he　acted　in　sudden　rage　at　her　for　startling　him；　whether　he　belonged　to　the　filthy　breed　of　motorist　who　recites　chucklingly　the　record　of　his　kills；he　did　not　hold　his　midroad　course。

Instead；still　without　checking　speed；he　veered　his　machine　slightly　to　the　right；　aiming　the　flying　juggernaut　directly　at　the　mischievously…poised　little　collie　who　danced　in　imagined　safety　at　the　road…edge。

The　rest　was　horror。

Merciful　in　its　mercilessness；　the　hard…driven　right　front　wheel　smote　the　silky　golden　head　with　a　force　that　left　no　terrible　instant　of　fear　or　of　agony。　More　lucky　by　far　than　the　myriad　innocent　and　friendly　dogs　that　are　left　daily　to　scream　out　their　lives　writhingly　in　the　wake　of　speeding　motor…cars；　Lady　was　killed　at　a　single　stroke。

The　fluffy　golden　body　was　hurled　far　in　front　of　its　slayer；　and　the　wheels　struck　it　a　second　time。　The　force　of　the　impact　caused　the　runabout　to　skid；　perilously；　and　the　youthful　driver　brought　it　to　a　jarring　and　belated　halt。　Springing　to　the　ground；　he　rolled　the　dead　collie's　impeding　body　into　the　shallow　wayside　ditch；　clear　of　his　wheels。　Then；　scrambling　aboard　again；　he　jammed　down　the　accelerator。

Lad　had　made　a　flying　leap　over　the　door　of　the　Master's　car。　He　struck　ground　with　a　force　which　crumpled　his　healing　right　shoulder　under　him。　Heedless　of　the　pain；　he　hurled　himself　forward；　on　three　legs；　at　an　incredible　speed；　straight　for　the　runabout。　His　great　head　low；　his　formidable　teeth　agleam　beneath　drawn…back　lips；　his　soft　eyes　a…smolder　with　red　flame；　Lad　charged。

But；　for　all　his　burst　of　speed；　he　was　too　late　to　avenge；　even　as　he　had　been　too　late　to　save。　By　the　time　he　could　reach　the　spot　where　Lady　lay　crumpled　and　moveless　in　the　ditch；　the　runabout　had　gathered　full　speed　and　was　disappearing　down　the　bend　of　the　highway。

After　it　flew　Lad；　silent；　terrible；not　stopping　to　realize　that　the　fleetest　dog；even　with　all　four　of　his　legs　in　commission；cannot　hope　to　overhaul　a　motor…car　driven　at　fifty　miles　an　hour。

But；　at　the　end　of　a　furious　quarter…mile；　his　wise　brain　took　charge　once　more　of　his　vengeance…craving　heart。　He　halted；　snarled　hideously　after　the　vanished　car；　and　limped　miserably　back　to　the　scene　of　the　tragedy。

There；　he　found　the　Mistress　sitting　in　the　roadside　dust；　Lady's　head　in　her　lap。　She　was　smoothing　lovingly　the　soft　rumpled　fur；　and　was　trying　hard　not　to　cry　over　the　inert　warm　mass　of　gold…and…white　fluffiness　which；　two　minutes　earlier；　had　been　a　beautiful　thoroughbred　collie；　vibrant　with　life　and　fun　and　lovableness。

The　Master　had　risen　from　his　brief　inspection　of　his　pet's　fatal　injuries。　Scowling　down　the　road；　he　yearned　to　kick　himself　for　his　stupidity　in　failing　to　note　the　Juggernaut's　number。

Head　and　tail　a…droop；　Lad　toiled　back　to　where　Lady　was　lying。　A　queer　low　sound；　strangely　like　a　human　sob；　pulsed　in　his　shaggy　throat；　as　he　bent　down　and　touched　his　dead　mate's　muzzle　with　his　own。　Then；　huddling　close　beside　her；　he　reverted　all　at　once　to　a　trait　of　his　ancestors；　a　thousand　generations　back。

Sitting　on　his　haunches　and　lifting　his　pointed　nose　to　the　summer　sky；　he　gave　vent　to　a　series　of　long…drawn　wolf　howls；　horrible　to　hear。　There　was　no　hint　of　a　housebred　twentieth　century　dog　in　his　lament。　It　was　the　death…howl　of　the　primitive　wolf；a　sound　that　sent　an　involuntary　shiver　through　the　two　humans　who　listened　aghast　to　their　chum's　awesome　mourning　for　his　lost　mate。

The　Master　made　as　though　to　say　something；in　comfort　or　in　correction。　The　Mistress；　wiser；　motioned　to　him　not　to　speak。

In　a　few　seconds；　Lad　rose　wearily　to　his　feet；　the　spasm　of　primal　grief　having　spent　itself。　Once　more　he　was　himself；　sedate；　wise；　calm。

Limping　over　to　where　the　car　had　halted　so　briefly；　he　cast　about　the　ground；　after　the　manner　of　a　bloodhound。

Presently；　he　came　to　an　abrupt　halt。　He　had　found　what　he　sought。　As　motionless　as　a　bird…dog　at　point；　he　stood　there；　nose　to　earth；　sniffing。

〃What　in　blazes？〃　began　the　Master；　perplexed。

The　Mistress　was　keener　of　eye　and　of　perception。　She　understood。　She　saw　the　Lad's　inhalingly　seeking　muzzle　was　steady　above　a　faint　mark　in　the　road…dust；the　mark　of　a　buckskin　shoe's　print。　Long　and　carefully　the　dog　sniffed。　Then；　with　heavy　deliberation　he　moved　on　to　the　next　footprint　and　the　next。　The　runabout's　driver　had　taken　less　than　a　half　dozen　steps　in　all；　during　his　short　descent　to　the　ground。　But　Lad　did　not　stop　until　he　had　found　and　identified　each　and　every　step。

〃He　knows！〃　marveled　the　Mistress。　〃He　saw　the　brute　jump　down　from　his　car。　And　he　has　found　his　footsteps。　He'll　remember　them；　too。〃

〃Little　good　it　will　do　the　poor　chap！〃　commented　the　Master。　〃He　can't　track　him；　that　way。　Get　aboard；　won't　you？〃　he　went　on。　〃I'll　make　Lad　go　back　into　the　tonneau　again；　too。　Drive　down　to　the　house；　and　take　Lad　indoors　with　you。　Better　telephone　to　the　vet　to　come　over　and　have　another　look　at　his　shoulder。　He's　wrenched　it　badly；　in　all　that　run。　Anyway；　please　keep　him　indoors　till〃

He　finished　his　sentence　by　a　glance　at　Lady。　At　the　Master's　order；　Lad　with　sore　reluctance　left　the　body　of　his　mate；　whither　he　had　returned　after　his　useless　finding　of　the　footmarks。　He　had　just　curled　up；　in　the　ditch；　pressing　close　to　her　side；　and　again　that　unnatural　sobbing　sound　was　in　his　throat。　On　the　Master's　bidding；　Lad　crossed　to　the　car　and　suffered　himself　to　be　lifted　aboard。　The　Mistress　started　down　the　drive。　As　they　went；　Lad　ever　looked　back；　with　suffering　despair　in　his　dark　eyes；　at　that　huddle　of　golden　fur　at　the　wayside。

The　Master　carried　the　pitifully　light　armful　to　a　secluded　spot　far　beyond　the　stables；　and　there　he　buried　it。　Then；　satisfied　that　Lad　could　not　find　his　mate's　grave；　he　returned　to　the　house。

His　heart　was　heavy　with　helpless　wrath。　Again　and　again；　in　the　course　of　their　drives；　he　and　the　Mistress　had　sickened　at　sight　of　mutely　eloquent　little　bodies　left　in　mid…road　or　tossed　in　some　ditch；testimony　to　the　carelessness　and　callous　hoggishness　of　autoists。　Some　few　of　these　run…over　dogs；like　poor　Lady；had　of　course　tempted　fate；　spurred　on　by　that　strange　craving　which　goaded　them　to　fly　at　cars。　But　the　bulk　of　them　had　been　strolling　peacefully　along　the　highways　or　crossing　to　or　from　their　own　dooryards；　when　the　juggernauts　smashed　them　into　torture　or　into　instant　death。

The　Master　reflected　on　the　friendly　country　folk　who　pay　taxes　for　the　scenery　and　for　the　fine　roads　which　make　motoring　so　pleasant；and　on　the　reward　so　many　motorists　bestow　upon　these　rural　hosts　of　theirs　by　wanton　or　heedless　murder　of　pet　animals。　For　the　first　time；　he　could　understand　how　and　why　farmers　are　tempted　to　strew　glass　or　tacks　in　the　road　to　revenge　the　slaying　of　a　beloved　dog。

For　the　next　few　days；　until　his　shoulder　was　again　in　condition　to　bear　his　eighty…pound　weight　on　it；　Lad　was　kept　indoors　or　on　the　veranda。　As　soon　as　he　was　allowed　to　go　out　alone；　the　big　collie　went　straight　to　the　spot　where　last　he　had　seen　Lady's　body。　Thence；　he　a　made　a　careful　detour　of　the　Place；seeking　forsomething。　It　was　two　days　before　he　found　what　he　sought。

In　the　meantime；as　ever；　since　his　mate's　killing；he　ate　practically　nothing；　and　went　about　in　a　daze。

〃He'll　get　over　it　presently；〃　prophesied　the　Master；　to　soothe　his　wife's　worry。

〃Perhaps　so；〃　returned　the　Mistress。　〃Or　perhaps　not。　Remember　he's　a　collie；　and　not　just　a　human。〃

On　the　third　day；　Lad's　systematic　quartering　of　the　Place　brought　him　to　the　tiny　new　mound；　far　beyond　the　stables。　Twice；　he　circled　it。　Then　he　lay　down；　very　close　beside　it；　his　mighty　head　athwart　the　ridge　of　upflung　sod。

There；having　seen　him　from　a　distance；the　Master　came　across　to　speak　to　him。　But　at　sight　of　the　man；　the　collie　got　up　from　his　resting　place　and　moved　furtively　away。

Time　after　time；　during　the　next　week；　the　Master　or　the　Mistress　found　him　lying　there。　And　always；　at　their　approach；　he　would　get　up　and　depart。　Nor　did　he　go　direct　to　the　mound；　on　these　pilgrimages；　but　by　devious　paths；　as　though　trying　to　shake　off　possible　pursuit。　No　longer　did　he　spend　the　nights；　as　from　puppyhood；　in　his　beloved　〃cave〃　under　the　piano　in　the　music　room。　On　one　pretext　or　another；　he　would　manage　to　slip　out　of　the　house；　during　the　evening。　Twice；　in　gray　dawn；　the　Master　found　him　crouched　beside　the　mound；　where；　sleepless；　he　had　lain　all　night。

The　Mistress　and　the　Master　grew　seriously　troubled　over　their　collie　chum's　continued　grief。　They　thought；　more　than　once；　of　sending　him　away　to　boarding　kennels　or　to　some　friend；　for　a　month　or　two；　to　remove　him　from　the　surroundings　which　made　him　so　wretched。　Oddly　enough；　his　heartbreak　struck　neither　of　them　as　absurd。

They　had　made　a　long　study　of　collie　nature　in　all　its　million　queer　and　half…human　phases。　They　knew；　too；　that　a　grieving　dog　is　upheld　by　none　of　the　supports　of　Faith　nor　of　Philosophy；　and　that　he　lacks　the　wisdom　which　teaches　the　wondrous　anaesthetic　powers　of　Time。　A　sorrowing　dog　sorrows　without　hope。

Nor　did　Lad's　misery　seem　ridiculous　to　the　Place's　many　kindly　neighbors；　with　whom　the　great　dog　was　a　favorite　and　who　were　righteously　indignant　over　the　killing　of　Lady。

Then　in　a　single　minute　came　the　cure。

On　Labor　Day　afternoon；　the　finals　in　a　local　tennis　tournament　were　to　be　played　at　the　mile　distant　country　club。　The　Mistress　and　the　Master　went　across　to　the　tournament；　taking　Lad　along。　Not　that　there　could　be　anything　of　the　remotest　interest　to　a　dog　in　the　sight　of　flanneled　young　people　swatting　a　ball　back　and　forth。　But　Lad　was　a　privileged　guest　at　all　outdoor　functions；　and　he　enjoyed　being　with　his　two　deities。

Thus；　when　the　two　climbed　the　clubhouse　veranda；　Lad　was　at　their　heels；　pacing　along　in　majestic　unhappiness　and　n