further adventures of lad-第27部分

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nd　the　like　into　the　car's　tonneau；　to　send　Laddie　into　a　transport　of　trumpeting　and　gyrations。　The　first　sight　and　sniff　of　the　tents；　rolled　tight　in　the　truck；　had　done　that。　Lad　understood。　Lad　always　understood。

This　gear　meant　the　annual　fall　camping　trip　in　the　back　reaches　of　the　Ramapo　Mountains；　some　twenty…odd　miles　north　of　the　Place；　the　fortnight　of　tent…life；　of　shooting；　of　fishing；　of　bracingly　chill　nights　and　white…misted　dawns　and　of　drowsily　happy　campfire　evenings。　It　meant　all　manner　of　adventure　and　fun　for　Lad。

Now；　on　a　fishing　jaunt；　the　presence　of　any　kind　of　dog　is　a　liability；　not　an　asset。　A　thousand　dog…fancier　fishermen　can　attest　to　that。　And；　when　humans　are　hunting　any　sort　of　game；　a　collie　is　several　degrees　worse　than　worthless。

Thus；　Lad's　usefulness；　as　a　member　of　the　party；　was　likely　to　be　negligible；except　in　the　matter　of　guarding　camp　and　as　an　all…round　pal　for　the　two　campers。

Yet；　as　on　former　years；　there　was　no　question　of　leaving　him　at　home。　Where　the　Mistress　and　the　Master　went；　he　went；　too；　whenever　such　a　thing　were　possible。　He　was　their　chum。　And　they　would　have　missed　him　as　much　as　he　would　have　missed　them。

Which；　of　course；　was　an　absurd　way　for　two　reasonably　sane　people　to　regard　a　mere　dog。　But；　then；　Lad　was　not　a　〃mere〃　dog。

Thus　it　was　that　he　took　his　place；　by　invitation；　in　the　car's　tonneau；　amid　a　ruck　of　hand…luggage；　as　the　camp…ward　pilgrimage　began。　Ten　miles　farther　on；　the　equipment　truck　halted　to　take　aboard　a　guide　named　Barret；　and　his　boy；　and　their　professionally　reliable　old　Irish　setter。

This　setter　had　a　quality；　not　over…common　with　members　of　his　grand　breed；　a　trait　which　linked　his　career　pathetically　with　that　of　a　livery…plug。　He　would　hunt　for　anybody。　He　went　through　his　day's　work；　in　stubble　or　undergrowth；　with　the　sad　conscientiousness　of　an　elderly　bookkeeper。

Away　from　the　main　road；　and　up　a　steadily　rising　byway　that　merged　into　an　axle…snapping　mountain…track；　toiled　the　cars；　at　last　coming　to　a　wheezy　and　radiator…boiling　halt　at　the　foot　of　a　rock…summit　so　steep　that　no　vehicle　could　breast　it。　In　a　cup；　at　the　summit　of　this　mountain…top　hillock；　was　the　camp…site；　its　farther　edge　only　a　few　yards　above　a　little　bass…populated　spring…lake。

The　luggage　was　hauled；　gruntily；　up　the　steep；　and　camp　was　pitched。　Then　car　and　truck　departed　for　civilization。　And　the　two　weeks　of　wilderness　life　set　in。

It　was　a　wonderful　time　for　old　Lad。　The　remoteness　and　wild　stillness　of　it　all　seemed　to　take　him　back；　in　a　way；　to　the　wolf…centuries　of　his　ancestors。　It　had　been　monstrous　pleasant　to　roam　the　peaceful　forest　back　of　the　Place。　But　there　was　a　genuine　thrill　in　exploring　these　all…but　manless　woods；　with　their　queer　scents　of　wild　things　that　seldom　ventured　close　to　the　ordained　haunts　of　men。

It　was　exciting；　to　wake　at　midnight；　beside　the　smoldering　campfire；　and　to　hear；　above　the　industrious　snoring；　of　the　guide　and　his　boy；　the　stealthy　forest　noises；　the　pad…pad…pad　of　some　wary　prowler　circling　at　long　range　the　twinkling　embers；　the　crash　of　a　far…off　buck；　the　lumbering　of　some　bear　down　to　the　lake　to　drink。　The　almost　moveless　sharp　air　carried　a　myriad　fascinating　scents　which　human　nostrils　were　too　gross　to　register；　but　which　were　acutely　plain　and　understandable　to　the　great　dog。

Best　of　all；　in　this　outing；　Lad's　two　deities；　the　Mistress　and　the　Master；　were　never　busy　at　desk　or　piano；　or　too　much　tangled　up　with　the　society　of　silly　outsiders；　to　be　his　comrades　and　playmates。　True；　sometimes　they　hurt　his　supersensitive　feelings　most　distressingly；　by　calling　to　him：　〃No；　no；　Laddie。　Back！　Watch　camp'〃　when　he　essayed　to　join　them　as　they　set　forth　with　rods　over　their　shoulders　for　a　half…day's　fishing；　or　as；　armed　with　guns；　they　whistled　up　the　bored　but　worthy　setter　for　a　shooting　trip。　But；　for　the　most；　Lad　was　close　at　their　sides；　during　these　two　wonderful　weeks。　And　he　was　very　happy。

Once；　during　a　solitary　ramble；　before　the　humans　had　awakened　in　the　morning；　Lad　caught　an　odd　scent；　and　followed　it　for　a　quarter　mile　down　the　mountainside。　It　waxed　stronger　and　ranker。　At　last；　a　turn　around　a　high　boulder　brought　him　face　to　face　with　its　source。　And　he　found　himself　confronting　a　huge　black　bear。

The　bear　was　busy　looting　a　bee…tree。　It　was　the　season　when　he　and　his　like　are　stocking　up；　with　all　the　fatmaking　food　they　can　gorge；　in　preparation　for　the　winter's　〃holing…in。〃　Thus；　he　viewed　with　sluggish　non…interest　the　advent　of　the　dog。　He　had　scented　Lad　for　as　long　a　time　as　Lad　had　scented　him。　But　he　had　eaten　on；　unperturbed。　For　he　knew　himself　to　be　the　match　of　any　four　dogs；　especially　if　the　dogs　were　unaccompanied　by　men。　And；　a　long　autumn　of　food　had　dulled　his　temper。

So；　he　merely　checked　his　honey…gorging　long　enough　to　roll　a　rotted　log　to　one　side　and　to　scoop　up　from　under　it　a　pawful　of　fat　white　grubs　which　had　decided　to　winter　beneath　the　decayed　trunk。　Then；　absent…mindedly　brushing　aside　a　squadron　of　indignant　bees；　he　continued　his　sweet　feast。

As　Lad　rounded　the　boulder　and　came　to　a　growling　halt；　the　bear　raised　his　honey…smeared　head；　showed　a　yellowing　fang　from　under　one　upcurled　corner　of　his　sticky　lips；　and　glowered　evilly　at　the　collie　from　out　of　his　reddening　little　eyes。　Then　he　made　as　though　to　go　on　eating。

But　Lad　would　not　have　it　so。　Into　his　rejuvenated　heart　stole　a　tinge　of　the　mischief　which　makes　a　collie　puppy　dash　harrowingly　at　a　tethered　cow。　Barking　with　sheer　delight　in　the　excitement　of　meeting　this　savage…looking　monster；　the　dog　rushed　merrily　at　the　bear。　His　teeth　were　not　bared。　His　hackles　were　not　bristling。　This　was　no　fight；　but　a　jolly　game。　Lad's　dark　eyes　danced　with　fun。

Midway　of　his　charge；　he　checked　himself。　Not　through　fear；　but　from　utter　astonishment。　For　his　new　acquaintance　had　done　a　right　non…quadrupedal　thing。　Bruin　had　reared　himself　upon　his　hind　legs；　and　was　standing　there；　like　a　man；　confronting　the　dog。　He　towered；　thus；　ever　so　high　above　Lad's　head。

His　short　arms；　with　their　saber…shaped　claws；　were　outstretched　toward　Lad；　as　if　in　humble　supplication。　But　there　was　nothing　supplicating　or　even　civil　in　the　tiny　red　eyes　that　squinted　ferociously　down　at　the　collie。　Small　wonder　that　Laddie　halted　his　own　galloping　advance；　and　stood　doubtful！

The　Master；　a　minute　earlier；　had　turned　out　of　the　blankets　for　his　painfully　icy　morning　plunge　in　the　lakelet。　The　fanfare　of　barking；　a　quarter…mile　below；　changed　his　intent。　A　true　dogman　knows　his　dog's　bark；and　its　every　shade　of　meaning；as　well　as　though　it　were　human　speech。　From　the　manner　wherewith　Lad　had　given　tongue；　the　Master　knew　he　had　cornered　or　treed　something　quite　out　of　the　common。　Catching　up　his　rifle；　he　made　for　the　direction　of　the　bark；　running　at　top　speed。

The　bear　put　an　end　to　the　moment　of　hesitancy。　Lunging　forward；　he　raked　at　the　crouching　collie；　with　one　of　his　murderous　claws；　in　a　gesture　designed　to　gather　the　impudent　dog　into　his　death…embrace。

Now；　even　from　humans；　except　only　the　Mistress　and　the　Master；　Lad　detested　patting　or　handling　of　any　kind。　Whether　he　thought　this　maneuver　of　the　bear's　an　uncouth　form　of　caress　or　knew　it　for　a　menace；he　moved　back　from　it。　Yet　he　did　so　with　a　leisurely　motion；　devoid　of　fear　and　expressive　of　a　certain　lofty　contempt。　Perhaps　that　is　why　he　moved　without　his　native　caution。

At　all　events；　the　tip　of　one　of　the　sweeping　claws　grazed　his　ear；　opening　the　big　vein；　and　hurting　like　the　very　mischief。

On　the　instant；　Lad　changed　from　a　mischievous　investigator　to　a　deeply　offended　and　angry　dog。　No　longer　in　doubt　as　to　Bruin's　intent；　he　slithered　out　of　reach　of　the　grasping　arms；　with　all　the　amazing　speed　of　a　wolf…descended　collie　of　the　best　sort。　And；　in　practically　the　same　fraction　of　a　second；　he　had　flashed　back　to　　the　attack。

Diving　in　under　the　other's　surprisingly　agile　arms；　he　slashed　the　bear's　stomach　with　one　of　his　razorlike　eyeteeth；　then　spun　to　one　side　and　was　out　of　reach。　Down　came　the　bear；　on　all　fours；　raging　from　the　slash。　Lurching　forward；　he　flung　his　huge　bulk　at　the　dog。　Lad　flashed　out　of　reach；　but　with　less　leeway　than　he　would　have　expected。　For　Bruin；　for　all　his　awkwardness；　could　move　with　bewildering　speed。

And；　as　the　bear　turned；　Lad　was　at　him　again；　nipping　the　hairy　flank；　till　his　teeth　met　in　its　fat；　and　then　diving　as　before　under　the　lunging　body　of　the　foe。

It　was　at　this　point　the　Master　hove　in　sight。　He　was　just　in　time　to　see　the　flank…bite　and　to　see　Lad　dance　out　of　reach　of　the　furious　counter。　It　was　an　interesting　spectacle；　there　in　the　gray　dawn　and　in　the　primeval　forest's　depths；this　battle　between　a　gallant　dog　and　a　ragingly　angry　bear。　If　the　dog　had　been　other　than　his　own　loved　chum；　the　Master　might　have　stood　there　and　watched　its　outcome。　But　he　was　enough　of　a　woodsman　to　know　there　could；　in　all　probability；　be　but　one　end　to　such　a　fight。

Lad　weighed　eighty　pounds；an　unusually　heavy　weight　for　a　collie　that　carries　no　loose　fat；and　he　was　the　most　compactly　powerful　dog　of　his　size　the　Master　had　ever　seen。　Also；　when　he　chose　to　exert　it；　Lad　had　the　swiftness　of　a　wildcat　and　the　battling　prowess　of　a　tiger。

Yet　all　this　would　scarce　carry　him　to　victory；　or　even　to　a　draw；　against　a　black　bear　several　times　heavier　than　himself　and　with　the　ability　to　rend　with　his　claws　as　well　as　with　his　teeth。　Once　let　Lad's　foot　slip；　in　charge　or　in　elusive　retreat；once　let　him　misjudge　time　or　distanceand　he　must　be　crushed　to　a　pulp　or　ripped　to　ribbons。

Wherefore；　the　Master　brought　his　rifle　to　his　shoulder。　His　finger　curled　about　the　trigger。　But　it　was　no　easy　thing；　by　that　dim　light；　to　aim　with　any　accuracy。　Nor　was　there　the　slightest　assurance　that　Lad；dancing　in　and　out　and　everywhere　and　nowhere　at　once；might　not　come　in　line　with　the　bullet。　Thus；from　a　tolerable　knowledge　of　bears　and　of　their　comparative　mildness　in　the　plump　season　of　the　year；he　shouted　at　the　top　of　his　lungs；　and；　at　the　same　time；　fired　into　the　air。

The　bluff　sufficed。　Even　as　Lad　jumped　back　from　close　quarters　a