further adventures of lad-第29部分

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myself！　He〃

〃Never　mind！〃　put　in　the　Master。　〃We'll　catch　up　with　the　truck　before　it's　gone　a　mile。　And　we　can　take　Laddie　aboard　here；　then。　But　I　wonder　he　consented　to　go　ahead；　without　us。　That　isn't　like　Lad。　Holiday…spirits；　I　suppose。　This　trip　has　made　a　puppy　of　him。　A　stately　old　gentleman　like　Laddie　would　never　think　of　rounding　up　bears　and　skunks；　if　he　was　at　home。〃　　As　he　talked；　the　car　got　under　way；　moving　at　rackety　and　racking　〃first　speed〃　over　hummock　and　bump；　as　it　joggled　into　the　faint　wheeltrack。　By　reason　of　this　noise　and　of　the　Master's　stupid　homily；　none　of　the　trio　heard　an　amazed　little　bark；　from　the　knoll…top；　a　hundred　yards　behind　them。

Nor　did　the　car　catch　up　with　the　truck。　At　the　end　of　the　first　half　mile；　the　horrible　roadbed　began　to　take　toll　of　the　elderly　tires。　There　were　two　punctures；　in　rapid　succession。　Then　came　a　blowout。　And；　at　the　bottom　of　the　mountain　a　third　puncture　varied　the　monotony　of　the　ride。　Thus；　the　truck　reached　the　Place　well　ahead　of　the　faster　vehicle。

The　Mistress's　first　question　was　for　Lad。　Terror　seized　upon　the　guide's　boy；　as　he　remembered　where　he　had　left　the　dog。　He　glanced　obliquely　at　the　truckman；　who　had　unloaded　and　who　was　cranking。

〃Now〃　said　the　scared　youth；　glibly；　avoiding　his　father's　unsuspecting　eye。　〃Nownow；　Lad　he　was　settin'　'twixt　Simmons　and　me。　And　he　hops　down　and　runs　off　around　the　house；　towardstowards　the　lakesoon　as　we　stopped　here。　Most　likely　he　was　thirsty…like；　or　something。〃

The　Mistress　was　busy　with　details　of　the　car's　unpacking。　So　she　accepted　the　explanation。　It　seemed　probable　that　the　long　and　dusty　ride　should　have　made　Lad　thirsty；　and　that　after　his　drink　at　the　lake；　he　had　made　the　rounds　of　the　Place；　as　ever　was　his　wont　after　his　few　brief　absences　from　home。

Not　until　dinnertime　did　she　give　another　thought　to　her　loved　pet's　absence。　The　guide　and　his　boy　had　long　since　departed；　on　the　truck；　for　their　ten…mile　distant　home。　Nor；　even　yet；　did　it　occur　to　the　Mistress　to　question　the　truth　of　the　youngster's　story。　She　merely　wondered　why；　for　the　first　time　in　his　life；　Lad　should　absent　himself　at　dinnertime　from　his　time…honored　place　on　the　dining…room　floor；　at　the　Master's　left。　And；　amusedly；　she　recalled　what　her　husband　had　said　of　the　stately　dog's　new　propensity　for　mischief。　Perhaps　Lad　was　exploring　the　friendly　home…woods　in　search　of　a　bear！

But　when　ten　o'clock　came　and　Lad　did　not　seek　the　shelter　of　his　〃cave〃　under　the　music…room　piano；　for　the　night；　there　was　real　worry。　The　Mistress　went　out　on　the　veranda　and　sounded　long　and　shrilly　upon　the　silver　whistle　which　hung　from　her　belt。

From　puppyhood；　Laddie　had　always　come；　at　a　sweeping　gallop；　on　sound　of　this　whistle。　Its　notes　could　travel；　through　still　air；　for　a　half　mile　or　more。　Their　faintest　echoes　always　brought　the　dog　in　eager　response。　But　tonight；　a　dozen　wait…punctuated　blasts　brought　no　other　response　than　to　set　the　distant　village　dogs　to　barking。

The　Mistress　went　back　into　the　house；　genuinely　worried。　Acting　on　a　sudden　idea；　she　called　up　the　Place's　superintendent；　at　the　gatelodge。

〃You　were　down　here　when　the　truck　came　to　the　house　this　afternoon；　weren't　you？〃　she　asked。

〃Yes；　ma'am；〃　said　the　man。　〃I　was　waiting　for　it。　Mike　and　I　helped　Simmons　to　unload。〃

〃Did　you　see　which　way　Lad　went；　when　he　jumped　out　of　the　truck？〃　pursued　the　Mistress。　〃Or　have　any　of　you　seen　him　since　then？〃

〃Why；　no；　ma'am；〃　came　the　puzzled　answer。　〃I　haven't　seen　him　at　all。　I　supposed　he　was　in　the　car　with　you；　and　that　maybe　he'd　been　in　the　house　ever　since。　He　wasn't　on　the　truck：　That's　one　sure　thing。　I　saw　it　stop；　and　I　stayed　till　they　finished　emptying　it。　Lad　wasn't　there。〃

There　was　a　moment's　pause。　Then；　the　Mistress　spoke　again。　Her　voice　slightly　muffled；　she　said：

〃Please　find　out　if　there　is　plenty　of　gas　in　my　car；enough　to　take　itsay；　forty　miles。　Thank　you。〃

〃What　on　earth？〃　began　the　Master；　as　his　wife　left　the　telephone　and　picked　up　an　ulster。

〃Laddie　didn't　come　home　on　the　truck；〃　she　made　tremulous　reply。　〃And　he　wasn't　with　us。　He　hasn't　come　home　all。〃

〃He'll　find　his　way；　easily　enough；〃　returned　the　Master；　albeit　with　no　great　assurance。　〃Lad's　found　his　way　farther　than　that。　He〃

〃If　he　was　going　to　find　his　way；〃　interrupted　the　Mistress；　〃he'd　have　found　it　before　now。　I　know　Laddie。　So　do　you。　He　is　up　there。　And　he　can't　get　back。　He〃

〃Nonsense！〃　laughed　the　Master。　〃Why；　of　course；　he〃

〃He　is　up　there；〃　insisted　the　Mistress；　〃and　he　can't　get　back。　I　know　him　well　enough　to　be；　sure　he'd　have　overtaken　us；　when　we　stopped　all　those　times　to　fix　the　tires；if　he　had　been　left　behind。　And　I　know　something　else：　When　we　started　on；　after　that　first　puncture；　we　were　about　half　a　mile　below　the　knoll。　And　as　we　went　around　the　bend；　there　was　a　gap　in　the　trees。　I　was　looking　back。　For　a　second；　I　could　see　the　lean…to；　outlined　ever　so　clearly　against　the　sky。　And　alongside　of　it　was　standing　some　animal。　It　was　far　away；　and　we　passed　out　of　sight　so　suddenly；　that　I　couldn't　see　what　it　was；　except　that　it　was　large　and　dark。　And　it　seemed　to　be　struggling　to　move　from　where　it　stood。　I　was　going　to　speak　to　you　about　it；I　supposed　it　was　that　black　bear　of　Laddie's；when　we　had　the　next　puncture。　And　that　made　me　forget　all　about　it；till　now。　Of　course；　it　never　occurred　to　me　it　could　be　Lad。　Because　Barret　had　said　he　was　in　the　truck。　Butbut　oh；　it　WAS　Laddie！　Hehe　was　fastened；　or　caught；　in　　some　way。　I　know　he　was。　Why；　I　could　see　him　struggle　to〃

〃Come　on！〃　broke　in　the　Master；　hustling　into　his　mackinaw。　〃Unless　you'll　stay　here；　while　I〃

〃No；〃　she　protested。　〃I'm　going。　And　I'm　going　because　I'm　thinking　of　the　same　thing　that's　troubling　you。　I'm　thinking　of　those　forest　fires　and　of　what　you　said　about　the　wind　changing　and〃

〃Come　on！〃　repeated　the　Master；　starting　for　the　garage。

Which　shows　how　maudlinly　foolish　two　otherwise　sane　people　can　be；　when　they　are　lucky　enough　to　own　such　a　dog　as　Sunnybank　Lad。　Naturally；　the　right　course；　at　so　cold　and　late　an　hour　of　the　autumn　night；　and　after　a　long　day　of　packing　and　motoring　and　unpacking；　was　to　go　to　bed；　and　to　trust　to　luck　that　the　wise　old　collie　would　find　his　way　back　again。　Instead；　the　two　set　off　on　a　twenty…mile　wildgoose　chase；　with　worried　faces　and　fast…beating　hearts。　It　did　not　occur　to　either　of　them　to　stay　at　home；　or　to　send　someone　else　on　the　long；　frosty　drive　in　search　of　the　missing　dog。

Lad　had　watched　the　preparations　for　departure　with　increasing　worry。　Also；　the　abnormally　sensitive　old　fellow　was　wretchedly　unhappy。　Except　at　dog…shows；　he　had　never　before　been　tied　up。　And　at　such　shows；　the　Mistress　and　the　Master　were　always　on　hand　to　pet　and　reassure　him。　Yet；　here；　he　had　suffered　himself　to　be　tied　by　a　smelly　rope　to　the　rotting　post　of　a　lean…to；　by　a　comparative　stranger。　And；　in　the　open　ground　below　the　hillock；　his　deities　moved　back　and　forth　without　so　much　as　an　upward　glance　at　him。

Then；　to　his　dismay；　truck　and　car　had　made　off　down　the　mountainside；　and　he　had　been　left　alone　in　his　imprisonment。　Except　for　a　single　unheard　bark　of　protest；　Lad　made　no　effort　to　call　back　the　departing　humans。　Never　before　had　they　forsaken　him。　And　he　had　full　trust　that　they　would　come　back　in　a　few　minutes　and　set　him　free。

When　the　car　halted；　a　half…mile　below；　Lad　felt　certain　his　faith　was　about　to　be　justified。　Then；　as　it　moved　on　again；　he　sprang　to　the　end　of　his　short　rope；　and　tried　to　break　free　and　follow。

Then　came　the　dying　away　of　the　chugging　motor's　echoes；　and　silence　rolled　up　and　engulfed　the　wilderness　hilltop。

Lad　was　alone。　They　had　gone　off　and　left　him。　They　had　with　never　a　word　of　goodby　or　a　friendly　command　to　watch　camp　until　their　return。　This　was　not　the　dog's　first　sojourn　in　camp。　And　his　memory　was　flawless。　Always；　he　recalled；　the　arrival　and　the　loading　of　the　truck　and　the　striking　of　tents　had　meant　that　the　stay　was　over　and　that　at　the　party　was　going　home。

Home！　The　charm　and　novelty　of　the　wilderness　all　at　once　faded。　Lad　was　desperately　lonely　and　desperately　unhappy。　And　his　feelings　were　cruelly　hurt；　at　the　strange　treatment　accorded　him。

Yet；　it　did　not　occur　to　him　to　seek　freedom　and　to　follow　his　gods　to　the　home　he　loved。　He　had　been　tied　here；　presumably　by　their　order；　certainly　with　their　knowledge。　And　it　behooved　him　to　wait　until　they　should　come　to　release　him。　He　knew　they　would　come　back；　soon　or　late。　They　were　his　gods；　his　chums；　his　playmates。　They　would　no　more　desert　him　than　he　would　have　deserted　them。　It　was　all　right；　somehow。　Only；　the　waiting　was　tedious！

With　a　tired　little　sigh；　the　collie　curled　up　in　a　miserable　heap　on　the　stony　ground；　the　shortness　of　his　tether　making　even　this　effort　at　repose　anything　but　comfortable。　And　he　waited。

A　dog；　that　is　happy　and　well；　settles　himself　for　a　prolonged　wait；　by　stretching　out　on　his　side；oftenest　the　left　side；　and　by　dropping　off　into　slumber。　Seldom；　unless　he　be　cold　or　ill；　does　a　big　dog　curl　up　into　a　ball；　to　rest。　Nor　is　he　thoroughly　comfortable　in　such　a　posture。

Lad　was　not　comfortable。　He　was　not　resting。　He　was　wretched。　Nor　did　he　try　to　snooze。　Curled　in　a　compact　heap；　his　sorrowful　eyes　abrim　with　sorrow；　he　lay　scanning　the　bumpy　mountainside　and　straining　his　ears；　for　sign　of　the　car's　return。　His　breathing　was　not　as　splendidly　easy　as　usual。　For；　increasingly；　that　earlier　twinge　of　acrid　smoke…reek　was　tickling　his　throat。　The　haze；　that　had　hovered　over　the　farther　hilltops　and　valleys；　was　thickening；　and　it　was　creeping　nearer。　The　breath　of　morning　breeze　was　stiffening　into　a　steady　wind；　a　wind　that　blew　strong　from　the　west　and　carried　on　it　the　smell　of　forest　fire。

Lad　did　not　enjoy　the　ever…stronger　smoke　scent。　But　he　gave　only　half…heed　to　it。　His　main　attention　was　centered　on　that　winding　wagon…track　whence　the　car　and　the　truck　had　vanished　into　the　lowlands。　And；　through　the　solemnly　spent　hours　he　lay　forlornly　watching　it。

But；　after　sunset；　the　smoke　became　too　pervasive　to　be　ignored　longer。　It　was　not　only　st