further adventures of lad-第34部分

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limmer。　But；　the　lamps'　rays　played　strongly　enough　on　one　detail　of　the　apparition　to　identify　it；　past　doubt；　to　both　the　dumfounded　onlookers。　They　saw；　clearly　enough；　a　white　bundle　suspended　from　the　monster's　jaws；unquestionably　the　bundle　which　had　been　laid　behind　the　alder。

For　perhaps　ten　seconds　the　men　sat　moveless；　gaping　goggle…eyed。　Then；　the　driver　murmured　in　a　faraway　voice：

〃Did　youdid　youwas　you　fool　enough　to　think　you　seen　anything？　Was　you；　Eitel？〃

〃I…I　sure　seen　SUTHIN'；　Roodie；〃　quavered　Eitel。　〃Suthin'　withwith　the　kid　in　its　mouth。　It〃

〃That's　good　enough　for　me！〃　announced　the　heroic　Roodie；　stamping　again　on　the　self…starter。

〃If　we　both　seen　it；　then　it　was　THERE。　And　I'm　goin'　after　it。〃

In　another　brace　of　seconds　the　lights　once；　more　picked　up　the　dark　animal　with　its　white　bundle。　Eitel　shrank　back　in　his　seat。　But　Roodie　put　on　another　notch　of　gas。　And；　coming　closer；　both　recognized　the　strange　bundle…carrier　as　a　dark…hued　collie　dog。

The　identification　did　little　to　ease　their　feeling　of　incredulous　mystification。　But　it　banished　their　superstitious　dread。　Both　of　them　were　used　to　dogs。　And　though　neither　could　guess　how　this　particular　dog　happened　to　be　stealing　the　twice…stolen　baby；　yet　neither　had　the　remotest　fear　of　tackling　the　beast　and　rescuing　its　human　plunder。

Roodie　brought　the　abused　runabout　to　another　jerky　stop　within　a　few　inches　of　the　unconcerned　collie。　And　he　and　Eitel　swarmed　earthward　from　opposite　sides　of　the　machine。　In　a　trice；　Roodie　had　struck　Lad　over　the　head；　while　Eitel　grabbed　at　the　bundle　to　drag　it　away　from　the　dog。

Now；　the　weight　of　years　was　beginning　to　tell　on　Laddie。　But　that　weight　had　not　robbed　him　of　the　ability　to　call；　at　will；　upon　much　of　his　oldtime　strength　and　bewildering　swiftness。　Nor　had　it　in　any　way　dampened　his　hero…spirit　or　dulled　his　uncannily　wise　brain。

He　had　been　plodding　peacefully　along；　bearing　home　a　wonderful　gifta　gift　oftener　confided　to　the　care　of　storks　than　of　collieswhen　he　had　been　attacked　from　two　sides　in　most　unprovoked　fashion。　He　had　been　struck！　His　blood　surged　hot。

There　was　no　Law　governing　such　a　case。　So；　as　usual　in　new　crises；　Lad　proceeded　to　make　his　own　Law　and　to　put　it　into　effect。

A　deft　turn　of　the　head　eluded　Eitel's　snatching　hand。　With　the　lightness　of　a　feather；　Lad　deposited　the　bundle　in　the　soft　dust　of　the　road。　In　practically；　the　same　gesture；　the　dog's　curving　eye…tooth　slashed　Eitel's　outstretched　wrist　to　the　bone。

Then；　staggering　under　a　second　head…blow　from　Roodie；　the　collie　wheeled　with　lightning…swift　fury　upon　this　more　hostile　of　his　two　assailants。

Hurling　himself　at　the　man's　throat；　in　silent　ferocity；　he　well…nigh　turned　the　nocturnal　battle　into　a　killing。　But　Roodie's　left　arm；　by　instinct；　flew　up　to　guard　his　threatened　jugular。

Through　coat　and　shirt　and　skin　and　flesh；as　in　the　case　of　Lady's　slayer；the　great　dog's　teeth　clove　their　way；　their　rending　snap　checked　only　by　the　bone　of　the　forearm。　The　impetus　of　his　eighty…pound　body　sent　the　man　clean　off　his　balance。　And　together　the　two　crashed　backward　to　the　ground。

Lad　was　not　of　the　bulldog　breed　which　seeks　and　gains　a　hold　and　then　hangs　on　to　it　with　locked　jaws。　A　collie　fights　with　brain　as　much　as　with　teeth。　By　the　time　he　and　Roodie　struck　the　earth；　Lad　tore　free　from　the　unloving　embrace　and　whizzed　about　to　face　the　second　of　his　foes。

Eitel　had　taken　advantage　of　the　moment's　respite　to　seize　with　his　uninjured　hand　his　slashed　wrist。　Then；　on　second　thought；　he　released　the　wounded　wrist　and　bent　over　the　baby；　with　a　view　to　picking　him　up　and　regaining　the　comparative　safety　of　the　car's　floor。　But　his　well…devised　maneuver　was　not　carried　out。

For；　as　he　leaned　over　the　bundle；　extending　his　hands　to　pick　it　up；　Lad's　teeth　drove　fiercely　into　the　section　of　Eitel's　plump　anatomy　which　chanced　to　be　presented　to　him　by　the　stooping　down　of　the　kidnaper。　Deep　clove　his　sharp　fangs。　Nor　did　Eitel　Schwartz　sit　down　again　with　any　degree　of　comfort　for　many　a　long　day；

With　resounding　howls　of　pain；　Eitel　thrashed　up　and　down　the　road；　endeavoring　to　shake　off　this　rear　attack。　The　noise　awakened　the　baby；　who　added　his　wails　to　the　din。　Roodie　got　dizzily　to　his　feet；　his　left　forearm　useless　and　anguished　from　the　tearing　of　its　muscles：

〃Shut　up！〃　he　bellowed。　〃'you　want　to　bring　the　whole　county　down　on　us？　We〃

He　ceased　speaking；　and　lurched　at　full　speed　to　the　car　and　to　the　top　of　its　single　seat。　For；　at　sound　of　his　voice；　Lad　had　loosed　his　grip　on　the　screeching　Eitel　and　whirled　about　on　this　earlier　adversary。

The　man　reached　the　car…seat　and　slammed　the　door　behind　him；　perhaps　a　sixth　of　a　second　too　soon　for　Lad　to　reach　him。

Eitel；　warned　by　his　brother's　bawled　command；　made　a　rush　for　the　other　side　of　the　machine　and　clambered　up。　He　was　a　trifle　less　fortunate　than　had　been　Roodie；　in　making　this　ascent。　For　Lad's　flashing　jaws　grazed　his　ankle　and　carried　away　in　that　snap　a　sample　of　Eitel's　best　town…going　trousers。

Thus；　on　the　seat　of　the　car；　swaying；　and　clutching　at　each　other；　crouched　the　two　sore…wounded　brethren；　while　Lad　ravened　about　the　vehicle；　springing　upward　now　and；　again　in　futile　effort　to　clear　the　top　of　the　closed　door。

Far　down　the　road　shone　the　lights　of　an　approaching　motor。　Eitel　dropped　into　the　driving　seat　and　set　the　runabout　into　motion。　Once　more；　the　dread　of　pursuit　and　of　capture　and　of　prison　danced　hideously　before　his　frightened　mental　vision。

Barely　missing　the　crying　baby；　as　the　runabout　jerked　forward；　he　made　a　fruitless　attempt　to　run　down　the　raging　collie。　Then　he　addressed　himself　to　the　business　of　getting　himself　and　his　brother　as　far　out　of　the　way　as　possible；　before　the　oncoming　car　should　reach　the　scene　of　strife。

As　a　matter　of　fact；　the　other　car　never　reached　this　spot。　Its　occupants　were　two　youths　and　two　damsels；　in　search　of　a　sequestered　space　of　road　where　they　might　halt　for　a　brief　but　delectable　〃petting　party；〃　on　their　way　to　a　dance　in　the　village。　They　found　such　a　space；　about　a　furlong　on　the　thither　side　of　the　curve　where　the　runabout　had　stopped。　And　they　advanced　no　farther。

Lad；　for　a　few　rods；　gave　chase　to　the　retreating　Schwartzes。　Then；　the　heavy　exertions　of　the　past　minute　or　two　began　to　exact　toll　on　his　aging　body。　Also；　the　baby　was　still　whimpering　in　a　drowsy　monotone；　as　the　paregoric　sought　to　renew　its　sway　on　the　racket　awakened　brain。

The　dog　turned　pantingly　back　to　the　bundle；　pawed　it　softly；　as　though　to　make　sure　the　contents　were　not　harmed；　then　once　more　picked　it　up　gingerly　between　his　reddened　jaws；　and　continued　his　sedate　homeward　journey。

The　Mistress　and　the　Master。　were　sitting　on　the　veranda。　It　was　almost　bedtime。　The　Master　arose；　to　begin　his　nightly　task　of　locking　the　lower　windows。　From　somewhere　on　the　highroad　that　lay　two　hundred　yards　distant　from　the　house；　came　the　confused　noise　of　shouts。　Then；　as　he　listened；　the　far…off　sounds　ceased。　He　went　on　with　his　task　of　locking　up；　and　returned　in　a　minute　or　two　to　the　veranda。

As　he　did　so；　Lad　came　walking　slowly　up　the　porch　steps。　In　his　mouth　he　carried　something　large　and　white　and　dusty。　This　he　proceeded　to　deposit　with　much　care　at　the　feet　of　the　Mistress。　Then　he　stood　back；　tail　waving；　dark　eyes　mischievously　expectant。

〃Another　dividend　from　the　curve！〃　laughed　the　Master。　〃What　is　it；　this　time？　A　pillow　or？〃

He　broke　off　in　the　middle　of　his　amused　query。　For；　even　as　he　turned　his　flashlight　on　the　dusty　and　blood…streaked　bundle；　the　baby　began　once　more　to　cry。

The　local　chief　of　police；　in　the　village　across　the　lake；　was　making　ready　for　bed；　when　a　telephone　summons　brought　him　back　to　his　lower　hallway。

〃Hello！〃　came　the　Master's　hail；　over　the　wire。　〃Chief；　has　there　been　any　alarm　sent　out　forfor　a　missing　baby？〃

〃Baby？〃　echoed　the　Chief。　〃No。　Have　you　lost　one？〃

〃No。　I've　found　one。　At　least；　Laddie　has。　He's　just　brought　it　home。　It　is　dressed　in　unusually　costly　things；　my　wife　says。　There　was　a　white　baby…blanket　strapped　around　it。　And　there　are　dust　and　streaks　of　fresh　blood　on　the　blanket。　　But　the　baby　himself　isn't　hurt　at　all。　And〃

〃I'll　be　over　there；　in　fifteen　minutes；〃　said　the　Chief；　alive　with　professional　interest。

But　in　ten　minutes　he　was　on　the　wire　once　more。

〃Has　the　baby　blanket　got　the　monogram；　'B。R。R'；　on　one　corner？〃　he　asked　excitedly。

〃Yes；〃　answered　the　Master。　〃I　was　going　to　tell　you　that；　when　you　hung　up。　And　on〃

〃That's　the　one！〃　fairly　shouted　the　Chief。　〃As　soon　as　you　finished　talking　to　me；　I　got　another　call。　General　alarm　out　for　a　kidnaped　baby。　Belongs　to　those　Rennick　people；　up　the　Valley。　The　artists　that　rented　the　old　Beasley　place　this　summer。　The　baby　was　stolen；　an　hour　ago；　right　out　of　the　nursery。　I'll　phone　'em　that　he's　found；　and　then　I'll　be　over。〃

〃All　right。　There's　another　queer　point　about　all　this。　Our　dog〃

〃Speaking　of　dogs；〃　went　on　the　garrulous　Chief；　〃this　is　a　wakeful　evening　for　me。　I　just　got　a　call　from　the　drug　store　that　a　couple　of　fellows　have　stopped　there　to　get　patched　up　from　dog…bites。　They　say　a　dozen　stray　curs　set　on　'em；　while　they　were　changing　a　tire。　The　druggist　thought　they　acted　queer；　contradicting　each　other　in　bits　of　their　story。　So　he's　taking　his　time；　fixing　them；　till　I　can　drop　in　on　my　way　to　your　house　and　give　'em　the　once　over。　So…〃

〃Do　more　than　that！〃　decreed　the　Master；　on　quick　inspiration。　〃What　I　started　to　tell　you　is　that　there's　blood　on　Lad's　jaws；　as　well　as　on　the　baby's　blanket。　If　two　men　say　they've　been　bitten　by　dogs〃

〃I　get　you！〃　yelled　the　other。　〃Good…by！　I　got　no　time　to　waste；　when　a　clew　like　that　is　shaken　in　front　of　me。　See　you　later！〃

Long　before　the　Chief　arrived　at　the　Place　with　triumphant　tidings　of　his　success　in　〃sweating〃　the　truth　from　the　mangled　and　nerve…racked　Schwartzes；　the　two　other　actors　in　the　evening's　drama　were　miles　away　among　the　sunflecked　shadows　of　Dreamland。

The　baby；　industriously　and　unsanitarily　sucking　one　pudgy　thumb；　was　cuddled　down　to　sleep　in　the　Mistress's　lap。　And；　in　the