further adventures of lad-第5部分

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Out　from　a　door…yard；　flashed　a　bumptious　little　fox　terrier。　Into　the　roadway　he　bounded；　intent　on　challenging　the　bigger　animal。

He　barked　ferociously；　then　danced　in　front　of　the　invalid；　yapping　and　snapping　up　at　the　hanging　head。　The　big　mongrel；　in　agony；　snarled　and　made　a　lunge　at　his　irritatingly　dancing　tormentor。　His　teeth　dug　grazingly　into　the　terrier's　withers；　and；　with　an　impatient　toss；　he　flung　the　little　beast　to　one　side。　Then　he　continued　his　interrupted　flight；　sick　wrath　beginning　to　encompass　his　reeling　brain；　at　the　annoyance　he　had　encountered。

The　yell　of　the　slightly　hurt　terrier　brought　people　to　their　doors。　The　sound　disturbed　a　half…breed　spaniel　from　his　doze　in　the　dust；　and　sent　him　out　to　continue　the　harrying　his　injured　terrier　chum　had　begun。

The　spaniel　flew　at　the　black　dog；　nipping　at　the　plodding　forepaws。　The　mongrel　raged；　as　might　some　painfully　sick　human　who　is　pestered　when　he　asks　only　to　be　let　alone。　His　dull　apathy　gave　place　to　sullen　anger。　He　bit　growlingly　at　the　spaniel；　throwing　himself　to　one　side　in　pursuit　of　the　elusive　foe。　And　he　snapped　with　equal　rage　at　an　Irish　terrier　that　had　come　out　to　add　to　the　turmoil。

By　this　time；　a　score　of　people　were　dancing　up　and　down　inside　their　door…yard　fences；　squalling　〃Mad　dog！〃　and　flinging　at　the　black　brute　any　missile　they　could　lay　hand　to。

A　broken　flower…pot　cut　the　invalid's　nose。　A　stone　rebounded　from　his　ribs。　The　raucous　human　yells　completed　the　work　the　first　dog　had　started。　From　a　mere　sufferer；　the　black　mongrel　had　changed　into　a　peril。

The　Mistress　had　motored　over　to　the　Hampton　post…office；　that　afternoon；　to　mail　some　letters。　Lad；　as　usual；　had　gone　with　her。　She　had　left　him　in　the　car；　while　she　went　into　the　post…office。

Lad　lay　there；　in　snug　contentment；　on　the　car's　front　seat；　awaiting　the　return　of　his　deity　and　keeping　a　watchful　eye　on　anyone　who　chanced　to　loiter　near　the　machine。　Presently；　he　sat　up。　Leaning　out；　from　one　side　of　the　seat；　he　stared　down　the　hot　roadway；　in　a　direction　whence　a　babel　of　highly　exciting　sounds　began　to　issue。

Apparently；　beyond　that　kick…up　of　dust；　a　furlong　below；　all　sorts　of　interesting　things　were　happening。　Lad's　soft　eyes　took　on　a　glint　of　eager　curiosity；　and　he　sniffed　the　still　air　for　further　clues　as　to　the　nature　of　the　fun。　A　number　of　humans；to　judge　by　the　racket；were　shouting　and　screaming；　and　the　well…understood　word；　〃dog；〃　formed　a　large　part　of　their　clamor。　Also；　there　were　real　dogs　mixed　up　in　the　fracas；　and　more　than　one　of　them　had　blood　on　him。　So　much　the　collie's　uncanny　senses　of　smell　and　of　hearing　told　him。

Lad　whimpered；　far　down　in　his　throat。　He　had　been　left　here　to　guard　this　car。　It　was　his　duty　to　stay　where　he　was；　until　the　Mistress　should　return。　Yet；　right　behind　him；　there；　a　series　of　mighty　entertaining　things　were　happening；things　that　he　longed　to　investigate　and　to　mix　into。　It　was　hard　to　do　one's　solemn　duty　as　watchdog；　when　so　much　of　wild　interest　was　astir！　Not　once　did　it　occur　to　Laddie　to　desert　his　post。　But　he　could　not　forbear　that　low　whimper　and　a　glance　of　appeal　toward　the　post…office。

And　now；　out　of　the　smear　of　flying　dust；　loomed　a　lurching　black　shape；gigantic；　terrible。　It　was　coming　straight　toward　the　car；　still　almost　in　mid…road。　Behind；　less　distinct；　appeared　running　men。　And　a　shot　was　fired。　Somebody　had　run　indoors　for　a　pistol；　before　joining　the　chase。　The　same　somebody；　in　the　van　of　the　pursuers；　had　opened　fire；　and　was　in　danger　of　doing　far　more　damage　to　life　than　could　a　dozen　allegedly　mad　dogs。

Just　then；　out　from　the　post…office；　came　the　Mistress。　Crossing　the　narrow　sidewalk；　she　neared　the　car。　Lad　stood　up；　wagging　his　plumed　tail　in　welcome；　his　tiny　white　forepaws　dancing　a　jig　of　eagerness　on　the　leather　seat…cushion。

On　reeled　the　black　mongrel；　crazed　by　noise　and　pain。　His　bleared　eyes　caught　a　flash　of　the　Mistress's　white　dress；　on　the　walk；　fifteen　feet　in　front　of　him　and　a　yard　or　more　to　one　side。

In　a　frame　of　mind　when　every　newcomer　was　a　probable　tormenter；　the　mongrel　resolved　to　meet　this　white…clad　foe；　head…on。　He　swerved；　with　a　stagger；　from　his　bee…line　of　travel；　growled　hideously；　and　sprang　full　at　her。

The　Mistress　paused；　for　an　instant；　in　the　middle　of　the　sidewalk；　to　find　out　the　reason　for　the　sudden　din　that　had　assailed　her　ears　as　she　emerged　from　the　post…office。　In　that　brief　moment；　she　caught　the　multiple…bellowed　phrase　of　〃Mad　dog！〃　and　saw　the　black　brute　charging　down　upon　her。

There　was　no　time　to　dart　back　into　the　shelter　of　the　building　or　to　gain　the　lesser　safety　of　the　car。　For　the　charging　mongrel　was　not　five　feet　away。

The　Mistress　stood　stock…still；　holding　her　hands　at　a　level　with　her　throat。　She　did　not　cry　out；　nor　faint。　That　was　not　the　Mistress's　way。　Like　Lad；　she　was　thoroughbred　in　soul　as　well　as　in　body。　And　neither　she　nor　her　dog　belonged　to　the　breed　of　screamers。　Through　her　mind；　in　that　briefest　fraction　of　a　second　whizzed　the　consoling　thought

〃He's　not　mad；　whatever　else　he　is。　A　mad　dog　never　swerves　from　his　path。〃

But　if　the　Mistress　remained　moveless；　Lad　did　not。　Seeing　her　peril　even　more　swiftly　than　did　she；　he　made　one　lightning　dive　from　his　perch　on　the　car　seat。

He　did　not　leap　at　random。　Lad's　brain　always　worked　more　quickly　than　did　his　lithe　body；　flyingly　rapid　as　were　that　body's　motions。　As　he　gathered　himself　for　the　spring；　his　campaign　was　mapped　out。

Down　upon　the　charging　beast　swooped　a　furry　whirlwind　of　burnished　mahogany…and…snow。　Down　it　swooped　with　the　whirring　speed　and　unerring　aim　of　an　eagle。　Sixty…odd　pounds　of　sinewy　weight　smote　the　lunging　mongrel；　obliquely；　on　the　left　shoulder；　knocking　the　great　brute's　legs　from　under　him　and　throwing　him　completely　off　his　balance。　Into　the　dust　crashed　the　two　dogs；　Lad　on　top。　Before　they　struck　ground；　the　collie's　teeth　had　found　their　goal　ire　the　side　of　the　larger　dog's　throat；　and　every　whalebone　muscle　in　Lad's　body　was　braced　to　hold　his　enemy　down。

It　was　a　clever　hold。　For　the　fall　had　thrown　the　mongrel　on　his　side。　And　so　long　as　Lad　should　be　able　to　keep　the　great　foaming　head　in　that　sideways　posture；　the　other　dog　could　not　get　his　feet　under　him　again。　With　his　legs　in　their　present　position；　he　had　no　power　to　get　up；　but　lay　thrashing　and　snapping　and　snarling；　and　trying　with　all　his　cramped　might　to　free　himself　from　the　muscular　grip　that　held　him　prostrate。

It　was　all　over　in　something　like　two　seconds。　Up　stormed　the　crowd；　the　pistol…wielder　at　its　head。　Three　shots　were　fired　at　point…blank　range。　By　some　miracle　none　of　them　harmed　Lad；　although　one　bullet　scratched　his　foreleg　on　its　way　to　the　black　giant's　brain。

As　soon　as　she　could；　the　Mistress　got　herself　and　the　loudly…praised　Lad　into　the　car　and　set　off　for　home。　Now　that　the　peril　was　over；　she　felt　dizzy　and　ill。　She　had　seen　what　it　is　not　well　to　see。　And　the　memory　of　it　haunted　her　for　many　a　night　thereafter。

As　for　Lad；　he　was　still　atingle　with　excitement。　The　noisy　praise　of　those　babbling　humans　had　bothered　him；　and　he　had　been　glad　to　escape　it。　Lad　hated　to　be　mauled　or　talked　to　by　strangers。　But　the　Mistress's　tremulous　squeeze　and　her　shuddering　whisper　of　〃Oh；　Laddie！　LADDIE！〃　had　shown　she　was　proud　of　him。　And　this　flattered　and　delighted　Lad；　past　all　measure。

He　had　acted　on　impulse。　But；　from　the　Mistress's　manner；　he　saw　he　had　made　a　wonderful　hit　with　her　by　what　he　had　done。　And　his　tail　thumped　ecstatically　against　the　seat　as　he　cuddled　very　close　to　her　side。

At　home；　there　was　more　praise　and　petting；this　time　from　both　the　Mistress　and　the　Master。　And　the　Master　bathed　and　patched　the　insignificant　bullet…scratch　on　the　collie's　foreleg。　Altogether；　it　was　a　gala　afternoon　for　the　young　dog。　And　he　loved　it。

But；　next　morning；　there　was　quite　another　phase　of　life　awaiting　him。　Like　most　Great　Moments；　this　exploit　of　Lad's　was　not　on　the　free　list。　And　Trouble　set　in；grim　and　sinister　trouble。

Breakfast　was　over。　The　Mistress　and　the　Master　were　taking　their　wonted　morning　stroll　through　the　grounds。　Lad　cantered　along；　ahead　of　them。　The　light　bullet…scratch　on　his　foreleg　did　not　lame　or　annoy　him。　He　inspected　everything　of　canine　interest；　sniffing　expert　inquiry　at　holes　which　might　prove　to　be　rabbit　warrens；　glaring　in　truculent　threat　up　some　tree　which　might　or　might　not　harbor　an　impudent　squirrel；　affecting　to　see　objects　of　mysterious　import　in　bush　clumps；　crouching　in　dramatic　threat　at　a　fat　stag…beetle　which　scuttled　across　his　path。

There　are　an　immense　number　of　worth…while　details　for　a　very　young　collie；　in　even　the　most　casual　morning　walk；　especially　if　his　Mistress　and　his　Master　chance　to　be　under　his　escort。　And　Laddie　neglected　none　of　these　things。　If　a　troop　of　bears　or　a　band　of　Indians　or　a　man…eating　elephant　were　lurking　anywhere　in　the　shrubbery　or　behind　tree…trunks；　Lad　was　not　going　to　fail　in　discovering　and　routing　out　such　possible　dangers　to　the　peace　of　mind　of　his　two　adored　deities。

Scent　and　sight　presently　were　attracted　by　a　feeble　fluttering　under　a　low…limbed　catalpa　tree　in　whose　branches　a　pair　of　hysterical　robins　were　screeching。　Lad　paused；　his　tulip　ears　at　attention；　his　plumed　tail　swaying。　Then　he　pushed　his　long　muzzle　through　a　clump　of　grass　and　emerged　carrying　a　flapping　and　piping　morsel　between　his　mighty　jaws。　The　birds；　on　the　limb　above；　redoubled　their　frenzied　chirping；　and　made　little　futile　dashes　at　the　collie's　head。

Unheeding；　Lad　walked　back　to　the　Mistress　and　laid　gently　at　her　feet　the　baby　robin　he　had　found。　His　keen　teeth　had　not　so　much　as　ruffled　its　pinfeather　plumage。　Having　done　his　share　toward　settling　the　bird's　dilemma；　Laddie　stood　back　and　watched　in　grave　interest　while　the　Mistress　lifted　the　fluttering　infant　and　put　it　back　in　the　nest　whence　it　had　fallen。

〃That　makes　the　fifth　baby　bird　Laddie　has　brought　to　me　in　a　month；〃　she　commented；　as　she　and　the　Master　turned　back　toward　the　house。　〃To　say　nothing　of　two　field　mice　and　a　broken…winged　bat。　He　seems　to　think　I'll　know　what　to　do　for　them。〃

　〃I