further adventures of lad-第9部分

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editable　acrobatic　stunts　to　keep　it　from　turning　turtle。

〃Stand　perfec'ly　still；〃　one　of　them　exhorted　the　damsel；　as　he　saw　with　horror　that　she　had　been　left　ashore　in　the　tumbling　flight。　〃Stand　still　and　don't　holler！　Keep　your　hands　high。　It's　likely　he　won't　bother　you。　These　highbred　collies　are　pretty　gentle　with　women；　but　some　of　'em　are　blue　murder　to　strange　men。　He〃

The　man　swayed　for　balance。　His　fellow…hero　had　brought　the　canoe　about；　in　an　effort　to　smite　with　uplifted　paddle　at　the　oncoming　dog　without　venturing　too　close　to　the　danger…line。

In　the　same　moment；　Lad　had　gained　the　brink　of　the　lake。　Ignoring　the　panic…struck　woman　on　the　bank；　he　flashed　past　her　and　galloped；　body…deep；　into　the　water；　toward　the　swaying　canoe。

Here　he　paused。　For　Lad　was　anything　but　a　fool。　And；　like　other　wise　collies；　he　had　sense　enough　to　realize　that　a　swimming　dog　is　one　of　the　most　helpless　creatures　in　the　universe；　when　it　comes　to　self…defense。

Ashore；　or　in　water　shallow　enough　to　maneuver　his　powerful　body；　Lad　could　give　excellent　account　of　himself　against　any　normal　foe。　But；　beyond　his　depth；　he　would　fall　easy　victim　to　the　first　well…aimed　paddle…stroke。　And　he　knew　it。　Thus；　hesitant；　his　snarling　teeth　not　two　yards　from　the　canoe；　he　stood　growling　in　futile　indignation　at　the　cranky　craft's　crankier　occupants。

The　girl　who　remained　on　shore　plucked　up　enough　panic…courage　to　catch　her　gaudy　pink　parasol　by　the　ferule　and　to　swing　its　heavy　handle　with　all　her　fear…driven　strength　at　Lad's　skull。　Luckily；　the　aim　was　as　bad　as　it　was　vehement。　The　handle　grazed　the　dog's　shoulder；　then　struck　the　lake　with　a　force　that　snapped　the　flimsy　parasol　in　two。　Whereat　the　girl　shrieked　aloud；　and　scuttled　back　as　Lad　spun　around　to　face　her。

But　she　might　as　well　have　spared　herself　the　scream。　She　was　in　no　danger。　True；　the　collie　had　whirled　to　seek　and　resent　this　new　source　of　attack。　But；　seeing　only　a　yelling　and　retreating　woman　behind　him；　he　contented　himself　with　a　menacing　growl；　and　turned　again　toward　the　canoe。

One　of　the　men；　poising　himself；　had　swung　aloft　his　paddle。　Now；　with　full　strength；　he　　brought　down　the　edged　blade　at　the　dog's　head。

But　it　is　one　thing　to　aim　a　blow；　from　a　tilting　canoe；　and　quite　another　to　make　that　blow　land　in　the　spot　aimed　for。

The　whizzing　paddle…blade　missed　Lad；　clean。　Not　only　because　the　dog　veered　sharply　aside　as　it　descended；　but　because　the　canoe；　under　the　jarring　heave　of　the　striker's　body；　proceeded　to　turn　turtle。

Into　the　water　plopped　the　two　men。　Into　the　water；　with　them；　splashed　their　rescued　companion。　This　gentle　soul　had　not　ceased　screaming；　from　the　time　she　was　hauled　aboard。　But　now；　submergence　cut　short　her　cries。　A　second　later；　the　lamentations　recommenced；　in　higher　if　more　liquid　volume。　For；　the　shore；　at　the　point　sloped　very　gradually　out　to　deeper　water。　And　immediately；　she　and　the　two　men　had　regained　their　foothold。

There；　chest　deep　the　trio　stood　or　staggered。　And；　there；　between　them　and　the　beach；　raged　Lad。　None　of　the　three　cared　to　risk　wading　shoreward；　with　such　an　obstacle　between　themselves　and　land。　The　girl　on　the　bank　added　her　quota　of　squalls　to　those　of　her　semi…engulfed　friend；　and　one　of　the　men　began　to　reach　far　under　water　for　a　rock　to　throw　at　the　guard　dog。

The　first　shrill　cry　had　reached　the　Master；　as　he　sat　at　work　in　his　study。　Down　the　slope　he　came　running；　and　stopped　in　slack…jawed　amaze　at　the　tableau　in　front　of　him。

On　the　bank　hopped　and　wriggled　a　woman　in　vivid　garments；a　woman　who　waved　a　broken　parasol　and　seemed　to　be　practicing　an　Indian　war…howl。　Elbow　deep　in　the　placid　waters　of　the　lake　floundered　another　woman　almost　as　wonderfully　attired　as　the　first；　and　quite　as　vocal。　On　either　side　of　her　was　a　drenched　and　gesticulating　man。　In　the　background　bobbed　an　upset　canoe。　Between　the　two　disrupted　factions　of　the　happy　picnic　party　stood　Lad。

The　collie　had　ceased　to　growl；　and；　with　head　on　one　side；　was　looking　in　eager　inquiry　at　the　Master。　Lad　had　carried　this　watchdog　exploit　to　a　point　where　the　next　move　was　hard　to　figure　out。　He　was　glad　the　Master　had　arrived；　to　take　charge　of　the　situation。　It　seemed　to　call　for　human；　rather　than　canine；　solution。　And　Lad　was　profoundly　interested　as　to　the　sequel。　All　of　which　showed　as　clearly　in　the　collie's　whimsically　expressive　face　as　ever　it　could　have　been　set　forth　in　print。

Both　men　began　to　talk　at　once；　with　lurid　earnestness　and　vast　wealth　of　gesture。　So　did　the　women。

There　was　no　need。　The　Master；　already；　had　caught　sight　of　the　half…spread　lunch　on　the　grass。　And　it　was　by　no　means　his　first　or　his　tenth　experience　with　trespassers。　He　understood。　Snapping　his　fingers；　to　summon　Lad　to　his　side；　he　patted　the　dog's　silken　head；　and　strove　not　to　laugh。

〃And　just　as　we　was　sitting　down；　peaceful；　to　eat；　and　not　harming　no　one　at　all　and　minding　our　own　business；〃　came　a　fragment　of　one　man's　oration；　above　the　clamor　of　the　others；　〃that　big　dark…sable　collie　of　yours　came　tearing　down　on　us　and〃

The　triple　opposition　of　outcry　and　complaint　blurred　the　rest　of　his　enraged　whine。　But　the　Master　looked　out　at　him　in　new　interest。　The　man　had　used　the　term；　〃dark…sable　collie〃；　which；　by　the　way；　was　the　technical　phrase　for　Lad's　coloring。　Not　one　non…collie…man　in　a　thousand　would　have　known　the　meaning　of　the　term；　to　say　nothing　of　using　it　by　instinct。　The　Master　stared　curiously　at　the　floundering　and　sputtering　speaker。

〃Aren't　you　the　manager　of　the　Lochaber　Collie　Kennels；　up　at　Beauville？〃　he　asked；　speaking　loud　enough　to　be　heard　above　the　subsiding　din。　〃I　think　I've　seen　you　at　Westminster　and　at　some　of　the　local　shows。　Higham　is　your　name；　isn't　it？〃

〃Yes；　it　is；〃　returned　the　kennel　man；　truculent；　but　surprised　almost　into　civility。　〃And　this　is　my　assistant；　Mister　Rice。　And　these　two　young　lady　friends　of　ours　areSay！〃　he　broke　off；　furiously；　remembering　his　plight　and　swinging　back　to　rage；　as　he　began　to　wade　shoreward。　〃We're　going　to　have　the　law　on　you；　friend！　Your　collie　tackled　us　when　we　was　peaceably…〃

〃When　you　were　peaceably　ignoring　this　trespass　sign　of　mine？〃　finished　the　Master。　〃Don't　forget　that。　If　you　didn't　have　these　girls　with　you；　I'd　keep　my　hands　off　Lad's　collar　and　let　him　hold　you　out　in　the　lake　till　it　freezes　for　the　winter。　As　it　is；　one　of　you　men　can　swim　out　for　your　canoe　and　tow　it　in；　and　then　the　rest　of　you　can　bundle　aboard　it　and　finish　your　picnic　on　somebody　else's　land。〃

〃Well！〃　shrilled　the　wet　damsel；　striding　shoreward　like　some　sloppily　overdressed　Venus　rising　from　the　sea。　〃Well！　I　MUST　say！　Nice　neighborly；　hospitable　way　to　treat　poor　　unfortunate！〃

〃Trespassers？〃　suggested　the　Master；　as　she　groped　for　a　climax　word。　〃You're　right。　It　is　no　way　to　treat　a　woman　who　has　fallen　into　the　lake；　trespasser　or　not。　If　you　and　this　other　young　lady　care　to　go　up　to　the　kitchen；　the　maids　will　see　that　your　clothes　are　dried；　and　they'll　lend　you　other　clothes　to　go　home　in。　Lad　won't　hurt　you。　And　in　this　hot　weather　you're　in　no　danger　of　catching　cold。　While　you're　gone；　Higham　and　Rice　can　get　hold　of　the　canoe　and　right　it　and　bail　it　out。　And；　by　the　way；　I　want　one　of　you　two　men　to　clear　that　litter　of　food　and　greasy　paper　off　my　lawn。　Then〃

〃Into　the　kitchen！〃　snorted　the　wet　maid。　〃Into　the　KITCHEN？　I'm　a　lady！　I　don't　go　into　kitchens。　I〃

〃No？〃　queried　the　Master；　trying　once　more　not　to　laugh。　〃Well；　my　wife　does。　So　does　my　mother。　I　spoke　of　the　kitchen　because　it's　the　only　room　with　a　fire　in　it；　in　this　weather。　If　you'd　prefer　the　barn　or〃

〃I　won't　step　one　foot　in　your　house！〃　declaimed　the　girl。　〃Nor　yet　I　didn't　come　here　to　be　insulted。　You've　gone　and　spoiled　our　whole　day；　you　big　brute！　Boys；　go　get　that　canoe！　We　won't　lower　ourselves　by　staying　another　minute　on　his　rotten　land。　Afterward；　our　lawyer'll　see　what's　the　penalty　for　treating　us　like　this！　Hurry　up！〃

Rice　had　clumped　along　shore　until　he　found　a　dead　branch　washed　up　in　a　recent　rainstorm。　Wading　back　into　deeper　water　he　was　just　able　to　reach　the　gunwale　of　the　drifting　canoe　with　the　forked　end　of　the　bough　and；　by　careful　jockeying；　to　haul　it　within　hand…grasp。

Aided　by　Higham；　he　drew　the　overturned　craft　to　the　beach　and　righted　it。　All　the　time；　both　men　maintained　a　half…coherent　diatribe；　whose　language　waxed　hotter　and　hotter　and　whose　thunderbolts　centered　about　the　Master　and　his　dog；particularly　about　Lad；and　about　the　dire　legal　penalties　which　were　to　be　inflicted　on　them。

The　Master；　still　holding　Lad's　ruff；　stood　to　one　side　during　the　work　of　salvaging　the　canoe；　and　while　Rice　replaced　the　paddles　and　cushions　in　it。　Only　when　the　two　women　were　helped　sputteringly　aboard　did　he　interfere。

〃One　minute！〃　he　said。　〃I　think　you've　forgotten　your　lunch。　That　and　the　ream　or　two　of　newspapers　you've　strewn　around：　and　a　few　wooden　dishes。　I〃

〃I　picked　up　all　the　lunch　that　was　worth　saving；〃　grunted　Rice。　〃Your　mangy　collie　trampled　the　rest　of　it；　when　he　ran　down　here　at　us。　I　wisht　it'd　had　strychnia　in　it　and　he'd　et　it！　We'll　go　eat　our　dinner　over　to　the　village。　And；　before　we　go；　I　got　this　much　more　to　say　to　YOU：If〃

〃Before　you　go；〃　interrupted　the　Master；　shifting　himself　and　Lad　between　Higham　and　the　canoe；　〃before　you　go；　let　me　remind　you　that　you've　left　a　lot　of　litter　on　my　clean　lawn；　and　that　I　asked　you　to　clean　it　up。〃

〃Go　clean　it　up；　yourself！〃　snapped　Rice；　from　the　boat。　〃This　upstage　talk　about　'trespassing'　makes　me　sick！　As　soon　as　a　guy　has　a　three…dollar　patch　of　bum　land　（with　a　mortgage　eating　it　up；　most　likely）；　he　always　blats　about　'trespassing'　whenever　decent　folks　happens　to　walk　on　it。　Go　clean　up　the　papers；　yourself！　We　ain't　your　slaves。　You're　due　to　hear　a　lot　from　us；　later；　too。　Clean　it；　yourself！〃

The　ladies　applauded　these　stirring　proletariat　sentiments　right　vigorously。　But　Higham　did　not　applaud。　Rice　and　the　women　were　in　the　canoe。　Higham　had　gone　back　to　the　picnic　site　for　an　overlooked　cushion。　On　returning　toward　the　beach；　he　had　found　the　Master　and　Lad　standing　in　his　way。　Loftily；　he