further adventures of lad-第35节
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The one about old dogs and new tricks belongs in both categories。 In a sense it is true。 In another it is not。
To teach the average elderly dog to sit up and beg； or to roll over twice； or to do other of the asinine things with which humans stultify the natural good sense of their canine chums； is as hard as to teach a sixty…year…old grave…digger to become a musical composer。
But no dog with a full set of brains is ever past learning new things which are actually needful for him to learn。 And； sad to say； many an old dog； on his own account； picks up odd new accomplishmentsexploits which would never have occurred to him in his early prime。 Nobody knows why。 But it has happened； numberless times。
And so it was with Sunnybank Lad。
Laddie had passed his twelfth birthday； when； by some strange freak； he brought home one day a lace parasol。 He had found it in the highroad； on his way back to the Place after a sedate ramble in the forest。 Now； it was nothing new for the great collie to find missing articles belonging to the Mistress or to the Master。 Every now and then he would lay at their feet a tobacco pouch or a handkerchief or a bunch of keys that had been dropped； carelessly； somewhere on the grounds； and which Lad recognized； by scent； as belonging to one of the two humans he loved。
These bits of treasure trove； he delighted in finding and restoring。 Yes； andthough those who had never seen him do this were prone to doubt ithe was certain to lay the recovered object at the feet of whichever of the two had lost it。 For instance； it never occurred to him to drop a filmy square of lace…and…cambric at the muddied feet of the Master； or a smelly old tobacco…pouch at the Mistress's little feet。
There was nothing miraculous about this knowledge。 To a high…bred dog； every human of his acquaintance has a distinctive scent； which cannot be mistaken。 Lad used no occult power inn returning to the rightful owner any article he chanced to find on lawn or on veranda。
But the lace parasol was different。 That； presumably； had fallen from some passing motor…car。 bound for Tuxedo or for the Berkshires。 It did not belong at the Place。
Lad happened to see it； lying there in the highway。 And he brought it； forthwith； to the house； carrying it daintily between his mighty jaws； and laying it on the living…room floor in front of the astonished Mistress。 Probably； he laid it before her； instead of before the Master； because she was the first of the two whom he happened to encounter。 It is doubtful if he realized that a parasol is a purely feminine adjunct；although the Mistress always declared he did。
She picked up the gift and looked it over with real admiration。 It was a flimsily beautiful and costly thing； whose ivory handle was deftly carven and set with several uncut stones； and whose deep fringe of lace was true Venetian Point。
〃Why； Laddie！〃 she exclaimed； in wondering delight。 〃Where in the world did you get this？ Look！〃 she went on； as her husband came in from his study。 〃See what Laddie brought me！ I saw him coming down the drive with something in his mouth。 But I had no idea what it was。 Isn't it a beauty？ Where do you suppose he？〃
〃As long as motorists go around curves at forty miles an hour；〃 decided the Master； 〃so long their piled…up valuables are likely to be jostled out of the tonneau。 I found a satchel； last week； at the curve； up there； you remember； and a hat； the week before。 What are you going to do about this thing？〃
〃Oh；〃 said the Mistress； with a sigh of renunciation； 〃I suppose we'll have to advertise it； and watch the 'Lost and Found' columns； too。 Butwouldn't it be glorious if nobody should see our advertisement oror ever advertise for it？ It's so lovely！ I hate to think it may belong to somebody who can't appreciate it as I do。〃
Now； Laddie had lived on the Place for many more years than he could remember。 And he had spent the bulk of that time in studying the faces and the voices and the moods of these two people whom he worshiped。 Moreover； he had an intelligence that is not given to most dogs；even to colliesand a queer psychic twist to his brain that had puzzled his owners as much as it had delighted them：
Watching the Mistress； now； with his classic head on one side and his deep…set dark eyes fixed on her eager face； he saw that his roadway gift had made her very happy。 Also； that her caressing hand on his head showed pride in what he had done。 And this； as ever； thrilled the old dog； to the very soul。
He wagged his plumed tail； in gladness； and thrust his nose into her palm and began to 〃talk〃 in gleeful treble。 To none but the Mistress and the Master would Lad deign to 〃talk。〃 And； none listening to him could doubt he was trying to copy the human voice and human meanings。
〃Dear old Laddie！〃 praised the Mistress； running her fingers through his lion…like ruff。 〃GOOD Laddie！； Thank you； ever so much！ Nobody but a very； VERY wonderful collie named Lad could have had the perfect taste to pick out such a parasol。 And now we're going to have a whole handful of animal crackers； for reward。〃
The crooningly sweet voice； the petting； the gift of animal crackers of which he was childishly fondall these delighted Lad beyond measure。 And they confirmed him in the belief that he had done something most laudable。
What he had done was to pick up a stray object； away from home； and bring it to the Mistress。 He knew that。 And that was all he knew。 But； having won high praise for the deed； he resolved then and there to repeat it。
Which proves that old dogs can be taught new tricks。 And which started all the trouble。
That afternoon； the Mistress and the Master went for a five…mile ramble through the woods and over the mountains； back of the Place。 With them went old Laddie； who paced gravely between them。 With them； also； went Bruce； the magnificent dark sable collie of kingly look and demeanor； who was second only to Lad in human traits and second to no living animal in beauty。 Bruce was glorious to look upon。 In physique and in character he had not a flaw。 There was a strange sweetness to his disposition that I have found in no other dog。
With Lad and Bruce； on this walk； raced Lad's fiery little golden son； Wolf。
Of old； Lad had led such runs。 Now； advancing age and increased weight had begun to make him chary of throwing away his fading energies。 Wherefore； he walked between his two deities； and let the two younger dogs do the galloping and rabbit chasing。
And he had his reward。 For； as they neared the highroad on the way home； Wolf and Bruce chanced to tree a squirrel。 Thus； Lad was first to reach the road with the two humans。 Suddenly； he。 darted ahead of them； and snatched up from the wayside the somewhat worn case of a thermos bottle which had been discarded there or had fallen from a car…seat。 This he bore to the Mistress； fairly vibrating with pride in his own exploit。
Noting his joy in the deed； she made much of the shabby gift； praising and thanking Lad； inordinately； and forbearing to throw away the worn case until the collie was out of sight。
Of late； as Laddie began to show signs of age； she and the Master had taken to making more and more of him； to atone for his growing feebleness and to anticipate the dark day which every dog…owner must face；the day when his voice and his caress can no longer mean anything to the pet who once rejoiced so utterly in them。
All of which went to confirm Lad in the natural belief that anything found on the road and brought to the Mistress would be looked on with joy and would earn him much gratitude。 So；as might a human in like circumstances；he ceased to content himself with picking up trifles that chanced to be lying in his path； in the highway； and fell to searching for such flotsam and jetsam。
He began the hunt； next morning。 Pacing gravely along the center of the road； he headed toward the mile…distant village。 By sheer luck； such few automobiles as chanced along； at that hour； were driven by folk who had heart enough to slow down or to turn aside for the majestically strolling old dog。 To the end of his long life； Lad could never be made to understand that he was not entitled to walk at will in the exact middle of the road。 Perhaps his lofty assurance in taking such a course made motorists check speed to spare him。
This morning； he had fared but a half…mile when he saw a car drawn up at the edge of the road； beside a shaded bit of turf。 Several people had just descended from it； and were making preparations for an early picnic lunch。 One of them had finished depositing a basket on the ground； at the side of the car farthest from the strip of sward where the others were spreading a sea…rug and setting an impromptu table。
The man put the basket down in the road。 Then he dived back into the nether regions of the machine for more provender。 And he was engaged in this groping when Lad came in view； around a bend。
The big collie saw the basket standing there； unprotected and； so far as he knew； ownerless。 Gravely he stepped forward； lifted the heavy receptacle by the handle and turned about with it； still moving with dignified slowness。 The table…setters were busy； and the car was between him and them。
By the ti
