further adventures of lad-第39节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Human invaders were to be met in drastic fashion。 Quadruped trespassers were to be rounded up and swept at a gallop up the drive and out into the highroad。 With cattle or with stray horses this was an easy job；。 and it contained； withal； much fun；at least； for Lad。
But； pigs were different。
Experience and instinct had taught Lad what few humans realize。 Namely； that of all created beasts； the pig is the worst and meanest and most vicious； and hardest to drive。 When a horse or a cow； or a drove of them； wandered into the confines of the Place； it was simple and joyous to head them off； turn them； set them into a gallop and send them on their journey at top speed。 It took little skill and less trouble to do this。 Besides； it was gorgeous sport。 But pigs！
When a porker wriggled and hunched and nosed a space in the line fence； and slithered greasily through； Lad's work was cut out for him。 It looked simple enough。 But it was not simple。 Nor was it safe。
In the first instance； pigs were hard to start running。 Oftener than not they would stand； braced； and glare at the oncoming collie from out their evil little red…rimmed eyes； the snouts above the hideous masked tushes quivering avidly。 That meant Lad must circle them； at whirlwind speed； barking a thunderous fanfare to confuse them； and watching his chance to flash in and nip ear or flank； or otherwise get the brutes to running。
And； even on the run； they had an ugly way of wheeling； at close quarters； to face the pursuer。 The razor tushes and the pronged forefeet were always ready； at such times； to wreak death on the dog； unless he should have the wit and the skill and the speed to change； in a breath； the direction of his dash。 No； pigs were not pleasant trespassers。 There was no fun in routing them。 And there was real danger。
Except by dint of swiftness and of brain； an eighty…pound collie has no chance against a six…hundred…pound pig。 The pig's hide； for one thing； is too thick to pierce with an average slash or nip： And the pig is too close to earth and too well…balanced by build and weight； to be overturned： And the tushes and forefeet can move with deceptive quickness。 Also； back of the red…rimmed little eyes flickers the redder spirit of murder。
Locomotive engineers say a cow on a track。 is far less perilous to an oncoming train than is a pig。 The former can be lifted； by the impact； and flung to one side。 A pig； oftener than not； derails the engine。 Standing with the bulk of its weight close to the ground； it is well…nigh as bad an obstacle to trains as would be a boulder of the same size。 Lad had never met any engineers。 But he had identically their opinion of pigs。
In all his long life； the great collie had never known fear。 At least； he never had yielded to it。 Wherefore； in the autumns； he had attacked with gay zest such of Titus Romaine's swine as had found their way through the fence。
But； nowadays； there was little enough of gay zest about anything Laddie did。 For he was old；very； very old。 He had passed the fourteenth milestone。 In other words； he was as old for a dog as is an octogenarian for a man。
Almost imperceptibly； but to his indignant annoyance； age had crept upon the big dog； gradually blurring his long clean lines； silvering his muzzle and eyebrows； flecking his burnished mahogany coat with stipples of silver； spreading to greater size the absurdly small white forepaws which were his one gross vanity； dulling a little the preternaturally keen hearing and narrowing the vision。
Yes； Lad was old。 And he was a bit unwieldy from weight and from age。 No longer could he lead Wolf and Bruce in the forest rabbit chases。 Wherefore he stayed at home； for the most part and seldom strayed far from the Mistress and the Master whom he worshiped。
Moreover； he deputed the bulk of trespass…repelling to his fiery little son； Wolf； and to the graver and sweeter Bruce；〃Bruce； the Beautiful。〃
Which brings us by needfully prosy degrees to a morning； when two marauders came to the Place at the same time； if by different routes。 They could not well have come at a more propitious time； for themselves； nor at a worse time for those whose domain they visited。
Bruce and Wolf had trotted idly off to the forest； back of the Place； for a desultory ramble in quest of rabbits or squirrels。 This they had done because they were bored。 For； the Mistress and the Master had driven over for the morning mail； and Lad had gone with them； as usual。 Had it been night； instead of morning； neither Wolf nor Bruce would have stirred a step from the grounds。 For both were trained watchdogs； But； thus early in the day； neither duty nor companionship held them at home。 And the autumn woods promised a half…hour of mild sport。
The superintendent and his helpers were in the distant 〃upper field；〃 working around the roots of some young fruit trees。 But for the maids； busy indoors； the Place was deserted of human or canine life。
Thus； luck was with the two intruders。
Through the fence…gap in the oak…grove； bored Titus Romaine's hugest and oldest and crankiest sow。 She was in search of acorns and of any other food that might lie handy to her line of march。 In her owner's part of the grove； there was too much competition； in the food…hunt； from other and equally greedy pigs of the herd。 These she could fight off and drive from the choicest acorn…hoards。 But it was easier to forage without competition。
So through the gap she forced her grunting bulk； and on through the Place's half of the oak…grove。 Pausing now and then to root amid the strewn leaves； she made her leisurely way toward the open lawn with its two…hundred…year…old shade…oaks； and its flower…borders which still held a few toothsome bulbs。
The second intruder entered the grounds in much more open fashion。 He was a man in the late twenties； well…set up； neatly； even sprucely； dressed； and he walked with a slight swagger。 He looked very much at home and very certain of his welcome。
A casual student of human nature would have guessed him to be a traveling salesman； finely equipped with nerve and with confidence in his own goods。 The average servant would have been vastly impressed with his air of self assurance； and would have admitted him to the house； without question。 （The long…memoried warden of Auburn Prison would have recognized him as Alf Dugan； one of the cleverest automobile thieves in the East。）
Mr。 Dugan was an industrious young man； as well as ingenious。 And he had a streak of quick…witted audacity which made him an ornament to his chosen profession。 His method of work was simple。 Coming to a rural neighborhood； he would stop at some local hotel； and； armed with clever patter and a sheaf of automobile insurance documents； would make the rounds of the region's better…class homes。
At these he sold no automobile insurance； though he made seemingly earnest efforts to do so。 But he learned the precise location of each garage； the cars therein； and the easiest way to the highroad； and any possible obstacles to a hasty flight thereto。 Usually； he succeeded in persuading his reluctant host to take him to the garage to look at the cars and to estimate the insurable value of each。 While there； it was easy to palm a key or to get a good look at the garage padlock for future skeleton…key reference； or to note what sort of car…locks were used。
A night or two later； the garage was entered and the best car was stolen。 Dugan； like love； laughed at locksmiths。
Sometimes；notably in places where dogs were kept；he would make his initial visit and then； choosing a time when he had seen some of the house's occupants go for a walk with their dogs； would enter by broad daylight； and take a chance at getting the car out； unobserved。 If he were interrupted before starting off in the machine； why； he was that same polite insurance aunt who had come back to revise his estimate on the premium needed for the car； and was taking another look at it to make certain。 Once in the driver's seat and with the engine going； he had no fear of capture。 A whizzing rush to the highroad and down it to the point where his confederate waited with the new number…plates； and he could snap his fat fingers at pursuit。
Dugan had called at the Place； a week earlier。 He had taken interested note of the little garage's two cars and of the unlocked garage doors。 He had taken less approving note of the three guardian collies： Lad； still magnificent and formidable； in spite of his weight of years；Bruce； gloriously beautiful and stately and aloof；young Wolf； with the fire and fierce agility of a tiger…cat。 All three had watched him； grimly。 None had offered the slightest move to make friends with the smooth…spoken visitor。 Dogs have a queerly occult sixth sense； sometimes； in regard to those who mean ill to their masters。
This morning； idling along the highroad； a furlong from the Place's stone gateway； Dugan had seen the Mistress and the Master drive past in the smaller of the two cars。 He had seen Lad with them。 A little later； he had seen the men cross the road toward the upper field。 Then； almost on the men's heels； he had seen Bruce and Wolf canter across the same road； headed for the forest。 And Dugan's correctly stolid face
