further adventures of lad-第5节
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〃We've got more than a watchdog；〃 amended the Mistress。 〃An ordinary watchdog would just scare away thieves or bite them。 Lad captured the thief and then brought the stolen jewelry back to us。 No other dog could have done that。〃
Lad； enraptured by the note of praise in the Mistress's soft voice； looked adoringly up into the face that smiled so proudly down at him。 Then； catching the sound of a step on the drive； he dashed out to bark in murderous fashion at a wholly harmless delivery boy whom he had seen every day for weeks。
A watchdog can't afford to relax vigilance； for a single instant；especially at the responsible age of five months。
CHAPTER II。 The Fetish
From the night of the robbery； Lad's high position at the Place was assured。
Even in the months of ganglingly leggy awkwardness which generally separate furry puppyhood from dignified collie maturity； he gave sure promise of his quality。 He was such a dog as is found perhaps once in a generation； the super…collie that neither knows nor needs such things as whip and chain； and that learns the Law with bewildering swiftness。 A dog with a brain and a mighty heart； as well as an endless fund of loveableness and of gay courage。
Month by month； the youngster developed into a massive giant； his orange…mahogany coat a miracle of thickness and length； his deep chest promising power as well as wolflike grace。 His mind and his oddly human traits developed as fast as did his body。
After the first month or so he received privileges never to be accorded to any other of the Place's dogs in Lad's lifetime。 He slept at night under the music…room piano； in the 〃cave〃 that was his delight。 At mealtimes he was even admitted into the sacred dining…room； where he lay on the floor at the Master's left hand。 He had the run of the house； as fully as any human。
It was when Lad was eighteen months old that the mad…dog scare swept Hampton village； and reached its crawly tentacles out across the lake to the mile…distant Place。
Down the village street； one day； trotted an enormous black mongrel； full in the center of the roadway。 The mongrel's heavy head was low； and lolled from side to side with each lurching stride of the big body。 The eyes were bloodshot。 From the mouth and the hanging dewlaps； flecks of foam dropped now and then to the ground。
The big mongrel was sick of mind and of body。 He craved only to get out of that abode of men and to find solitude in the forests and hills beyond the village。
For this is the considerate way of dogs； and of cats as well。 When dire sickness smites them； they do not hang about； craving sympathy and calling for endless attention。 All they want is to get out of the way；well out of the way； into the woods and swamps and mountains； where they may wrestle with their life…or…death problem in their own primitive manner； and where； if need be； they may die alone and peacefully； without troubling anyone else。
Especially is this true with dogs。 If their malady is likely to affect the brain and to turn them savage； they make every possible attempt to escape from home and to be as far away from their masters as may be； before the crisis shall goad them into attacking those they love。
And； when some such suffering beast is seen； on his way to solitude； we humans prove our humanity by raising the idiotic bellow of 〃Mad dog！〃 and by chasing and torturing the victim。 All this； despite proof that not one sick dog in a thousand； thus assailed； has any disease which is even remotely akin to rabies。
Next to vivisection； no crime against helpless animals is so needlessly and foolishly cruel as the average mad…dog chase。
Which is a digression； but which may or may not enable you to keep your head； next time a mad…dog scare sweeps your own neighborhood。
Down the middle of the dusty street trotted the sick mongrel。 Five minutes earlier； he had escaped from the damp cellar in which his owner had imprisoned him when first he fell ill。 And now； his one purpose was to leave the village behind him and to gain the leafy refuge of the foothills beyond。
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 swerv
