further adventures of lad-第6节

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〃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　only　hope　he　won't　happen　upon　a　newborn　rattlesnake　or　copperhead　and　bring　it　to　you　for　refuge；〃　answered　the　Master。　〃I　never　saw　another　dog；　except　a　trained　pointer　or　setter；　that　could　handle　birds　so　tenderly。　He〃

The　bumping　of　a　badly　handled　rowboat；　against　the　dock；　at　the　foot　of　the　lawn；　a　hundred　yards　below；　checked　his　rambling　words。　Lad；　at　sudden　attention；　by　his　master's　side；　watched　the　boat's　occupant　clamber　clumsily　out　of　his　scow；　then　stamp　along　the　dock　and　up　the　lawn　toward　the　house。　The　arrival　was　a　long　and　lean　and　lank　and　lantern…jawed　man　with　a　set　of　the　most　fiery　red　whiskers　ever　seen　outside　a　musical　comedy。　The　Master　had　seen　him　several　times；　in　the　village；　and　recognized　him　as　Homer　Wefers；　the　newly…appointed　Township　Head　Constable。　The　Mistress　recognized　him；　too；　as　the　vehement　official　whose　volley　of　pistol…bullets　had　ended　the　sufferings　of　the　black　mongrel。　She　shivered；　in　reminiscence；　as　she　looked　at　him。　The　memory　he　evoked　was　not　pleasant。

〃Morning！〃　Wefers　observed；　curtly；　as　the　Master；　with　Lad　beside　him；　stepped　forward　to　greet　the　scarlet…bearded　guest。　〃I　tried　to　get　over　here；　last　night。　But　I　guess　it's　soon　enough；　today。　Has　he　showed　any　signs；　yet？〃　He　nodded　inquiringly　at　the　impassive　Lad；　as　he　spoke。

〃'Soon　enough'　for　what？〃　queried　the　puzzled　Master。

〃And　what　sort　of　'signs'　are　you　talking　about？〃

〃Soon　enough　to　shoot　that　big　brown　collie　of　yours；〃　explained　Wefers；　with　businesslike　briskness。　〃And　I'm　asking　if　he's　showed　any　signs　of　hydrophoby。　Has　he？〃

〃Are　you　speaking　of　Laddie？〃　asked　the　Mistress；　in　dismay；　as　the　slower…witted　Master；　stared　and　gulped。　〃Why　should　he　show　any　signs　of　hydrophobia？　He〃

〃If　he　hasn't；　he　will；〃　rapped　out　the　visitor。　〃Or　he　would；　if　he　wasn't　put　out　of　the　way。　That's　what　I'm　here　for。　But　I　kind　of　hoped　maybe　you　folks　might　have　done　it；　yourselves。　Can't　be　too　careful；　you　know。　'Specially〃

〃What　in　blue　blazes　are　you　blithering　about？〃　roared　the　Master；　finding　his　voice　and　marshaling　his　startled　wits。　〃Do　you　mean〃

〃I　mean；〃　said　Wefers；　rebuking　with　a　cold　glare　the　Master's　disrespectful　manner；　〃I　mean　I'm　here　to　shoot　that　big　collie　of　yours。　He　was　bit　by　a　mad　dog；　yesterday。　So　was　three　other　dogs　over　in　the　village。　I　shot　'em　all；　before　they　had　time　to　d'velop　symptoms　and　things；　or　bite　anybody。　One　of　'em；〃　he　added；　unctuously；　〃one　of　'em　b'longed　to　that　little　crippled　Posthanger　girl。　She　cried　and　begged；　something　pitiful；　when　I　come　for　him。　But　dooty　is　dooty。　So　I〃

〃OH！〃

The　Mistress's　horrified　monosyllable　broke　in　on　the　smug　recital。　She　caught　Lad　protectingly　by　the　ruff　and　stared　in　mute　dread　at　the　lanky　and　red…whiskered　officer。　Lad；　reading　her　voice　as　always；　divined　this　nasal…toned　caller　had　said　or　done　something　to　make　her　unhappy。　His　ruff　bristled。　One　corner　of　his　lip　lifted　in　something　which　looked　like　a　smile；　but　which　was　not。　And；　very　far　down　in　his　throat　a　growl　was　born。

But　the　Master　stepped　in　front　of　his　wife　and　his　dog；　and　confronted　the　constable。　Fighting　for　calmness；　he　asked：

〃Do　I　understand　that　you　shot　those　harmless　little　pups　just　because　a　dog　that　was　sick；　and　not　rabid；　happened　to　nip　them？　And　that　you've　come　across　here　with　an　idea　of　doing　the　same　thing　to　Lad？　Is　that　it？〃

〃That's　the　idea；〃　assented　Wefers。　〃I　said　so；　right　off；　as　soon　as　I　got　here。　Only；　you're　wrong　about　the　dog　being　'sick。'　He　was　mad。　Had　rabies。　I'd　ought　to　know。　I〃

〃How　and　why　ought　you　to　know？〃　demanded　the　Master；　still　battling　for　perfect　calm；　and　succeeding　none　too　well。　〃How　ought　you　to　know？　Are　you　a　veterinary？　Have　you　ever　made　a　study　of　dogs　and　of　their　maladies？　Have　you　ever　read　up；　carefully；　on　the　subject　of　rabies？　Have　you　read　Eberhardt　or　Dr。　Bennett　or　Skinner　or　any　of　a　dozen　other　authorities　on　the　disease？　Have　you　consulted　such　eminent　vets　as　Hopper　and　Finch；　for　instance？　If　you　have；　you　certainly　must　know　th