further adventures of lad-第7节

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　Finch；　for　instance？　If　you　have；　you　certainly　must　know　that　a　dog；　afflicted　with　genuine　rabies；　will　no　more　turn　out　of　his　way　to　bite　anyone　than　a　typhoid　patient　will　jump　out　of　bed　to　chase　a　doctor。　I'm　not　saying　that　the　bite　of　any　sick　animal　（or　of　any　sick　human；　for　that　matter）　isn't　more　or　less　dangerous；　unless　it's　carefully　washed　out　and　painted　with　iodine。　But　that's　no　excuse　to　go　around　the　country；　shooting　every　dog　that　some　sick　mongrel　has　snapped　at。　Put　such　dogs　under　observation；　if　necessary；　and　then〃

〃You　talk　like　a　fool！〃　snorted　Wefers；　in　lofty　contempt。　〃I〃

〃But　I　am　going　to　keep　you　from　acting　like　a　fool；〃　returned　the　Master；　his　hard…held　temper　beginning　to　fray。　〃You　say　you've　come　over　here　to　shoot　my　dog。　If　ever　anyone　shoots　Lad；　I'll　be　the　man　to　do　it。　And　I'll　have　to　have　lots　better　reason　for　it　than〃

〃Go　ahead；　then！〃　vouchsafed　the　constable；　fishing　out　a　rusty　service　pistol　from　his　coat…tail　pocket。　〃Go　ahead　and　do　it　yourself；　then；　if　you'd　rather。　It's　all　one　to　me；　so　long's　it's　done。〃

With　sardonic　politeness；　he　proffered　the　bulky　weapon。　The　Master　caught　it　from　his　hand　and　flung　it　a　hundred　feet　away；　into　the　center　of　a　clump　of　lilacs。

〃So　much　for　the　gun！〃　he　blazed；　advancing　an　the　astounded　Wefers。　〃Now；　unless　you　want　to　follow　it〃

〃Dear！〃　expostulated　the　Mistress；　her　sweet　voice　atremble。

〃I'm　an　of'cer　of　the　law！〃　blustered　the　offended　constable；　in　the　same　breath　adding

〃And　resisting　an　of'cer　in　the　p'soot　of　his　dooty　is　a　misde〃

He　checked　himself；　unconsciously　turning　to　observe　the　odd　actions　of　Lad。

As　the　Master　had　hurled　the　pistol　far　from　him；　the　collie　had　sped　in　breakneck　pursuit　of　it。　Thus；　always；　did　he　delight　to　retrieve　any　object　the　Mistress　or　the　Master　might　toss　for　his　amusement。　It　was　one　of　Laddie's　favorite　games；　this　fetching　back　of　anything　thrown。　The　farther　it　might　be　flung　and　the　more　difficult　its　landing　place；　the　more　zest　to　the　sport。

This　time；　Lad　was　especially　glad　at　the　diversion。　From　the　voices　of　these　deities　of　his；　Lad　had　gathered　that　the　Master　was　furiously　angry　and　that　the　Mistress　was　correspondingly　unhappy。　Also；　that　the　lanky　and　red…bearded　visitor　was　directly　responsible　for　their　stress　of　feeling。　He　had　been　eyeing　alternately　the　Master　and　Wefers；　tensely　awaiting　some　overt　act　or　some　word　of　permission　which　should　warrant　him　in　launching　himself　on　the　intruder。

And　now；　it　seemed；　the　whole　thing　was　a　game；a　game　wherein　he　himself　had　been　invited　to　play　a　merry　and　spectacular　part。　Joyously；　he　flew　after　the　hurtling　lump　of　steel　and　rubber。

The　Master；　facing　the　constable；　did　not　see　his　pet's　performance。　He　took　up　the　thread　of　speech　where　Wefers　dropped　it。

〃I　don't　know　what　the　law　does　or　doesn't　empower　you　to　do；　in　such　cases；〃　he　said；　trying　to　force　his　way　back　to　the　earlier　semblance　of　calm。　〃But　I　doubt　if　it　permits　you　to　trespass　on　my　land；　without　a　warrant　or　a　court　order　of　some　sort；　or　to　shoot　a　dog　of　mine。　And；　until　I　find　out　the　law　in　the　matter；　you'll　get　off　this　place　and　keep　off　of　it。　As　for　the　dog；　I'll　be　legally　responsible　for　him；　and　I'll　guarantee　he'll　do　no　damage。　So〃

Like　Wefers；　the　Master　came　to　an　abrupt　halt　in　his　harangue。

For　Lad　was　cantering　gleefully　toward　him；　carrying　something　dark　and　heavy　between　his　jaws。　Straight　to　the　Master　came　Lad。　Carefully；　at　the　Master's　feet；　he　laid　the　rusty　pistol。

Then；　stepping　back　a　pace；　he　looked　up；　eagerly；　into　the　dumfounded　man's　face；　tail　waving；　dark　eyes　aglint　with　expectation。　It　had　been　hard　to　locate　the　weapon；　in　all　that　tangle　of　lilac…stems。　It　had　been　harder　to　carry　the　awkwardly　heavy　thing　all　the　way　back；　in　his　mouth；　without　dropping　it。　But；　if　this　was　the　plaything　the　Master　had　chosen；　Lad　was　only　too　willing　to　continue　the　game。

A　little　choking　sound　made　the　collie　shift　his　gaze　suddenly　to　the　Mistress's　troubled　face。　And　the　light　of　fun　in　his　eyes　was　quenched。　The　sight　of　her　splendid　dog　retrieving　so　joyously　the　weapon　designed　for　his　death；　was　almost　too　much　for　the　Mistress's　self…control。

The　effect　on　the　Master　was　different。

As　Wefers　made　as　though　to　jump　forward　and　grab　the　pistol；　the　Master　said　sharply

〃WATCH　it；　Laddie！〃

Instantly；　Lad　was　on　the　alert。　The　game；　it　seemed；　had　begun　again；　and　along　sterner　lines。　He　was　to　guard　this　plaything；particularly　from　the　bearded　intruder　who　was　snatching　so　avidly　for　it。

There　was　a　sharp　growl；　a　flash　of　fierce　white　teeth；　a　bound。　One　of　Lad's　snowy　little　forepaws　was　on　the　fallen　pistol。　And　the　rest　of　Lad's　sinewy　body　was　crouching　above　it；　fangs　aglint；　eyes　blazing　with　hot　menace。

Wefers　jerked　back　his　protruding　arm；　with　extreme　quickness；　barely　avoiding　a　deep　slash　from　the　collie's　shearing　eye…teeth。　And　Lad；　continued　to　〃watch〃　the　pistol。

The　dog　was　having　a　lovely　time。　Seldom　had　he　been　happier。　All　good　collies　respond　in　semi…psychic　fashion　to　the　moods　of　their　masters。　And；　to　Lad；　the　very　atmosphere　about　him　was　thrilling　just　now　to　waves　of　stark　excitement。　With　the　delightful　vanity　which　is　a　part　of　the　collie　make…up；　he　realized　that　in　some　manner　he　himself　was　a　prominent　part　of　this　excitement。　And　he　reveled　in　it。

As　Wefers　pulled　back　his　imperiled　arm；　the　Mistress　stepped　forward；　before　the　Master　could　speak　or　move。

〃Even　if　it　were　true　that　he　could　get　rabies　by　a　bite　from　a　rabid　dog；〃　said　she；　〃and　even　if　that　dog；　yesterday；　were　mad；　that　wouldn't　affect　Laddie。　For　he　didn't　bite　Laddie。　He　never　got　the　chance。　Lad　pinned　him　to　the　ground。　And　while　the　mongrel　was　struggling　to　get　up；　you　shot　him。　One　of　your　bullets　flicked　Lad's　foreleg。　But　the　mongrel's　teeth　never　came　within　twelve　inches　of　him。　I　can　testify　to　that。〃

〃He　was　fighting　with　a　mad　dog！〃　reiterated　Wefers；　fumingly。　〃I　saw　'em；　myself。　And　when　a　dog　is　fighting；　he's　bound　to　get　bit。　I'm　not　here　to　argue　over　it。　I'm　here　to　enforce　the　law　of　the　sov'r'n　State　of　Noo　Jersey；　County　of　P'saic；　Township　of〃

〃But　the　law　declares　a　prisoner　innocent；　till　he's　proved　guilty；〃　urged　the　Mistress；　restraining　the　Master；　by　a　light　hand　on　his　restless　arm。　〃And　Lad's　not　been　proved　guilty。　It　isn't　proved　he　was　bitten；　at　all。　I　can　testify　he　wasn't。　My　husband　washed　the　scratch　and　he　can　tell　you　it　wasn't　made　by　a　bite。　Any　veterinary　can　tell　you　the　same　thing；　at　a　glance。　We　can　establish　the　fact　that　Lad　was　not　bitten。　So　even　if　the　law　lets　you　shoot　a　bitten　dog；which　I　don't　believe　it　does；it　doesn't　empower　you　to　shoot　Lad。　Why！〃　she　went　on；　shuddering　slightly；　〃if　Lad　hadn't　sprung　between　that　brute　and　myself；　you'd　probably　be　wanting　to　shoot　ME！　For　I'd　have　been　bitten；　terribly；　if　Lad　hadn't〃

〃I'm　not　here　to　listen　to　silly　nonsense！〃　announced　Wefer；　glaring　at　the　watchful　dog　and　back　at　the　man　and　woman；　〃I　came　here　in　p'soot　of　my　sworn　dooty。　I　been　balked　and　resisted　by　the　two　of　you；　and　my　pistol's　been　stole　from　me　and　a　savage　dog's　been　pract'c'lly　sicked　onto　me。　I'm　an　of'cer　of　the　law。　And　I'm　going　to　have　the　law　on　both　of　you；　for

int'fering　with　me　like　you　have。　And　I'm　going　to　get　a　court　order　to　shoot〃

〃Then　you　haven't　a　court　order　or　any　other　authority　to　shoot　him？〃　the　Master　caught　him　up。　〃You　admit　that！　You　came　over　here；　thinking　you　could　bluff　us　into　letting　you　do　it；　just　because　you　happen　to　wear　a　tin　badge！　I　thought　so。　Now；　my　pink…whiskered　friend；　you'll　stop　shouting　and　making　faces；　and　you'll　listen　to　me；　a　minute。　You　aren't　the　first　officer　who　has　exceeded　his　authority　on　the　chance　that　people　will　think　he's　acting　within　his　rights。　This　time　the　bluff　fails。　With　no　warrant　or　summons　or　other　legal　power　to　back　him；　a　constable　has　no　more　right　on　my　place　than　any　negro　trespasser。　What　you　may　or　may　not　be　able　to　persuade　some　magistrate　to　do　about　this；　I　don't　know。　But；　for　the　present；　you'll　clear　out。　Get　that？　I've　warned　you；　in　the　presence　of　a　witness。　If　you　know　anything　of　law；　you　know　that　a　landowner；　after　such　warning；　may　eject　a　trespasser　by　force。　Go。　And　keep　going。　That's　all。〃

Wefers　sputtered　wordlessly；　from　time　to　time；　during　the　tirade。　But　before　its　end；　he　fell　silent　and　began　to　fidget。　He　himself　was　none　too　well　versed　in　the　matter　of　his　legal　rights　of　intrusion。　And；　for　the　moment；　he　had　no　chance　to　execute　his　errand。　Later；　armed　with　a　magistrate's　order；　he　could　pay　back　with　interest　his　humiliation　of　this　morning。　In　the　meantime

〃Gimme　my　gun！〃　he　demanded　in　grouchy　surrender。

The　Master　stooped；　picked　up　the　pistol；　and　held　it　in　both　hands。　Lad；　all　eagerness；　stood　dancingly　waiting　for　him　to　throw　it　again。　But　it　was　not　thrown。　Instead；　the　Master　〃broke〃　the　weapon；　shaking　the　greasy　cartridges　out　on　to　his　own　palm　and　then　transferring　them　to　his　pockets。

〃In　case　of　accidents；〃　he　explained；　pleasantly；　as　he　handed　the　pistol　back　to　its　scowling　owner。　〃And　if　you'll　stop　at　th