his dog(狗儿莱德)-第6节
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HIS DOG
so dissolute a timepiece。
His two friends persuaded him to have one more drink。 Then they
volunteered to go across to the store with him。 He left the tavern； with one
of the two walking on either side of him。 He was glad to be in the center of
the trio； for； as the night air struck him； he became unaccountably dizzy。
His friends' willing arms were a grand support to his wavering legs。
On the unlighted threshold of the tavern Link stumbled heavily over
somethingsomething that had been lying there and that sprang eagerly
toward him as he debouched from the doorway。 The reason he stumbled
over it was that the creature； which had bounded so rapturously toward
him； had come to a sharp halt at noting his condition。 Thus； Ferris
stumbled over it； and would have fallen but for the aid of his friends。
The single village street was pitch black。 Not a light was to be seen。
This puzzled Link； who had no means of knowing that the time was close
on midnight。 He started toward the store。 At least that was the direction he
planned to take。 But when； at the end of five minutes； he found he was
outside the village and on a narrow road that bordered the lake； he saw his
friends had mistaken the way。 He stopped abruptly and told them so。
One of them laughed； as if Link had said something funny。 The other
did something quickly with one foot and one arm。 Ferris's legs went from
under him。 The jar of his fall shook from him a fraction of his drunkenness；
and it gave him enough sense to realize that the man who had laughed was
trying to unfasten the pinned inner pocket of the fallen man's vest。
Now for years that pocket had been the secret repository of Link
Ferris's sparse wealth。 The intruder's touch awakened him to a drowsy
sense of peril。 He thrust aside the fumbling hand and made a herculean
effort to rise。
At this show of resistance his two comrades； as by concerted signal；
threw themselves upon him。 With a yell of angry fright Link collapsed to
earth under the dual impact。
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CHAPTER II。 The Battle
He felt one of the men pinion his waving arms； while the other
crouched on his legs and proceeded to unpin the money pocket。 Ferris
struggled for an instant in futile fury； trying to shout for help。 The call was
strangled in his throat。 But the help came to him； none the less。
Scarce three seconds had passed since the attempt to rob him had set
Link into action and had wrung from him that yell of consternation。
But in answer came a swirling patter of feet on the road； a snarl like a
wolf's； a shape that catapulted through the dark。 Sixty pounds of fur…
swathed dynamic muscle smote athwart the shoulders of the man who was
unfastening the cash pocket's pin。
The impact hurled the fellow clean off his crouching balance and sent
him sprawling； face downward； his outflung hands splashing in the margin
of the lake。 Before he could roll over or so much as stir； a set of white
fangs met in his shoulder…flesh。 And he testified to his injury by an eldritch
screech of pain and terror that echoed far across the water。
His companion； rallying from the momentary shock； left Ferris and
charged at the prostrate thief's assailant。 But Chum met him； with a fierce
eagerness； more than half way。
A true colliethanks to his strain of wolf bloodfights as does no other
dog。 What he lacks in stubborn determination he atones for by swiftness
and by his uncanny brain power。
A bulldog； for example； would have flown to his master's relief quite
as readily as did Chum。 But a bulldog would have secured the first
convenient hold and would have hung on to that hold； whether it were at
his victim's throat or only on the slack of his trousersuntil someone
should hammer him into senselessness。
Chumcollie…fashionwas everywhere at once； using his brain far
more than his flying jaws。 Finding the grip in his foe's shoulder did not
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HIS DOG
prevent the man from twisting round to grapple him； the collie shifted that
grip with lightning speed； and with one of his gleaming eyeteeth slashed
his opponent's halfturned cheek from eye to chin。 Then he bored straight
for the jugular。
It was at this crisis that he sensed； rather than saw； the other man
rushing at him。 Chum left his fallen antagonist and whirled about to face
the new enemy。 As he was still turning； he sprang far to one side； in bare
time to elude a swinging kick aimed at his head。
Then； before the thief could recover the balance endangered by so
mighty a kick； the collie had whirled in and sunk his teeth deep in the
man's calf。 The bitten man let out a roar of pain； and smote wildly at the
dog's face with both swinging fists。
Chum leaped back out of range； and then； with the same bewildering
speed； flashed in again and buried his curved fangs in the nearest of the
two flailing forearms。
The first victim of the collie's attack was scrambling to his feet。 So
was Link Ferris。 Sobered enough to recognize his beloved dog； he also
saw the newrisen thief catch up a broken fence rail； brandish it aloft and
charge upon the collie； who was still battling merrily with the second man。
To Link it seemed that nothing could save Chum from a backbreaking
blow from the huge club。 Instinctively he ran at the wielder of the
formidable weapon。 Staggering and sick and two…thirds drunk； Ferris；
nevertheless； made valiant effort to save the dog that was fighting so
gallantly for him。
His lurching rush carried him across the narrow road and to the lake
edge； barely in time to intercept the swinging sweep of the fence rail。 It
caught him glancingly across the side。 And its force carried him clean off
his none…too…steady feet。 Down went Ferrisdown and backward。 His
body plunged noisily into the water。
Chum had wheeled to face the rail's brandisher。 But at sight of his
master's sudden immersion in the lake； he quitted the fray。 At top speed the
dog cleared the bank and jumped down into the water in pursuit of Ferris。
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It evidently dawned on both men at once that there had been a good
deal of noise； for what was to have been a silent and decorous holdup。
Also that a raging collie is not a pleasant foe。 The racket might well draw
interference from outside。 The dog was overhard to kill； and his bites were
murderous。 The game had ceased to be worth the candle。 By common
impulse the pair took to their heels。
Link Ferris； head down in the cold water； was strangling in his
maudlin efforts to right himself。 He dug both hands into the lake…bottom
mud and strove to gain the surface。 But the effort was too much for him。 A
second frantic heave had better results。 And vaguely he knew why。
For Chum had managed to get a firm hold on the shoulder of his
master's coattwelve inches under waterand had braced himself with all
his wiry strength for a tug which should lift Ferris to the surface。
This added leverage barely made Link's own struggle a success。 The
half…drowned man regained his footing。 Floundering waist…deep in water；
he clambered up the steeply shelving bank to shore。 There at the road's
edge he lay； gasping and sputtering and fighting for breath。
Chum had been pulled under and out of his depth by Link's exertions。
Now； coming to the surface； he swam to shore and trotted up the bank to
the road。 Absurdly lank and small； with his soaking coat plastered close to
his slim body； he stood over his prostrate master。
The dog's quick glare up and down the road told him his foes were
gone。 His incredible sense of hearing registered the far…off pad…pad…pad of
fast…retreating human feet； and showed him the cours
