Lad: A Dog

. This "mount" was little more than a foothill. It was treeless, and covered with short grass and mullein; a slope where no

e neared the hill he would always dash forward at top speed; flying up the rise like a tawny whirlwind, at unabat

." And, as ever, he rushed gleefully forward for his daily breather, up the long slope. But, before he had gone fifty yards, he ca

shift of the breeze, from west to north, had brought to his nose the odor which had checked his onrush; an odor t

ighted. And the worst dog has a magic sense of smell. Wherefore, a dog almos

t its surface was no longer smoothly unencumbered. Instead, it was dot

feeding animals lifted their heads, snortingly, from the short herbage, at sight of

ed after the gray-white surge that swept upward toward the summit of his favored coursing gr

lls-one Titus Romaine, owner of the sparse-grassed hill. Drawn by the noisy multiple patter of his

had corralled a little herd of his prize Merinos, overnight, at The Place, on the way to the Paterson Livestock Show. On that occasion, t

d now upon the sheep that were obstructing his run, he felt a distinct aversion to them. Whining a little, he trotte

the land-owner. "Ever since I turned these critters

aster. "And how long have you been a sheep-raiser? A she

nin' 'em," retorted the farmer. "Just like I'v

lexed Mistress; failing to note the man'

urse," declared Romaine. "I caught hi

ght of them he stopped running. Lad wouldn't hurt anything that is weak and h

' I give you fair warnin', if any of my sheep is killed

ad--" began th

istress i

d that the price of fodder and the scarcity of pasture were doing terrible things to the mutton-and-wool supply. I hope you'll have all sorts of good luck. And you are wise to watch

Romaine st

e been readin' up on sheep, too. I've been readin' that the worst en'my to sheep is 'pred'tory dogs.' An

Mistress, again forestalling an untactful outbreak from her

have you folks up in court, if he does,

eturning to his scattered sheep, while the Mistress, Lad at her heels,

s have chased or killed sheep, now and then, every decent dog is under suspicion as a sheep-killer. If one of Romaine's wethers gets a scratch on its leg, from a bramble, Lad

dfellowship and peace with their few rural neighbors, as well as with the several hundred inhabitants of the mile-distant village, across the lake. An

re down upon The Place, before breakfast, brea

en the Master came out. At Titus's heels stood his "hired man"-a huge and sullen p

, I guessed right! He done it, after all! He done it. We all but caught h

e veranda-group. "'Bout that ugly big dog of your'n!" answered Romaine. "I knew what he'd do, if he got the chance.

e Master, impatient of t

d the Mistress,

ing about Lad

est sheep. Did it in the night an' early this mornin'. My man here caught him at the last of 'em

r. "You're talking rot. Lad

ir children is charged with doin' wrong!" scoffed

ed last night?" inte

an' early in the mornin

iano, in the music room. He has slept there every night since he was a puppy. The maid wh

e in Romaine. "He was out last night,

" questione

drive the sheep to the pasture. First thing I saw was that big dog growling over a sheep he'd just killed. He saw me, and he wiggled out through the barnyard bars-same way h

e Place's foreman. "That makes about as much sense a

ognized him-in Mr. Titus's barnyard, growling over

affirmed Schw

mages out of court. Them sheep cost me exac'ly $12.10 a head, in the Pat'son market, one week ago. An' sh

w worse than I hate measles. But I'll fight that idiotic cl

ad came galloping gaily up the lawn from the lake, adrip with water from his morning swim. Straig

lendid body was tense. His eyes looked up into the face of the loved Mistress in eager a

citement of the minute. "That's the one. He has washed off the blood. But that is the one. I could know him anywhe

"Not a trace of blood or of wool!" he announced. "And loo

ll look after a poor man's int'rest. I don't wonder there's folks who want all dogs done 'way with. Pesky curs! Here, the papers say we are short on sheep, an' they beg us to raise 'em, becaus

ty sorry. And I'm still sorrier if there is a sheep-kill

he court is goin' to see me righted. It's goin' to do more. It's goin' to make you shoot that

p-killing dog!" fl

ed Romaine. "An', by law,

threat. "And take it and yourself off my Place! Lad doesn't 'run' sheep. But, at the word from me, he'll

with sharp interest. Schooled in reading the human voice, he had listened alertly to the Master's speech of dismissal. And, as the dog listened, his te

he breakfast room. "You were right about 'good old Mr. Trouble dropping in on us.' Isn't it horrible? But it

sheep and not leaving a trace of more than one of them. That, alone, would get his case laughed out of court. I remember, once in Scotland, I was stopping with some people whose shepherd complained that three of the sheep h

ted the Mistress, hurriedly. "This wretched business has t

e next day, the Master was

" said the voice

an hour. "If you're going to tell me this is a good day for small-mouth bass to bite I'm going to tell you it isn't. It isn't because I'm up to my neck

ing you up for that. I'm calling up on bu

ng?" asked

h his North Prussian hired man as witness-to make a complaint about your

the Master. "He

ning or last night. Schwartz swears he caught Lad at the last of the killed sheep both times. It's hard luck, old man, and I feel as bad

s guilty!" flamed the Master. "You

He had had a hard day's work and he fell asleep while he was on watch. He says he woke up in gray dawn to find the whole flock in a turmoil, and Lad pinning one of the sheep to the groun

out the case?" aske

ernoon with the bodies of the two dead sheep that are

't worry. And it was decent of you to make th

to say there isn't any appeal from the local Justice's decree that a sheep-killing dog must be shot at once. The law leaves me no option if I consider a dog guilty

toutly; albeit he was beginning to feel a n

m innocent. I'll stake an

r before three o'clock," suggested Maclay. "There may be a l

holes,' Lad and I," returned the Master. "We're

arch of the Mistress, and more and m

"Romaine and Schwartz seem to have

ensible man is made a Judge, he seems to lose all his common sense and intuition and become nothing but a walki

in her sweet voice that roused

u can put your mind to rest on that. But that isn't enough. I want to clear him. In these days of 'conservation' and scarcity, it is a grave offense

p were killed in the night and at dawn, just as t

yes.

morning when she comes downstairs to dust these lower rooms. She's never down before six o'clock; and the sun, nowadays, rises long before tha

ile of positive inspiration. The M

ars. Her word is certainly as good as a Boche farmhand's. Even Maclay's 'j

dy a minute later, the Master opened the exam

own here in the mornings, a

g maid. "Yes, always, except when you

own here in the morning

" said the maid, bridling a bit as if

than six?" as

ably. "Of course, if that's not

There is no complaint about your hours. You always

oon as I get downstairs. Those

n the Romaine barnyard at daybreak, it assuredly was not Lad. Yet, racking his brain, the Master could not recall any other dog in the vicinity that bore even the faintest semblance

ghter by the queer "sixth" collie-sense, was killing Romaine's new flock of shee

omes out from under his piano the minute he hears my step in the hall outside. And he always comes right up to me and wags that big plume of a tail of his

ing nod, the maid ventured to enl

nd glad to see me. I've really missed him quite bad this past few mornings."

" he repeated, blitherin

are left open for the night-same as they always are when the hot weather starts in, you know, sir. Since then, Laddie d

he Master, dizzily.

convinced as ever of his dog's innocence, but he had staked everything on Marie

Lad on duty, the house was as safe from successful burglary in spite of these open windows, as if guarded by a squad of special policemen.

is defense and, with the Mistress' far cleverer aid, made ready for the afternoon's ordeal. He scouted Maclay's suggestion o

oceedings there were generally marked by shrewd sanity rather than by any effort at formalism. Maclay, himself, sat at a ba

s and prisoners and witnesses and lawyers were wont to sit, with no order of precedent or of other formality. S

ough held by no leash-paced Lad. Maclay and Romaine and Schwartz were already on hand. So were the clerk and the constable

ffed vibrantly once or twice. Titus Romaine, his eyes fixed scowlingly on the dog,

e Judge and recognizing him as an old acquaintance, the collie wagged his plum

ed the Mist

The constable was drawing up a chair at the deal table for the Mistress. Lad curled down beside

arting with Lad's first view of the sheep. Schwartz methodically reto

ad chase the sheep-flock that morning on Mount Pisgah, but had merely seen the sheep running, and the dog standing at the hill-foot looking upward at

l value. Even if he had not attacked the flock on his first view of them he was accused of killing no less than eight of their numbe

y ordered the sheep-carcasses taken from their burlap

p and on the brutally useless wastage in their slaying. The Master said nothing, but he bent over each of the sheep, carefully studying th

ither by Lad nor by any 'killer.' Look for yourself. I've se

aine. "I s'pose they was chewed by lightnin',

ewed. Look! Those gashes are ragged enough, but they are as straight as if the

your cur tear 'em. That's all there is to it. Whether he tore 'em straight or whether he t

aster, suddenly. "May I

turned to Schwartz, who fa

gh for you to recognize the sheep-killing dog both morni

or a second, then m

ough to see him plain, and I'd seen him often enough before on the road or in your car; so I knew him all right. The next time-this morning, Judge-I was within five feet of him, or even nearer. For I was near enough

you were on watch last night in the cowshed, just alongside the barnyard wh

dog--" correc

nd bleating sheep he had pulled down. How

x feet from me. I ups with the stick I

he sheep makin

n," replied Schwartz. "What with your dog's snarling and gro

or dragged their bodies away and come back again; and, presumably started a noisy panic in

-mowing for ten hours the day before, and up since five. Mr. Romaine

ng at his door an' holler myself hoarse, before I can get him

d the Master, "and struck the dog before he could

That's wh

did you

red Schwartz, with reminisc

a whipped cur? He made no move to resent

ough to get out of reach. He slunk away so fast, I ha

r stick. Just as hard. Lad has never been struck except once, unjustly, by me, years ago. He has never needed it. But if he would slink away

he wondered at this invitation to a farmhand to thrash the dog publicly. He glanced at the Mistress.

gripped the crop the Mas

ung the weapon aloft and took a step toward the lazi

ed of a fighting wolf, eluding the descending crop as it swished past him and launching himself straight for the wielder's throa

huge dog midway in h

!" he orde

the floor at the Mistress' feet. But he kept a watchful

t he went for you, like that, just now; when, this mor

cted onslaught. "His folks are here to back him up, and everything. Why wo

ed Lad, with my crop. But you've split the crop. And you scored a visible mark on the woode

esponded Schwartz.

ch a blow would have raised a weal on Lad's flesh, an inch high. Would your

ed the annoyed Titus Romaine. "You'r

please!" insi

y fashion over to the waiting judge. Maclay ran an exploring hand through the magnificent tawny coat, from head to haunch; then along the dog's furry sides.

ther mark on him," prese

and further, was along eccentric lines she herself had thought out and

you didn't hit quite as hard as you thought you did, this morning; or else some other dog is ca

ociferated Schwartz. "Not even if the Judge jail

ng away when it landed. I am curious to know just how hard a kick it was. In fact, I'm so curious about it that I am going to offer myself as a substitute for Lad

Romaine. "This measly

ter sharply; turning from the bewildered

. Maclay glanced again at the Mistress. In spite of the prospect of seeing her husband kicked, her face wore a most pleased smile. The

man doesn't get a chance, like this, every day, to kick an American. And

d perhaps not sorry to assail the man whose dog had tried to throttle him-he drew back his brogane

Master dodged or blocked it. He stoo

ry. And Schwartz drew back his half-extended left foot in sudden t

he Mistress had foreseen when she planned the man?uver. Almost any good dog will attack a man who seeks to

ler of his idol. The memory of Schwartz's blow at himself was as nothing to it. It aroused in

ced to deflect Lad's charge. He writhed in their dual grasp, snarling furiously

the babel of Titus Romaine's protests. "In spite of the inform

t a stranger strike and kick him as this man claims to have done with impunity. I think I have shown, from Lad's own reg

breath, in a swirl of anger. "Next time I'll be

omaine. "Judge, I call on you to order that sheep-killer shot; an' to

to listen to a counter-proposition? A proposition which I t

he shootin' of that cur and the indemnify

for order; then, turni

our prop

I will deposit with the court, here and now, my bond for the sum of one thousand dollars; to be paid, on

loud at its bizarre terms. Schwartz looked blank, until, little by little, the purport of

'll agree to hold up this case for twenty-four hours you'll give me one thousa

money, at once, with instructions that the sum is to be paid to you, if you lose one sheep, through dogs, in the next day. I furthermore agree to shoot Lad,

" exclaim

w the Mistress' cheek whiten a little; but her aspect betrayed no worry over the pos

ad gone, the Master tarried

thing. To get a thousand dollars Romaine is capable of scouring the whole country for a sheep-killing dog. So

a year from now. That's why we arranged it. Say, Mac; I want you to do me a big favor. A favor that comes within the square and angle of your work. I wan

"Why, man, nothing but catfish

asking you in your official capacity; but as a friend. I'll need you, Mac. It will be a big favor to me. And if I'm not wrong, there'll be sport in it

perplexed Judge, impressed, "but

now, is for you to commit yourself to the scheme. If it fails, you wo

t. A few moments later the Master got up from a rock on Mount Pisgah's summit, on which he a

ut it's better to be too soon than too late; when I've got so much staked. If we're seen, you can cut and

outer fringe of the home-lot, until they came opposite the black-gabled bulk of the barn. Presently, their slowly cau

p caught the scent of the dog, came a slight stirr

een raided by a killer-dog, for the past two nights. Yet the smell of a dog doesn't even make them ble

e bars, and out again the same way. Well, if those bars were wide enough apart for an eighty-pound collie, like Lad, to get through, what would there be to prevent all these sheep from

e say the dog not only got through, but dragged three dead sheep through, after him, each night, and hid them somewhere,

down at the men's feet, beside the fence. And s

distant tree-toads and crickets, it was deathly silent. Heat li

" whispered Maclay. "He'd have raised the alar

with sheep. And he's been reading a lot of rot about dogs being non-utilit

the stillness, a house door shut very softly, not far away. An instant la

ster, exultantly. "Now, maybe you understand why

h again; though he still rumbled deeply in his throat, until a to

man's bare feet, drawing closer to the barnyard. Lad as he heard it made as if to rise. The Master

d the watchers discern the shadowy outline of a man, moving silently between them a

rollable trembling the

umble of a voice the animals seemed to know. And, except for the stealthy m

hind the outer angle of the fence. He had come out of the yard, and was shuffling away. But he was fully a thi

his back. Probably with a cloth wrapped around its head to ke

d out, to a charm! But how in the blazes can we track him through this dar

he dog's low-growling throat. "That's what the old fellow's here for. He has a kick t

y head and shoulders straining forward. The Master's reiterated "Quiet!"

more than one reason for this insistence. Not only did the two men want to keep far enough behind Schwartz to prevent him from hearing their careful step

ugh woods. At last, with a gasp, the Master found himself wallowing knee-deep i

ge. "He's led us into the Pancake Hollow swamp. Schwartz ne

er one of the half-dozen paths that lead through this mar

econd or so. The men saw it and strode forward at top speed. The third step caused Maclay to stumble over a hummock and land, noisily,

t. And there was a crashing in

ing to his feet. "He'll escape! And

ing to catch a man who, unimpeded, was running away, along a dry-gr

sh from the dog's

Laddie!

lloping through shallow water. That and a que

e knoll. They had drawn forth their electric torches; a

e first bit of firm ground, all pandemonium burst

ells and stamping of a fear-demented man, the bleats of sheep, the tearing of underbrush

they dashed up the knoll and into the path leading east from it. It spoke of unpleasant-not to sa

ster, pantingly, as he ra

ommand he rounded a t

o guard his throat with his slashed forearm, sprawled Schwartz. Crouchin

d teeth glinted white and blood-flecked in t

ted the Maste

d it from earliest puppyhood. The collie, still shaking all over with the effort of repressing hi

the dog would do him no more damage, and at the same time making a quick inspection of

and he'd have gotten through to your throat, but your clothes saved you from a

rtations. Presently he sat up nursing his lacerated forearm and staring about him. At sight

ight and I saw that schweinhund steal another sheep. I followed h

is is the yarn you choose to tell, we'll look about and try to verify it. The sheep, for instance-the one you say Lad carried all the way here and the

ped nervousl

him. "We won't bother a tired and

the Maste

tand guard over him while the other

ed do that," said

orward, and Schwartz started

mmanded the Mas

to do sentry duty over some other article of value. He understood. He would have preferred to deal with this enemy accor

prisoner, "and perhaps he won't go for you. Mo

mined tour of the knoll. It was a desolate spot, far back in the swamp and more than a m

e knoll where stood a thick birch-and-alder copse. Around this they circled until they reached a

e in single file, the investi

ring. In this, was a rudely wattled pen some nine

z had taken from the barnyard that night and which he had dropped at Lad's onslaught before h

ing if we hadn't butted in on Herr Schwartz's overtime labors. To get three sheep at night, it was well worth his while to switch suspicion to Lad by killing a fourth sheep every time, and mangling its throat with a stripping-knife. Only,

Maclay, "why four

tus got out of bed. He wouldn't dare hide them any nearer home. Titus has spent most of his time both days in hunting for them. Schwartz was probably waiting to get the pen nice and full. Then he'd take a

old you were taking big chances in gambling $1000 and your dog's life that Schwartz would d

If it was Schwartz-well, that's why I made him try to hit Lad and why I made him try to kick me. The dog went for him both times, and that was enough to make Schwartz want him killed for his own safety as well as for revenge. So he was certain to arrange another killing within the twenty-four h

rdially admitted Maclay. "

wife's name. Come on, Lad! You can guard Herr Schwartz just as well by walking behind him. We're going to wind up the evening's fishing trip by tendering a