towered, thus,
ever so high above Lad's head.

His short arms, with their saber-shaped claws, were outstretched toward
Lad, as if in humble supplication. But there was nothing supplicating
or even civil in the tiny red eyes that squinted ferociously down at
the collie. Small wonder that Laddie halted his own galloping advance;
and stood doubtful!

The Master, a minute earlier, had turned out of the blankets for his
painfully icy morning plunge in the lakelet. The fanfare of barking, a
quarter-mile below, changed his intent. A true dogman knows his dog's
bark,--and its every shade of meaning,--as well as though it were human
speech. From the manner wherewith Lad had given tongue, the Master knew
he had cornered or treed something quite out of the common. Catching up
his rifle, he made for the direction of the bark; running at top speed.

The bear put an end to the moment of hesitancy. Lunging forward, he
raked at the crouching collie, with one of his murderous claws; in a
gesture designed to gather the impudent dog into his death-embrace.

Now, even from humans, except only the Mistress and the Master, Lad
detested patting or handling of any kind. Whether he thought this
maneuver of the bear's an uncouth form of caress or knew it for a
menace,--he moved back from it. Yet he did so with a leisurely motion,
devoid of fear and expressive of a certain lofty contempt. Perhaps that
is why he moved without his native caution.

At all events, the tip of one of the sweeping claws grazed his ear,
opening the big vein, and hurting like the very mischief.

On the instant, Lad changed from a mischievous investigator to a deeply
offended and angry dog. No longer in doubt as to Bruin's intent, he
slithered out of reach of the grasping arms, with all the amazing speed
of a wolf-descended collie of the best sort. And, in practically the
same fraction of a second, he had flashed back to the attack.

Diving in under the other's surprisingly agile arms, he slashed the
bear's stomach with one of his razorlike eyeteeth; then spun to one
side and was out of reach. Down came the bear, on all fours; raging
from the slash. Lurching forward, he flung his huge bulk at the dog.
Lad flashed out of reach, but with less leeway than he would have
expected. For Bruin, for all his awkwardness, could move with
bewildering speed.

And, as the bear turned, Lad was at him again, nipping the hairy flank,
till his teeth met in its fat; and then divin