the fun. A number of humans,--to judge by the
racket,--were shouting and screaming; and the well-understood word,
"dog," formed a large part of their clamor. Also, there were real dogs
mixed up in the fracas; and more than one of them had blood on him. So
much the collie's uncanny senses of smell and of hearing told him.

Lad whimpered, far down in his throat. He had been left here to guard
this car. It was his duty to stay where he was, until the Mistress
should return. Yet, right behind him, there, a series of mighty
entertaining things were happening,--things that he longed to
investigate and to mix into. It was hard to do one's solemn duty as
watchdog, when so much of wild interest was astir! Not once did it
occur to Laddie to desert his post. But he could not forbear that low
whimper and a glance of appeal toward the post-office.

And now, out of the smear of flying dust, loomed a lurching black
shape;--gigantic, terrible. It was coming straight toward the car;
still almost in mid-road. Behind, less distinct, appeared running men.
And a shot was fired. Somebody had run indoors for a pistol, before
joining the chase. The same somebody, in the van of the pursuers, had
opened fire; and was in danger of doing far more damage to life than
could a dozen allegedly mad dogs.

Just then, out from the post-office, came the Mistress. Crossing the
narrow sidewalk, she neared the car. Lad stood up, wagging his plumed
tail in welcome; his tiny white forepaws dancing a jig of eagerness on
the leather seat-cushion.

On reeled the black mongrel; crazed by noise and pain. His bleared eyes
caught a flash of the Mistress's white dress, on the walk, fifteen feet
in front of him and a yard or more to one side.

In a frame of mind when every newcomer was a probable tormenter, the
mongrel resolved to meet this white-clad foe, head-on. He swerved, with
a stagger, from his bee-line of travel; growled hideously, and sprang
full at her.

The Mistress paused, for an instant, in the middle of the sidewalk, to
find out the reason for the sudden din that had assailed her ears as
she emerged from the post-office. In that brief moment, she caught the
multiple-bellowed phrase of "Mad dog!" and saw the black brute charging
down upon her.

There was no time to dart back into the shelter of the building or to
gain the lesser safety of the car. For the charging mongrel was not
five feet away.

The Mistress stood stock-still; holding her hands