uled or talked to by strangers. But the
Mistress's tremulous squeeze and her shuddering whisper of "Oh, Laddie!
LADDIE!" had shown she was proud of him. And this flattered and
delighted Lad, past all measure.

He had acted on impulse. But, from the Mistress's manner, he saw he had
made a wonderful hit with her by what he had done. And his tail thumped
ecstatically against the seat as he cuddled very close to her side.

At home, there was more praise and petting;--this time from both the
Mistress and the Master. And the Master bathed and patched the
insignificant bullet-scratch on the collie's foreleg. Altogether, it
was a gala afternoon for the young dog. And he loved it.

But, next morning, there was quite another phase of life awaiting him.
Like most Great Moments, this exploit of Lad's was not on the free
list. And Trouble set in;--grim and sinister trouble.

Breakfast was over. The Mistress and the Master were taking their
wonted morning stroll through the grounds. Lad cantered along, ahead of
them. The light bullet-scratch on his foreleg did not lame or annoy
him. He inspected everything of canine interest; sniffing expert
inquiry at holes which might prove to be rabbit warrens; glaring in
truculent threat up some tree which might or might not harbor an
impudent squirrel; affecting to see objects of mysterious import in
bush clumps; crouching in dramatic threat at a fat stag-beetle which
scuttled across his path.

There are an immense number of worth-while details for a very young
collie, in even the most casual morning walk; especially if his
Mistress and his Master chance to be under his escort. And Laddie
neglected none of these things. If a troop of bears or a band of
Indians or a man-eating elephant were lurking anywhere in the shrubbery
or behind tree-trunks, Lad was not going to fail in discovering and
routing out such possible dangers to the peace of mind of his two
adored deities.

Scent and sight presently were attracted by a feeble fluttering under a
low-limbed catalpa tree in whose branches a pair of hysterical robins
were screeching. Lad paused, his tulip ears at attention, his plumed
tail swaying. Then he pushed his long muzzle through a clump of grass
and emerged carrying a flapping and piping morsel between his mighty
jaws. The birds, on the limb above, redoubled their frenzied chirping;
and made little futile dashes at the collie's head.

Unheeding, Lad walked back to the Mistress and laid