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She broke into a clumsy gallop； heading homeward。
But Bruce and Wolf would not have it so。 Delightedly they tore in to the attack。 Their slashing fangs and their keenly nipping front teeth were everywhere。 They were all over her。 In sudden panic； blinded by terror and pain； the sow put her six hundred pounds of unwieldy weight into the fastest motion she could summon。 At a scrambling run； she set off； around the house； head down； bitten tail aloft； the two dogs at her bleeding haunches。
Dimly； she saw a big and black obstacle loom up in her path。 It was coming noisily toward her。 But she was going too fast and too blindly to swerve。 And she met it； headlong； throwing her vast weight forward in an attempt to smash through it。 At the same time； Wolf and Bruce left off harrying her flanks and sprang aside。
Dugan had reached the garage unseen。 There； he had backed out the car； by hand； shoving it into the open； lest the motor…whirr give premature announcement of his presence。 Then； as he boarded the machine and reached for the self…starter； all bedlam broke loose； from somewhere in the general direction of the house； fifty yards away。
Dugan； glancing up apprehensively； beheld the first phases of the fight。 Forgetting the need of haste and of secrecy； he sat there； open…mouthed； watching a scrimmage which was beyond all his sporting experience and which thrilled him as no prize…fight had ever done。 Moveless； wide eyed； he witnessed the battle。
But the arrival of the two other dogs and the flight of the sow roused him to a sense of the business which had brought him thither。 The Mistress and the maids had no eyes or ears for anything but the wounded Lad。 Dugan knew he could； in all probability； drive to the main road unnoticed； if he should keep the house between him and the women。
He pressed the self…starter； threw off the brake and put the car into motion。 Then； as he struck the level stretch of driveway； back of the house； he stepped hard on the accelerator。 Here； for a few rods； was danger of recognition； and it behooved him to make speed。 He made it。
Forward bounded the car and struck a forty…mile gait。 And around the house's far corner and straight toward Dugan came flying the sow and the two collies。 The dogs； at sight of the onrushing car； sprang aside。 The sow did not。
In the narrow roadway there was no room for Dugan to turn out。 Nor did he care to。 Again and again he had run over dogs； without harming his car or slackening its pace。 And of course it would be the same with a pig。 He stepped harder on the accelerator。
Alf Dugan came to his senses in the hospital ward of the Paterson jail。 He had not the faintest idea how he chanced to be there。 When they told him the car had turned turtle and that he and a broken…necked pig had been hauled out of the wreckage； he asked in all honesty：
〃What car？ What pig？ Quit stringing me； can't you？ Which of my legs did you say is bust； and which one is just twisted？ They both feel as bad as each other。 How'd I get here； anyhow？ What happened me？〃
When the vet had worked over Lad for an hour and had patched him up and had declared there was no doubt at all about his getting well； Wolf and Bruce were brought in to see the invalid。 The Mistress thought he might be glad to see them。
He was not。
Indeed； after one scornful look in their direction； Laddie turned away from the visitors； in cold disgust。 Also； he was less demonstrative with the Mistress； than usual。 Anyone could see his feelings were deeply hurt。 And anyone who knew Lad could tell why。
He had borne the brunt of the fight。 And； at the last； these lesser dogs had won the victory without his aid。 Still worse； his beloved Mistress；for whom he had so blithely staked his aged life；the Mistress had held him back by force from joining in the delirious last phases of the battle。 She had made him stand tamely by； while others finished the grand work he had begun。
It was not fair。 And Laddie let everyone in sight know it was not fair； and that he had no intention of being petted into a good humor。
Still； when； by and by； the Mistress sat down on the floor beside him and told him what a darling and wonderful and heroic dog he was and how proud she felt of his courage； and when her dear hand rumpled the soft hair behind his ears；well； somehow Lad found himself laying his head in her lap； and making croony low sounds at her and pretending to bite her little white hand。
It was always hard to stay offended at the Mistress。
CHAPTER XI。 The Guard
Lad was oldvery； very old。 He had passed his sixteenth birthday。 For a collie； sixteen is as old as is ninety…five for a human。
The great dog's life had been as beautiful as himself。 And now； in the late twilight of his years； Time's hand rested on him as lovingly as did the Mistress's。 He had few of the distressing features of age。
True； his hearing was duller than of yore。 The magnificent body's lines were blurred with flesh。 The classic muzzle was snow white； as were the lashes and eyebrows。 And the once mighty muscles were stiff and unwieldy。 Increasing feebleness crept over him； making exercise a burden and any sudden motion a pain。 The once trumpeting bark was a hollow echo of itself。
But the deep…set dark eyes； with a soul looking out of them； were as clear as ever。 The uncannily wise brain had lost not an atom of its power。 The glorious mahogany…and…snow coat was still abundant。 The fearlessly gay spirit and loyal heart were undimmed by age。
Laddie resented angrily his new limitations。 From time to time he would forget them； and would set off at a run in the wake of Bruce and Wolf； when the sound of a stranger's approach made them gallop up the driveway to investigate。 But always； after the first few stiff bounds； he would come to a panting halt and turn back wearily to his resting place in the veranda's coolest corner； as indignant over his own weakness； as he would have been at fetters which impeded his limbs。
He was more and more sensitive about this awkward feebleness of his。 And he sought to mask it； in ways that seemed infinitely pathetic to the two humans who loved him。 For instance； one of his favorite romps in bygone days had been to throw himself down in front of the Mistress and pretend to bite her little feet； growling terrifically as he did it。 Twice of late； as he had been walking at her side； his footing had slipped or he had lost his balance； and had tumbled headlong Instantly； both times； he had begun to growl and had bitten in mock fury at the Mistress's foot。 By this pitiful ruse he strove to make her believe that his fall had been purposeful and a part of the olden game。
But worst of all he missed the long walks on which； from puppyhood； he had always accompanied the Mistress and the Master。 Unknown to the old dog； these walks had been shortened； mercifully； and slowed down； to accommodate themselves to Lad's waning strength： But the time came when even a half…mile； at snail…pace； over a smooth road； was too much for his wind and endurance。
Nowadays； when they were going for a walk； Lad was first lured into the house and left there。 The ruse did not fool him； any more than it would have deceived a gr