lingly, and
pressed close to the furry giant who had come to her rescue. She glared
defiantly up at Ruloff.

Perhaps it was this glare; perhaps it was the knowledge that Lad was
very old and the sight of his worn-down teeth; perhaps it was the need
of maintaining his hold of fear over the rebellious child. At all
events, Ruloff swung aloft the belt once more and strode toward the
two; balancing himself for a kick at the thundrously growling dog.

The kick did not land. For, even as Sonya cried out in new terror, Lad
launched himself at the Slav.

All unprepared for the clash, and being an utter coward at heart--if he
had a heart--the father reeled back, under the impact. Losing his
balance, he tumbled prone to earth.

By the time his back struck ground, Lad was upon him; ravening
uselessly at the swarthy throat.

But, yelling with fright, Ruloff fended him off; and twisted and
writhed out of reach; bunching his feet under him and, in a second,
staggering up and racing for the shelter of the nearest tree.

Up the low-stretching branches the man swarmed, until he was well out
of reach. Then, pausing in his climb, he shook his fist down at the
collie, who was circling the tree in a vain attempt to find some way of
climbing it.

Chattering, mouthing, gibbering like a monkey, Ruloff shook an impotent
fist at the dog that had treed him; and squalled insults at him and at
the hysterically delighted child.

Sonya rushed up to Lad, flinging her arms around him and trying to kiss
him. At her embrace, the collie's tension relaxed. He turned his back
on the jabbering Ruloff, and looked pantingly up into the child's
excited face.

Then, whimpering a little under his breath, he licked her cheek; and
made shift to wag his plumed tail in reassurance. After which, having
routed the enemy and done what he could to comfort the rescued, Laddie
moved heavily over to the veranda.

For some reason he was finding it hard to breathe. And his heart was
doing amazing things against his ribs. He was very tired--very drowsy.
He wanted to finish his interrupted nap. But it was a long way into the
house. And a spot on the veranda, under the wide hammock, promised
coolness. Thither he went; walking more and more slowly.

At the hammock, he looked back: Ruloff was shinnying down from the
tree; on the far side. All the fight, all the angry zest for torturing,
seemed to have gone out of the man. Without so much as glancing toward
Sonya or