boundary fence to boundary fence. He knew, too, that visitors must not
be molested as long as they were on the driveway; but that no stranger
might be allowed to cross the land, by any other route; or to trespass
on lawn or oak-grove.

And now, apparently, strangers were holding some sort of unlicensed
revelry, down on the point. His sense of smell told him that neither
the Master nor anyone else belonging to the Place was with them. True
watchdog indignation swelled up in Lad's heart. And he ran at top speed.

The girl's three companions, turning at sight of her gesturing hand,
beheld a mahogany-and-white thunderbolt whizzing down the hundred-yard
slope toward them.

It chanced that both the men had served long apprenticeship as
dog-fanciers; and that both of them knew collies. Thus, no second look
was needed. One glimpse of the silently charging Lad told them all they
needed to know. Not in this way does a blatant or bluffing watchdog
seek to shoo off trespassers. This giant collie, with his lowered head
and glinting fangs and ruffling hackles, meant business. And the men
acted accordingly.

"Run for it!" bellowed one of them; setting a splendid example by
reaching the beached canoe at a single scrambling bound. The second man
was no whit behind him. Between them, the canoe, at one shove, was
launched. The first man grabbed one of the girls by the arm and
propelled her into the wobbling craft; while the other shoved off. The
remaining girl,--she of the azure headgear and the verdant
waist,--slipped on the grassy bank, in her flight, and sat down very
hard, at the water's edge. Already the canoe was six feet from shore;
and both men were doing creditable acrobatic stunts to keep it from
turning turtle.

"Stand perfec'ly still," one of them exhorted the damsel, as he saw
with horror that she had been left ashore in the tumbling flight.
"Stand still and don't holler! Keep your hands high. It's likely he
won't bother you. These highbred collies are pretty gentle with women;
but some of 'em are blue murder to strange men. He--"

The man swayed for balance. His fellow-hero had brought the canoe
about, in an effort to smite with uplifted paddle at the oncoming dog
without venturing too close to the danger-line.

In the same moment, Lad had gained the brink of the lake. Ignoring the
panic-struck woman on the bank, he flashed past her and galloped,
body-deep, into the water; toward the swaying canoe.

Here he pause