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and by his uncanny brain power。
A bulldog； for example； would have flown to his master's relief quite
as readily as did Chum。 But a bulldog would have secured the first
convenient hold and would have hung on to that hold； whether it were at
his victim's throat or only on the slack of his trousersuntil someone
should hammer him into senselessness。
Chumcollie…fashionwas everywhere at once； using his brain far
more than his flying jaws。 Finding the grip in his foe's shoulder did not
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prevent the man from twisting round to grapple him； the collie shifted that
grip with lightning speed； and with one of his gleaming eyeteeth slashed
his opponent's halfturned cheek from eye to chin。 Then he bored straight
for the jugular。
It was at this crisis that he sensed； rather than saw； the other man
rushing at him。 Chum left his fallen antagonist and whirled about to face
the new enemy。 As he was still turning； he sprang far to one side； in bare
time to elude a swinging kick aimed at his head。
Then； before the thief could recover the balance endangered by so
mighty a kick； the collie had whirled in and sunk his teeth deep in the
man's calf。 The bitten man let out a roar of pain； and smote wildly at the
dog's face with both swinging fists。
Chum leaped back out of range； and then； with the same bewildering
speed； flashed in again and buried his curved fangs in the nearest of the
two flailing forearms。
The first victim of the collie's attack was scrambling to his feet。 So
was Link Ferris。 Sobered enough to recognize his beloved dog； he also
saw the newrisen thief catch up a broken fence rail； brandish it aloft and
charge upon the collie； who was still battling merrily with the second man。
To Link it seemed that nothing could save Chum from a backbreaking
blow from the huge club。 Instinctively he ran at the wielder of the
formidable weapon。 Staggering and sick and two…thirds drunk； Ferris；
nevertheless； made valiant effort to save the dog that was fighting so
gallantly for him。
His lurching rush carried him across the narrow road and to the lake
edge； barely in time to intercept the swinging sweep of the fence rail。 It
caught him glancingly across the side。 And its force carried him clean off
his none…too…steady feet。 Down went Ferrisdown and backward。 His
body plunged noisily into the water。
Chum had wheeled to face the rail's brandisher。 But at sight of his
master's sudden immersion in the lake； he quitted the fray。 At top speed the
dog cleared the bank and jumped down into the water in pursuit of Ferris。
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It evidently dawned on both men at once that there had been a good
deal of noise； for what was to have been a silent and decorous holdup。
Also that a raging collie is not a pleasant foe。 The racket might well draw
interference from outside。 The dog was overhard to kill； and his bites were
murderous。 The game had ceased to be worth the candle。 By common
impulse the pair took to their heels。
Link Ferris； head down in the cold water； was strangling in his
maudlin efforts to right himself。 He dug both hands into the lake…bottom
mud and strove to gain the surface。 But the effort was too much for him。 A
second frantic heave had better results。 And vaguely he knew why。
For Chum had managed to get a firm hold on the shoulder of his
master's coattwelve inches under waterand had braced himself with all
his wiry strength for a tug which should lift Ferris to the surface。
This added leverage barely made Link's own struggle a success。 The
half…drowned man regained his footing。 Floundering waist…deep in water；
he clambered up the steeply shelving bank to shore。 There at the road's
edge he lay； gasping and sputtering and fighting for breath。
Chum had been pulled under and out of his depth by Link's exertions。
Now； coming to the surface； he swam to shore and trotted up the bank to
the road。 Absurdly lank and small； with his soaking coat plastered close to
his slim body； he stood over his prostrate master。
The dog's quick glare up and down the road told him his foes were
gone。 His incredible sense of hearing registered the far…off pad…pad…pad of
fast…retreating human feet； and showed him the course the two men were
taking。 He would have liked to give chase。 It had been a good fightlively
and exciting withaland Chum wished he might carry it into the enemies'
own country。
But his god was lying helpless at his feet and making queer sounds of
distress。 The dog's place was here。 The joy of battle must be foregone。
Solicitously Chum leaned over Ferris and sought to lick the sufferer's
face。 As he did so his supersensitive nostrils were smitten by an odor
which caused the collie to shrink back in visible disgust。 The sickly；
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pungent smell of whisky on Ferris's labored breath nauseated Chum。 He
stood； head recoiled； looking down at Link in bewilderment。
There were many things； this night； which Chum did not understand。
First of all； he had been grieved and offended that Ferris should have
locked him in the kitchen instead of taking him along as usual on his
evening stroll。 It had been lonely in the unlighted kitchen。 Link had not
ordered the dog to stay there。 He had simply shut Chum in and left him。
So； tiring at last of solitude； the collie had leaped lightly out of the
nearest window。 The window had been open。 Its thin mosquito net
covering had not served in the least as a deterrent to the departing Chum。
To pick up his master's trailand to hold to it even when it merged
with a score of others at the edge of the villagehad been absurdly simple。
The trail had led to a house with closed doors。 So； after circling the tavern
to find if his master had gone out by any other exit； Chum had curled
himself patiently on the doorstep and had waited for Link to em