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.
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