Now, the weight of years was beginning to tell on Laddie. But
that weight had not robbed him of the ability to call, at will,
upon much of his oldtime strength and bewildering swiftness. Nor
had it in any way dampened his hero-spirit or dulled his
uncannily wise brain.
He had been plodding peacefully along, bearing home a wonderful
gift--a gift oftener confided to the care of storks than of
collies--when he had been attacked from two sides in most
unprovoked fashion. He had been struck! His blood surged hot.
There was no Law governing such a case. So, as usual in new
crises, Lad proceeded to make his own Law and to put it into
effect.
A deft turn of the head eluded Eitel's snatching hand. With the
lightness of a feather, Lad deposited the bundle in the soft dust
of the road. In practically, the same gesture, the dog's curving
eye-tooth slashed Eitel's outstretched wrist to the bone.
Then, staggering under a second head-blow from Roodie, the collie
wheeled with lightning-swift fury upon this more hostile of his
two assailants.
Hurling himself at the man's throat, in silent ferocity, he
well-nigh turned the nocturnal battle into a killing.
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