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.
Pages:
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370