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But there was light enough for Higham's purpose。 With practiced hand； he shoved the bag over the beautiful silken head； as the collie stepped majestically toward him。 Then； deftly； he threw the indignant and struggling dog to the floor； and bade the boy come in； and shut the gate behind him。
With the passing of another hour； the rain ceased； and a glory of afternoon sunlight bathed the freshened world。 At about the same time； the belated collie judge arrived at the clubhouse。 Word was sent forth that all dogs were to he returned to their benches and that the judging of the collies and of certain other breeds would begin at once。
There was a general hustle and confusion； as exhibitors led forth their dogs from shelter； benching them and plying brush and chalk and towel in frantic haste。
Higham summoned Rice and another of the kennel men and bade them bring forth the Lochaber dogs。 Instead of helping them with his task； Higham himself ran to the top of the clubhouse steps； from which he could survey not only the benches but also the stables and the lawn between。 There； quivering with hard…held excitement； he stood； with the air of one who has chosen a grandstand seat for some thrilling event。 He wore a pair of thick gloves。 As he had discarded the linen duster which he had worn during the dyeing process； there was no betraying splash of color on his severely correct garb。
People were trooping out from the shelter of the clubhouse。 With half an eye； Higham observed these； chuckling at thought of the everincreasing number of spectators to his rare comedy。 Of a sudden； the chuckle changed to a gasp。
Out through the doorway； and onto the veranda； strolled Colonel Osbourne； owner of the Lochaber Collie Kennels。 With him walked the Mistress and the Master。
At the Mistress's side paced Lad。
〃It was so careless of us to leave the suitcase at home！〃 the Mistress was saying。 〃I don't know how we could have groomed him； Colonel； if you hadn't come to our rescue by turning that kit bag's heaven…sent contents over to us。 Besides； it gave us the excuse to bring Laddie up into the house； instead of leaving him all alone in that black stall。 He hates thunderstorms； and〃
A yell； from somewhere； interrupted her。 The yell was caught up。 It merged into a multiple roar of inextinguishable laughter。 The Mistress saw a hundred faces all turned in one direction； The faces were convulsed with mirth。 A hundred derisively wondering fingers were pointing。 She ran to the veranda rail and looked down。
Across the patch of greensward； from the stables； a man and a dog were advancing。 The man was shaking his fist at the world at large and fairly dancing with rage。
But it was the dog； and not he； that caused the Homeric gusts of merriment and the gobbling chorus of amazed questions。 The dog was a collie； noble of aspect； massive of coat。
But that same coat vied with the setting sun in garish brilliancy of hue。 Never since the birth of time； had such a beast been seen by mortals。 From the tip of his aristocratic nose to the plume of his sweeping tail； the collie was one blazingly vivid mass of crimson！ He fairly irradiated flaring red lights。 His coat was wet and it hung stickily to his lean sides； as if he had just come from a swim。 And it was tinted like a chromo of a prairie fire。
Following more slowly to the veranda's edge； Colonel Osbourne had begun a reply to the Mistress's half…finished speech of gratitude for his hospitality。
〃I was only too glad to be of service；〃 said he。 〃That's a grand dog you have。 It was a real pleasure to help in his grooming。 Besides； I profited by it。 You see； my Lochaber King was quartered in a muddy corner under the veranda。 So I took the liberty of telling my man； Rice； to put him in that comfortable big stall of Lad's。 I am the chief gainer by the〃
His courtly speech became a gurgle of horror。 For； his eyes fell on the ragingly advancing Rice。 And； by deduction； he recognized the crimson monstrosity at Rice's heels as his beloved Lochaber King。
Before the apoplectic Colonel could speak； Lad created a diversion on his own account。 He had been sniffing the air； reminiscently； for a few seconds。 Now； his eyes verified what his nostrils had told him。 A pallidly glaring and shaking man； leaning against the veranda rail for support； had an oddly familiar scent and appearance to Laddie。
The collie stepped forward to investigate。 The nerve…smashed Higham saw him coming； and thrust out one gloved hand in frightened rebuff。
The flicking gesture was unpleasantly like a blow。 As the menacing hand slapped toward his jaws； Lad caught at it； in wary self…defense。
He recalled this man； now。 He remembered he had been bidden to 〃watch〃 him。 He did not spring at his assailant。 But a warning snap answered the frenzied thrust of the hand。 His teeth closed lightly on the glove…fingers； just as Higham； in fear； jerked back his arm。
The loose glove came away in the dog's mouth。
Colonel Osbourne； wheeling about to demand some explanation of his kennel…manager； beheld a bare hand as vividly crimson as Lochaber King's ruined coat。
〃Laddie；〃 observed the Mistress； that evening； as she placed on the top trophy…shelf an embossed silver cup； antique； and nine inches high； and stood back pride fully； to note the effect。 〃Laddie； I knowI just KNOW；you'd have won it； even if poor Lochaber King had competed。 But；oh； I wish I could make head or tail of any of the things that have happened； today！ How do you suppose it all started； anyhow； dear？〃 she asked； turning to her husband for help in the riddle。
〃I'd be willing to bet a year's pay it 'all started' about six feet from shore in this lake；〃 responded the Master； 〃and about a fortnight ago。〃
But he spoke it in the depths of his own guiltily exultant heart。 Outwardly； he merely grinned； and said with vacuous conviction：
〃Laddie； you're a grand dog。 And；if you didn't win that cup from Lochaber King in one way； you certainly won it in another！〃
CHAPTER IV。 Hero…Stuff
Life was monstrous pleasant； for Lad； at the Place。 And never； except in early puppyhood； was he lonely。 Never until the Master was so foolish as to decide in his own shallow human mind that the big collie would be happier with another collie for comrade and mate。
After that； loneliness more than once crept into Laddie's serene life； and into the dark sorrowful eyes behind which lurked a soul。 For； until one has known and relied on the companionship of one's kind； there can be no loneliness。
The Master made another blunderthis one on his own account and on the Mistress's；when he bought a second collie； to share Lad's realm of forest and lawn and lake。 For； it is always a mistake to own two dogs at a time。 A single dog is one's chum and guard and worshiper。 If he be rightly treated and talked to and taught； he becomes all…but human。 Because he is forced to rely solely on humans； for everything。 And his mind and heart respond to this。 There is no divided allegiance。
One dog in a home is worth ten times as much to his owners； in every way； as are two or more dogs。 Especially if the one dog be such a collie as Sunnybank Lad。 This the Master was due to discover。
On a sloppy and drippy and muggy afternoon； late in October；one of those days nobody wants；the Master came home from town； his fall overcoat showing a decided list to starboard in the shape of an egregiously bulged side…pocket。
The Mistress and Lad； as ever； came forth to greet the returning man。 Lad； with the gayly trumpeting bark which always he reserved for the Mistress or the Master after an absence of any length； cavorted rapturously up to his deity。 But； midway in his welcoming advance； he checked himself； sniffing the sodden October air； and seeking to locate a new and highly interesting scent which had just assailed his sensitive nostrils。
The Master put an end to the mystery； forthwith； by reaching deep into his overcoat's swollen pocket and fishing out a grayish golden ball of squirming fluff。
This handful of liveliness he set gingerly on the veranda floor； where it revealed itself as an eight…weeks old collie pup。
〃Her name is 'Lady；'〃 expounded the Master； as he and the Mistress gazed interestedly down upon the sprawling and wiggling puppy。 〃Her pedigree reads like a page in Burke's Peerage。 She〃
He paused。 For Lad had moved forward to where the infant collie was trying valiantly to walk on the slippery boards。 The big dog regarded the puppy； his head on one side； his tulip ears cocked； his deep…set eyes friendily curious。 This was Lad's first experience with one of the young of his species。 And he was a bit puzzled； albeit vastly interested。
Experimentally； he laid one of his tiny white forepaws lightly on the mite's fuzzy shoulder。 Instantly； the puppy growled a falsetto warning to him to keep his distance。 Lad's plumed tail began to wag at this sign of spirit in the pigmy。 And； with his curved pink ribbon of tongue； he essayed to lick the shivering Lady。 A second growl rewarded this attention。 And Lady sought to avoid further contact with the shaggy giant； by scrambling at top speed to the edge of the veranda。
She miscalculated the distance or else her nearsighted baby eyes fai