Part 7 (1/2)
With a gasp and a shudder, Baby shrank back against Lad. At least, the upper half of her body moved away from the peril. Her legs and feet lay inert. The motion jerked the rug's fringe an inch or two, disturbing the copperhead. The snake coiled, and drew back its three-cornered head, the forklike maroon tongue playing fitfully.
With a cry of panic-fright at her own impotence to escape, the child caught up a picture book from the rug beside her, and flung it at the serpent. The fluttering book missed its mark. But it served its purpose by giving the copperhead reason to believe itself attacked.
Back went the triangular head, farther than ever; and then flashed forward. The double move was made in the minutest fraction of a second.
A full third of the squat reddish body going with the blow, the copperhead struck. It struck for the thin knee, not ten inches away from its own coiled body. The child screamed again in mortal terror.
Before the scream could leave the fear-chalked lips, Baby was knocked flat by a mighty and hairy shape that lunged across her toward her foe.
And the copperhead's fangs sank deep in Lad's nose.
He gave no sign of pain; but leaped back. As he sprang his jaws caught Baby by the shoulder. The keen teeth did not so much as bruise her soft flesh as he half-dragged, half-threw her into the gra.s.s behind him.
Athwart the rug again, Lad launched himself bodily upon the coiled snake.
As he charged, the swift-striking fangs found a second mark--this time in the side of his jaw.
An instant later the copperhead lay twisting and writhing and thras.h.i.+ng impotently among the gra.s.sroots; its back broken, and its body seared almost in two by a slash of the dog's saber-like tusk.
The fight was over. The menace was past. The child was safe.
And, in her rescuer's muzzle and jaw were two deposits of mortal poison.
Lad stood panting above the prostrate and crying Baby. His work was done; and instinct told him at what cost. But his idol was unhurt and he was happy. He bent down to lick the convulsed little face in mute plea for pardon for his needful roughness toward her.
But he was denied even this tiny consolation. Even as he leaned downward he was knocked p.r.o.ne to earth by a blow that all but fractured his skull.
At the child's first terrified cry, her mother had turned back.
Nearsighted and easily confused, she had seen only that the dog had knocked her sick baby flat, and was plunging across her body.
Next, she had seen him grip Baby's shoulder with his teeth and drag her, shrieking, along the ground.
That was enough. The primal mother-instinct (that is sometimes almost as strong in woman as in lioness--or cow), was aroused. Fearless of danger to herself, the guest rushed to her child's rescue. As she ran she caught her thick parasol by the ferule and swung it aloft.
Down came the agate-handle of the sunshade on the head of the dog. The handle was as large as a woman's fist, and was composed of a single stone, set in four silver claws.
As Lad staggered to his feet after the terrific blow felled him, the impromptu weapon arose once more in air, descending this time on his broad shoulders.
Lad did not cringe--did not seek to dodge or run--did not show his teeth. This mad a.s.sailant was a woman. Moreover, she was a guest, and as such, sacred under the Guest Law which he had mastered from puppyhood.
Had a man raised his hand against Lad--a man other than the Master or a guest--there would right speedily have been a case for a hospital, if not for the undertaker. But, as things now were, he could not resent the beating.
His head and shoulders quivered under the force and the pain of the blows. But his splendid body did not cower. And the woman, wild with fear and mother-love, continued to smite with all her random strength.
Then came the rescue.
At the first blow the child had cried out in fierce protest at her pet's ill-treatment. Her cry went unheard.
”Mother!” she shrieked, her high treble cracked with anguish. ”Mother!
Don't! _Don't!_ He kept the snake from eating me! He----!”