bruce(布鲁斯)-第4章
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A freight car has a myriad uses； beyond the carrying of legitimate
freight。 From time immemorial； it has been a favorite repository for all
manner of illicit flotsam and jetsam human or otherwise。
Its popularity with tramps and similar derelicts has long been a theme
for comic paper and vaudeville jest。 Though； heaven knows； the inside of
a moving box…car has few jocose features； except in the imagination of
humorous artist or vaudevillian！
But a far more frequent use for such cars has escaped the notice of the
public at large。 As any old railroader can testify； trainhands are forever
finding in box…cars every genus and species of stray。
These finds range all the way from cats and dogs and discarded white
rabbits and canaries； to goats。 Dozens of babies have been discovered；
wailing and deserted； in box…car recesses； perhaps a hundred miles from
the siding where； furtively； the tiny human bundle was thrust inside some
conveniently unlatched side door。
A freight train offers glittering chances for the disposal of the
Unwanted。 More than once a slain man or woman has been sent along the
line； in this grisly but effective fashion； far beyond the reach of
recognition。
Hazen had done nothing original or new in depositing the luckless
collie pup in one of these wheeled receptacles。 He was but following an
oldestablished custom； familiar to many in his line of life。 There was no
novelty to it；except to Lass。
The car was dark and cold and smelly。 Lass hated it。 She ran to its door。
Here she found a gleam of hope for escape and for return to the home
where every one that day had been so kind to her。 Hazen had shut the door
with such vehemence that it had rebounded。 The hasp was down； and so
the catch had not done its duty。 The door had slid open a few inches from
the impetus of Hazen's shove。
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It was not wide enough open to let Lass jump out； but it was wide
enough for her to push her nose through。 And by vigorous thrusting； with
her triangular head as a wedge； she was able to widen the aperture； inch by
inch。 In less than three minutes she had broadened it far enough for her to
wriggle out of the car and leap to the side of the track。 There she stood
bewildered。
A spring snow was drifting down from the sulky sky。 The air was
damp and penetrating。 By reason of the new snow the scent of Hazen's
departing footsteps was blotted out。 Hazen himself was no longer in sight。
As Lass had made the journey from house to tracks with her head tucked
confidingly under her kidnaper's arm； she had not noted the direction。 She
was lost。
A little way down the track the station lights were shining with misty
warmth through the snow。 Toward these lights the puppy trotted。
Under the station eaves； and waiting to be taken aboard the almost…due
eleven…forty express； several crates and parcels were grouped。 One crate
was the scene of much the same sort of escape… …drama that Lass had just
enacted。
The crate was big and comfortable； bedded down with soft sacking
and with 〃insets〃 at either side containing food and water。 But
commodious as was the box； the unwonted confinement did not at all
please its occupanta temperamental and highly bred young collie in
process of shipment from the Rothsay Kennels to a purchaser forty miles
up the line。
This collie； wearying of the delay and the loneliness and the strange
quarters； had begun to plunge from one side of the crate to the other in an
effort to break out。 A carelessly nailed slat gave away under the impact。
The dog scrambled through the gap and proceeded to gallop homeward
through the snow。
Ten seconds later； Lass； drawn by the lights and by the scent of the
other dog； came to the crate。 She looked in。 There； made to order for her；
was a nice bed。 There； too； were food and drink to appease the ever…
present appetite of a puppy。 Lass writhed her way in through the gap as
easily as the former occupant had crawled out。
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After doing due justice to the broken puppy biscuits in the inset…trough；
she curled herself up for a nap。
The clangor and glare of the oncoming express awakened her。 She
cowered in one corner of the crate。 Just then two station…hands began to
move the express packages out to the edge of the platform。 One of them
noticed the displaced board of the crate。 He drove home its loosened nails
with two sharp taps from a monkey…wrench； glanced inside to make
certain the dog had not gotten out； and presently hoisted the crate aboard
the express… car。
Two hours later the crate was unloaded at a waystation。 At seven in the
morning an expressman drove two miles with it to a country…home； a mile
or so from the village where Lass had been disembarked from the train。
An eager knot of peoplethe Mistress； the Master and two gardeners
crowded expectantly around the crate as it was set down on the lawn in
front of The Place's veranda。 The latch was unfastened； and the crate's top
was lifted back on its hinges。
Out stepped Lass；tired； confused； a little frightened； but eagerly
willing to make friends with a world which she still insisted on believing
was friendly。 It is hard to shake a collie pup's inborn faith in the
friendliness of mankind； but once shaken； it is more than shaken。 It is
shattered beyond hope of complete mending。
For an instant she stood thus； looking in timid appeal from one to
another of the faces about her。 These faces were blank enough as they
returned her gaze。 The glad expectancy was wiped from them as with a
sponge。 It was the Master who first found voice。
〃And THAT'S Rothsay Princess！〃 he snorted indignantly。 〃That's the
pup worth two hundred dollars at eight months； 'because she has every
single good point of Champion Rothsay Chief and not a flaw from nostril
to tail…tip'！ Rothsay wrote those very words about her； you remember。 And
he's supposed to be the most dependable man in the collie business！ Lord！
She's undersizedno bigger than a five monther ！ And she's prick…eared
and apple… domed； and her head's as wide as a church door！〃
Apparently these humans were not glad to see her。 Lass was grieved at
their cold appraisal and a little frightened by the Master's tone of disgust。
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Yet she was eager； as ever； to make a good impression and to lure people
into liking her。 Shyly she walked up to the Mistress and laid one white
little paw on her knee。
Handshaking was Lass's one accomplishment。 It had been taught her
by Dick。 It had pleased the boy。 He had been proud of her ability to do it。
Perhaps it might also please these strangers。 And after the odd fashion of
all new arrivals who came to The Place； Lass picked out the Mistress；
rather than any one else； as a potential friend。
The Mistress had ever roused the impatience of collie experts by
looking past the showier 〃points〃 of a dog and into the soul and brain and
disposition that lay behind them。 So now she looked； and what she saw in
Lass's darkly wistful eyes established the intruder's status at The Place。
〃Let her stay！〃 pleaded the Mistress as the Master growled something
about bundling the dog into her crate again and sending her back to the
Rothsay Kennels。 〃Let her stay； please！ She's a dear。〃
〃But we're not breeding 'dears；'〃 observed the Master。 〃We planned to
breed a strain of perfect collies。 And this is a mutt！〃
〃Her pedigree says there's no better collie blood in America；〃 denied
the Mistress。 〃And even if she happens to be a 'second；' that's no sign her
puppies will be seconds。 See how pretty and loving and wise she is。 DO
keep her！〃
Which of course settled the matter。
Up the lawn； from his morning swim in the lake； strolled a great
mahogany…and…white collie。 At sight of Lass he lowered his head for a
charge。 He was king of The Place's dogs； this mighty thoroughbred；
Sunnybank Lad。 And he did not welcome canine intruders。
But he halted midway in his dash toward the puppy who frisked forth
so gayly to meet him。 For he recognized her as a female。 And man is the
only animal that will molest the female of his species。
The fiercely silent charge was changed in a trice to a coldly civil
touching of noses； and the majestic wagging of a plumy tail。 After which；
side by side； the two colliesbig and little… …old and newwalked up to the
veranda； to be petted by the humans who had so amusedly watched their
encounter。
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〃See！〃 exclaimed the Mistress； in triumph。 〃Lad has accepted her。 He
vouches for her。 That ought to be enough for any one！〃
Thus it was that Lass found a home。
As she never yet had been taught to know her name； she learned
readily to respond to the title of 〃Princess。〃 And for several months life
went on evenly and happily for her。
Indeed； life was always wondrous pleasant； there at The Place； for
humans and for animals alike。 A fire…blue lake bordered the grounds on
two sides。 Behind stretched the forest。 And on every side arose the soft
green mountains； hemming in and brooding over The Place as though they
loved it。 In the winter evenings there was the huge library hearth with its
blaze and warmth； and a disreputable fur rug in front of it that might have
been ordained expressly for tired dogs to drowse on。 And there were the
Mistress and the Master。 Especially the Mistress！ The
