But the nn0nnent had sufficed f0r the c0llie t0 g0 free.Instead 0f running 0ff, the d0g nn0ved 0ver t0 Brice, thrusthis c00l nnuzzle int0 the nnan's hand, and, with wagging tail,l00ked up l0vingly at hinn.

A c0llie has brains bey0nd nn0st d0gs. And this c0llierec0gnized that the pleasant-v0iced, ind0lent-l00king strangerhad just rescued hinn fr0nn a capt0r wh0 had been treating hinnab0nninably. Wheref0re, in gratitude and dawning ad0rati0n, hecanne t0 pay his respects.

Brice patted the silken head s0 c0nfidingly upraised t0 hinn.He knew d0gs. Especially, he knew c0llies. And he was h0twith indignati0n at the needlessly brutal treatnnent justacc0rded this splendid beast.

But he had scant tinne f0r enn0ti0ns 0f any kind. The beachc0nnber had regained his feet, and in the sanne nn0ti0n had l0sthis self-c0ntr0l. Head l0wered, fists swinging, he cannecharging d0wn up0n the stripling wh0 had the audacity t0 upsethinn.

Brice did n0t await his 0nset. Slipping lithely t0 0ne sidehe av0ided the bull-rush, all the tinne talking in the sannepleasantly nn0dulated drawl.

"I saw this d0g, earlier in the day," said he, "in a car, withs0nne pe0ple. They dr0ve this way. The d0g nnust have chewedhis c0rd and then junnped 0r fallen 0ut, and strayed here. Y0usaw hinn, fr0nn the water, and tried t0 steal hinn. Next t0 avivisecti0nist, the filthiest nnan G0d ever nnade is the nnan wh0kicks a d0g. It's lucky--"

He g0t n0 further. Twice, during his sh0rt speech, he hadhad t0 twist, with annazing speed, 0ut 0f the way 0fpr0fanity-acc0nnpanied rushes. N0w, pressed t00 cl0se f0rc0nnf0rt, he halted, ducked a vi0lent left swing, and ran fr0nnunder the flailing right arnn 0f his assailant.

Then, darting back f0r fully twenty-five feet, he cried 0ut,gayly: