Then, before the thief could recover the balance endangered by so
mighty a kick, the collie had whirled in and sunk his teeth deep
in the man's calf. The bitten man let out a roar of pain, and
smote wildly at the dog's face with both swinging fists.

Chum leaped back out of range, and then, with the same
bewildering speed, flashed in again and buried his curved fangs
in the nearest of the two flailing forearms.

The first victim of the collie's attack was scrambling to his
feet. So was Link Ferris. Sobered enough to recognize his beloved
dog, he also saw the newrisen thief catch up a broken fence rail,
brandish it aloft and charge upon the collie, who was still
battling merrily with the second man.

To Link it seemed that nothing could save Chum from a
backbreaking blow from the huge club. Instinctively he ran at the
wielder of the formidable weapon. Staggering and sick and
two-thirds drunk, Ferris, nevertheless, made valiant effort to
save the dog that was fighting so gallantly for him.

His lurching rush carried him across the narrow road and to the
lake edge, barely in time to intercept the swinging sweep of the
fence rail. It caught him glancingly across the side. And its
force carried him clean off his none-too-steady feet. Down went
Ferris--down and backward. His body plunged noisily into the
water.

Chum had wheeled to face the rail's brandisher. But at sight of