52 



and snapped at the air. The Httle boy stopped his 

 play and watched it coming. There was no one 

 else in sight. Fax too had seen the dog. He rose, 

 and the hair bristled on his back. Then he sprang 

 down and placed himself before the child. 



On came the dog directly toward them. Fax 

 seemed to feel there was something wrong with it. 

 As it came so close that in a moment it would have 

 to turn aside or be upon them, Fax gave a snarl and 

 sprang at its throat. Then they tumbled over and 

 over in the street. 



Mrs. Richard heard the noise of the fight, and 

 running out she caught up her child and carried 

 him into the house. 



Presently Fax came running into the house, too. 

 He looked up into her face whining and half bark- 

 ing. His neck was bitten but not very badly. The 

 big dog had shaken itself free and trotted on down 

 the street. 



A few blocks further on it was shot, for its master 

 had come running after it with a gun. He said it 

 was mad. 



The man wanted to shoot Fax, too, when he 

 heard he had been bitten. But his mistress said 

 no. She shuddered and turned white at the 



