If a troop of bears or a band of Indians or a man-eating elephant were lurking anywhere in the shrubbery or behind tree-trunks, Lad was not going to fail in discovering and routing out such possible dangers to the peace of mind of his two adored deities.
Scent and sight presently were attracted by a feeble fluttering under a low-limbed catalpa tree in whose branches a pair of hysterical robins were screeching.

Lad paused, his tulip ears at attention, his plumed tail swaying.

Then he pushed his long muzzle through a clump of grass and emerged carrying a flapping and piping morsel between his mighty jaws.

The birds, on the limb above, redoubled their frenzied chirping; and made little futile dashes at the collie's head.
Unheeding, Lad walked back to the Mistress and laid gently at her feet the baby robin he had found.

His keen teeth had not so much as ruffled its pinfeather plumage.