And he and Eitel swarmed earthward from opposite sides of the machine.

In a trice, Roodie had struck Lad over the head; while Eitel grabbed at the bundle to drag it away from the dog.
Now, the weight of years was beginning to tell on Laddie.

But that weight had not robbed him of the ability to call, at will, upon much of his oldtime strength and bewildering swiftness.

Nor had it in any way dampened his hero-spirit or dulled his uncannily wise brain.
He had been plodding peacefully along, bearing home a wonderful gift--a gift oftener confided to the care of storks than of collies--when he had been attacked from two sides in most unprovoked fashion.

He had been struck! His blood surged hot.
There was no Law governing such a case.