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 was another collie cross the narrow place. It seemed to Bud that the venturesome dog would surely fall. But he made it, and then wheeled like a flash and backed up against the boulder behind, and Bud clearly heard his defiant snarl. "Why," thought Bud. "It isn't a dog at all they are after."

"By thunder! It looks like a fox. I guess they have got him. He's cornered."

At the narrow spot Racer hesitated for a second, but Scottie behind was barking frantically, and whining to get at the fox, who was almost in their reach. So he crowded Racer from behind, the snarl of Redcoat also urging him forward.

He made a movement, half jump, and half scramble, to get by the precipitate place, but just as his head and shoulders projected by the boulder the waiting fox slashed him furiously in the face. Once, twice, three times he struck, and poor Racer drawing back to escape the sudden onset, lost his balance and went hurtling to the rocks sixty feet below.

Scottie, peered over the cliff, and seeing