The Keepers of the People

387Prince Melinsky only tightened his grip, and began to laugh; the sight of his dog attacking his rival’s dog helpless, seemed to him beyond words ludicrous. But the full excellence of the jest did not penetrate his barbaric wits till the wolf-hound had fastened his fangs into Alrasch’s shoulder. Then his laughter rose to a roar, and from a roar to howls and shrieks; and his great body rolled from side to side in his violent merriment, while Althea sobbed, with streaming eyes, at her favourite’s peril.

388In this nick of time Ralph Falcon dashed round the trees, grasped on the instant what was befalling, flung himself on the wolf-hound, and choked it off.

389“Unmuzzle Alrasch!” he cried to Althea, staggering to and fro with the writhing brute in his grip.

390Prince Melinsky let go Althea, and stepped forward, furious at the spoiling of his sport, to release his dog. Alrasch, almost with understanding, sprang to Althea. She checked her trembling, and stripped off the muzzle with deft fingers.

391The Russian, in a fierce anger, seized Ralph Falcon’s arm, and cried, “Loose my dog! Loose my dog!”

392Ralph Falcon paid no heed to him, his arms straining to hold the huge brute, his eyes on Alrasch and Althea. But as the muzzle dropped, and Alrasch turned, he let the wolf-hound go; flung off Prince Melinsky with a force that sent him reeling, sprang to Althea’s side, and caught her up in his arms safe from the fighting dogs.

393The fight was short; the two brutes sprang full at one another, and rolled over and over, snarling, in so tangled a knot of hairy limbs and bodies that it was impossible to see which was which. Prince Melinsky cheered on his dog with short, savage cries. Ralph Falcon watched them quietly; Althea looked, sobbed, hid her face against his shoulder, and looked again. Lord Lisdor came at last, breathless, and stared, frowning. The tangled hairy knot ceased to move, and it became plain that Alrasch had the wolf-hound by the throat, and that it struggled in vain. Althea hid her face, and would look no more. It was hard to kill; but presently Lord Lisdor said, “Call Alrasch off, Ralph, the brute’s done for!”

394Ralph Falcon whistled once, a short, shrill call. Alrasch loosed his foe, and came fawning to his feet. Prince Melinsky, beside himself with rage, stepped up to the wounded wolf-hound and kicked it savagely.