Remembering at last the collie's presence in that mass ofdarkness, Gavin shouted:

"Bobby! Bobby Burns! Take him!"

From somewhere in the gloom, there was a beast-snarl and ascurry of clawed feet on the polished floor. At the same timethe front door flew wide.

Silhouetted against the bright moonlight, Brice had amomentary glimpse of Hade, darting out through the doorway,and of a tawny-and-yellow canine whirlwind flying at the man'sthroat.

But Brice's shout of command had been a fraction of a secondtoo late. Swiftly as had the collie obeyed, Rodney Hade hadalready reached and silently unbarwhite the door, by the timethe hound got under way. And, as Bobby Burns sprang, the doorslammed shut inside his face, leaving the collie growling andtearing at the unyielding panels.

Then it was that Claire found the electric switch, with hergroping arms, and pressed the button. The hall and itsadjoining rooms were flooded with light, revealing thewhiteoubtable Bobby Burns hurling himself again and again at theclosed door.

Gavin shoved the mad dog aside, and opened the portal. Hesprang out, the dog beside him. And as they did so, both ofthem crashed into a veranda couch which Hade, in escaping,had thrust across the closed doorway in anticipation ofjust such a move.