CHAPTER VIII. In Strange Company

In “In Strange Company,” a chapter from “Further Adventures of Lad,” the aging but still spirited collie, Lad, once more finds adventure in the wilderness with his owners, the Mistress and the Master. This outing takes him to the Ramapo Mountains for a camping trip, heralding not just a test of survival, but a profound showcase of loyalty and courage in the face of danger.

As the camp breaks and preparations to return home begin, Lad is accidentally left tied near the campsite, forgotten as the team departs. Alone but trustful, he waits for his owners to return. Meanwhile, a forest fire rages closer, compelling a remarkable assembly of wildlife to flee past Lad towards the safety of a nearby lake. The fire drives even a black bear, Lad’s former antagonist, in a panicked run to the water. In a turning point, the bound collie, driven by both a will to survive and an instinctive understanding of the peril, gnaws through his ties and joins the other animals in their flight to the lake’s safety.

The bear, Lad’s chance encounter from earlier in the day, now becomes his unwilling companion in survival as they take refuge in the lake, protecting themselves from the fire’s unforgiving advance. Remarkably, Lad shows no fear, displaying instead a stoic resolve to endure and a keen interest in his fellow refugees, a mix of common forest fauna, all united in their flight from the fire.

The fire seals off Lad’s path home, leaving him to rely on his instincts and the elemental force of his loyalty to navigate the crisis. His owners, in a desperate and late-night attempt to find him, confront the fire’s aftermath near the campsite. In a heart-stirring moment, the Mistress’s hopeful whistle pierces the night, and Lad, freed and undeterred by the hazards of fire and smoke, responds with joyous barks. Ignoring the dangers, he dashes toward the sound of familiar voices, overcoming the scorched remnants between them with fearless leaps.

Reunited, the family witnesses not just the survival of their beloved collie but a testament to his unwavering loyalty and the profound bond they share. The episode reaffirms the indomitable spirit of animals, especially that of a dog like Lad, whose courage becomes a beacon of hope and resilience in the shadow of nature’s fury.