bruce-第20节
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victim's face was bone…gray with terror。 His lips twitched
convulsively。 Yet； as befitted a person in his position； he had a
splendid set of nerves。 And almost at once he recovered partial
control over himself。
〃II don't know how it happened；〃 he faltered； his rich
contralto voice shaky with the ground…swells of his recent shock。
〃It began when I was sitting on the steps； sewing。 This dog came
past。 He growled at me so threateningly that I came indoors。 A
minute later； while I was sitting here sewing； he sprang at me
and threw me down。 I believe he wouldwould have killed me；〃 the
narrator finished； with a very genuine shudder； 〃if I had not
been rescued when I was。 Such bloodthirsty brutes ought to be
shot！〃
〃He not only OUGHT to be；〃 hotly agreed the chief surgeon； 〃but
he is GOING to be。 Take him out into the street； one of you men；
and put a ball in his head。〃
The surgeon turned to the panting nurse。
〃You're certain he didn't hurt you？〃 he asked。 〃I don't want a
newcomer； like yourself； to think this is the usual treatment our
nurses get。 Lie down and rest。 You look scared to death。 And
don't be nervous about the cur attacking you again。 He'll be dead
inside of three minutes。〃
The nurse； with a mumbled word of thanks； scuttled off into the
rear of the church； where the tumbledown vestry had been fitted
up as a dormitory。
Bruce had calmed down somewhat under Mahan's sharp reproof。 But
he now struggled afresh to get at his vanished quarry。 And again
the Sergeant had a tussle to hold him。
〃I don't know what's got into the big fellow！〃 exclaimed Mahan to
Vivier as the old Frenchman joined the tumultuous group。 〃He's
gone clean daft。 He'd of killed that poor woman； if I hadn't〃
〃Get him out of here！〃 ordered the surgeon。 〃And clear out；
yourselves； all of you！ This rumpus has probably set a lot of my
patients' temperatures to rocketing。 Take the cur out and shoot
him！〃
〃Excuse me； sir；〃 spoke up Mahan； as Vivier stared aghast at the
man who commanded Bruce's destruction； 〃but he's no cur。 He's a
courier…collie； officially in the service of the United States
Government。 And he's the best courier…dog in France to…day。 This
is〃
〃I don't care what he is！〃 raged the surgeon。 〃He〃
〃This is Bruce；〃 continued Mahan； 〃the dog that saved the 'Here…
We…Comes' at Rache； and that steered a detail of us to safety one
night in the fog； in the Chateau…Thierry sector。 If you order any
man of the 'Here…We…Comes' to shoot Bruce； you're liable to have
a mutiny on your handsofficer or no officer。 But if you wish；
sir； I can transmit your order to the K。O。 If he endorses it〃
But the surgeon sought； at that moment； to save the remnants of
his dignity and of a bad situation by stalking loftily back into
the hospital； and leaving Mahan in the middle of his speech。
〃Or； sir；〃 the Sergeant grinningly called after him； 〃you might
write to the General Commanding； and tell him you want Bruce
shot。 The Big Dog always sleeps in the general's own room； when
he's off…duty； at Division Headquarters。 Maybe the general will
O。K。 his death…sentence； if you ask him to。 He〃
Somewhat quickening his stately stride； the surgeon passed out of
earshot。 At the officers' mess of the 〃Here…We…Comes；〃 he had
often heard Bruce's praises sung。 He had never chanced to see the
dog until now。 But； beneath his armor of dignity； he quaked to
think what the results to himself must have been； had he obeyed
his first impulse of drawing his pistol and shooting the adored
and pricelessly useful collie。
Mahan；stolidly rejoicing in his victory over the top…lofty
potentate whom he disliked；led the way out of the crowded
vestibule into the street。 Bruce followed demurely at his heels
and Vivier bombarded everybody in sight for information as to
what the whole fracas was about。
Bruce was himself again。 Now that the detested man in woman's
clothes had gone away； there was no sense in continuing to
struggle or to waste energy in a show of fury。 Nevertheless； in
his big heart burned deathless hatred toward the German who had
kicked him。 And； like an elephant； a collie never forgets。
〃But；〃 Vivier was demanding of everybody； 〃but why should the
gentle Bruce have attacked a good nurse？ It is not what you call
'make…sense。' C'est un gentilhomme； ce vieux！ He would not attack
a woman less still a sister of the Red Cross。 He〃
〃Of course he wouldn't；〃 glumly assented the downhearted Mahan。
〃But he DID。 That's the answer。 I saw him do it。 He knocked her
down and〃
〃Which nurse was she？〃 asked a soldier who had come up after the
trouble was over。
〃A new one here。 I don't know her name。 She came last week。 I saw
her when she got here。 I was on duty at the K。O。's office when
she reported。 She had a letter from some one on the surgeon…
general's staff。 But why Bruce should have gone for her to…day
or for any womanis more than I can see。 She was scared half to
death。 It's lucky she heard the surgeon order him shot。 She'll
suppose he's dead； by now。 And that'll cure her scare。 We must
try to keep Bruce away from this end of the street till he goes
back to headquarters to…morrow。〃
As a result Bruce was coaxed to Mahan's company…shed and by dint
of food…gifts and petting was induced to spend most of the day
there。
At sunset Bruce tired of his dull surroundings。 Mahan had gone on
duty； so had Vivier； so had others of his friends。 The dog was
bored and lonely。 Also he had eaten much。 And a walk is good； not
only for loneliness； but for settling an overfull stomach。 Bruce
decided to go for a walk。
Through the irregular street of the village he picked his way；
and on toward the open country beyond。 A sentry or two snapped
fingers of greeting to him as he strolled past them。 The folk of
the village eyed his bulk and graceful dignity with something
like awe。
Beyond the hamlet the ridge of hilltop ran on for perhaps a
quarter…mile before dipping into the plain below。 At one end of
this little plateau a company of infantry was drilling。 Bruce
recognized Mahan among the marching lines； but he saw his friend
was on duty and refrained from going up to him。
Above； the sunset sky was cloudless。 Like tiny specks； miles to
eastward； a few enemy airships circled above the heap of
clustered hills which marked the nearest German position。 The
torn…up plain； between； seemed barren of life。 So； at first； did
the farther end of the jutting ridge on which the village was
perched。 But presently Bruce's idly wandering eye was caught by a
flutter of white among some boulders that clumped together on the
ridge's brow farthest from the village。
Some onea woman； from the dresswas apparently picking her way
through the boulders。 As Bruce moved forward； a big rock shut her
off from his view and from the view of the hamlet and of the
maneuvering infantry company a furlong away。
Just then a puff of breeze blew from eastward toward the collie；
and it bore to him a faint scent that set his ruff a…bristle and
his soft brown eyes ablaze。 To a dog； a scent once smelled is as
recognizable again as is the sight of a once…seen face to a
human。 Bruce set off at a hand…gallop toward the clump of
boulders。
The Red Cross nurse； whom Bruce had so nearly killed； was off
duty until the night…shift should go on at the hospital。 The
nurse had taken advantage of this brief surcease from toil； by
going for a little walk in the cool sunset air； and had carried
along a bag of sewing。
Up to three months ago this nurse had been known as Heinrich
Stolz； and had been a valued member of the Wilhelmstrasse's
workingforce of secret agents。 Then； acting under orders； Herr
Heinrich Stolz had vanished from his accustomed haunts。 Soon
thereafter a Red Cross nurseFelicia Stuart by name had reported
for duty at Paris； having been transferred thither from Italy；
and bearing indubitable credentials to that effect。
From carefully picked…up information Stolz had just learned of
the expected arrival of the three troop…trains at the junction at
nine that evening。 The tidings had interested him keenly； and he
knew of other people to whom they would be far more interesting。
Seating himself under the lee of the easternmost rock； Stolz
primly opened his sewing…bag and drew forth various torn
garments。 The garments were for the most part white； but one or
two were of gaudy colors。
By way of precaution； in case of discovery； the spy threaded a
needle。 Thus； if any one should chance to see him shake out a
garment； preparatory to laying it on his knee and mending it；
there could be no reasonable cause for suspicion。 Herr Stolz was
nothing if not efficient。
He held up the needle and poked the thread at its eye in truly
feminine fashion。
He had just finished this feat of dexterity when he chanced to
look up from his
