bruce(布鲁斯)-第12节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
their weight in radium。 Collies； mostly。 There are a； million true stories of
their prowess told； at camp…fires。 Here are just two such incidentsboth of
them on record； by the way； at the British War Office
〃A collie； down near Soissons； was sent across a bad strip of fire…
scourged ground； with a message。 A boche sharpshooter fired at him and
shattered his jaw。 The dog kept on； in horrible agony； and delivered the
message。 Another collie was sent over a still hotter and much longer
stretch of territory with a message。 （That was during the Somme drive of
1916。） He was shot at； a dozen times； as he ran。 At last two bullets got him。
He fell over； mortally wounded。 He scrambled to his feet and kept on
falling； stumbling； staggeringtill he got to his destination。 Then he
41
… Page 42…
Bruce
dropped dead at the side of the Colonel the message had been sent to。 And
those are only two of thousands of true collie…anecdotes。 Yet some fools
are trying to get American dogs done away with； as 'non…utilitarian；' while
the war lasts！ As if the dogs in France； today； weren't earning their
overseas brothers' right to live and live well！〃
Neither of his hearers made reply when the guest finished his earnest；
eager recital。 Neither of them had paid much heed to his final words。 For
the Master and the Mistress were looking at each other in mute
unhappiness。 The same miserable thought was in the mind of each。 And
each knew the thought that was torturing the mind of the other。
Presently； at a glint of inquiry in the Master's eye； the Mistress
suddenly bent over and buried her face in the deep mass of Bruce's ruff as
the dog stood lovingly beside her。 Then； still stroking the collie's silken
head； she returned her husband's wretchedly questioning glance with a
resigned little nod。 The Master cleared his throat noisily before he could
speak with the calm indifference he sought。 Then； turning to the
apparently unnoticing guest； he said
〃I think I told you I tried to get across to France at the very startand I
was barred because I am past forty and because I have a bum heart and
several other defects that a soldier isn't supposed to have。 My wife and I
have tried to do what little we can for the Cause； on this side of the ocean。
But it has seemed woefully little； when we remember what others are
doing。 And we have no son we can send。〃
Again he cleared his throat and went on with sulky ungraciousness：
〃We both know what you've been driving at for the past five minutes。
Andand we agree。 Bruce can go。〃
〃Great！〃 applauded the guest。 〃That's fine！ He'll be worth his〃
〃If you think we're a couple of fools for not doing this more willingly；〃
went on the Master with savage earnestness； 〃just stop to think what it
means to a man to give up the dog he loves。 Not to give him up to some
one who will assure him a good home； but to send him over into that hell；
where a German bullet or a shell…fragment or hunger or disease is certain
to get him； soon or late。 To think of him lying smashed and helpless；
somewhere in No Man's Land； waiting for death； or caught by the enemy
42
… Page 43…
Bruce
and eaten！ （The Red Cross bulletin says no less than eight thousand dogs
were eaten； in Saxony alone； in 1913； the year BEFORE the war began。）
Or else to be captured and then cut up by some German vivisector…surgeon
in the sacred interests of Science！ Oh； we can bring ourselves to send
Bruce over there！ But don't expect us to do it with a good grace。 For we
can't。〃
〃I〃 began the embarrassed guest； but the Mistress chimed in； her
sweet voice not quite steady。
〃You see； Captain； we've made such a petsuch a babyof Bruce！ All
his life he has lived herehere where he had the woods to wander in and
the lake to swim in； and this house for his home。 He will be so unhappy
andWell； don't let's talk about that！ When I think of the people who give
their sons and everything they have； to the country； I feel ashamed of not
being more willing to let a mere dog go。 But then Bruce is not just a 'mere
dog。' He ishe is BRUCE。 All I ask is that if he is injured and not killed；
you'll arrange to have him sent back here to us。 We'll pay for it； of course。
And will you write to whomever you happen to know； at that dog…training
school in England； and ask that Bruce be treated nicely while he is training
there？ He's never been whipped。 He's never needed it； you see。〃
The Mistress might have spared herself much worry as to Bruce's
treatment in the training school to which he was consigned。 It was not a
place of cruelty； but of development。 And when； out of the thousands of
dogs sent there； the corps of trainers found one with promise of strong
ability； such a pupil was handled with all the care and gentleness and skill
that a temperamental prima donna might expect。
Such a dog was the big American collie； debarked from a goods car at
the training camp railway station； six weeks after the Mistress and the
Master had consented to his enlistment。 And the handlers treated him
accordingly。
The Master himself had taken Bruce to the transport； in Brooklyn； and
had led him aboard the overfull ship。 The new sights and sounds around
him interested the home…bred collie。 But when the Master turned him over
to the officer in whose charge he was to be for the voyage； Bruce's deep…
set eyes clouded with a sudden heartsick foreboding。
43
… Page 44…
Bruce
Wrenching himself free from the friendly hand on his collar； he sprang
in pursuit of his departing deity；the loved Master who was leaving him
alone and desolate among all these strange scenes and noises。 The Master；
plodding； sullen and heavy…hearted； toward the gangway； was aware of a
cold nose thrust into his dejected hand。
Looking down he beheld Bruce staring up at him with a world of stark
appeal in his troubled gaze。 The Master swallowed hard； then laid his hand
on the beautiful head pressed so confidingly against his knee。 Turning； he
led the dog back to the quarters assigned to him。
〃Stay here； old friend！〃 he commanded； huskily。 〃It's all right。 You'll
make good。 I know that。 And there's a chance in a billion that you'll come
back to us。 I'mI'm not deserting you。 And I guess there's precious little
danger that any one on The Place will ever forget you。 It'sit's all right。
Millions of humans are doing it。 I'd give everything I've got； if I could go；
too。 IT'S ALL RIGHT！〃
Then Bruce understood at last that he was to stay in this place of
abominations； far from everything he loved； and that he must do so
because the Master ordained it。 He made no further effort to break away
and to follow his god ashore。 But he shivered convulsively from head to
foot； and his desolate gaze continued to trace the Master's receding figure
out of sight。 Then； with a long sigh； he lay down； heavily； his head
between his white forepaws； and resigned himself to whatever of future
misery his deities might have ordained for him。
Ensued a fortnight of mental and bodily anguish； as the inland… reared
dog tasted the horrors of a voyage in a rolling ship； through heaving seas。
Afterward； came the landing at a British port and the train ride to the camp
which was to be his home for the next three months。
Bruce's sense of smell told him the camp contained more dogs than
ever he had beheld in all his brief life put together。 But his hearing would
have led him to believe there were not a dozen other dogs within a mile of
him。
From the encampment arose none of the rackety barking which
betokens the presence of many canines； and which deafens visitors to a
dog…show。
44
… Page 45…
Bruce
One of the camp's first and most stringent rules forbade barking；
except under special order。 These dogsor the p
