bruce(布鲁斯)-第22节
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holds his head up； there is little enough to fear from him。 But when he
lowers his head and growlthen look out。
Mahan knew dogs。 In stark amazement he now noted Bruce's strange
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attitude toward the nurse。 Never before had he seen the dog show active
hostility toward a strangerleast of all toward a stranger who had in no
way molested him。 It was incredible that the wontedly dignified and
sweet…tempered collie had thus returned a greeting。 Especially from a
woman！
Mahan had often seen Red Cross nurses stop to caress Bruce。 He had
been amused at the dog's almost protective cordiality toward all women；
whether the French peasants or the wearers of the brassard of mercy。
Toward menexcept those he had learned to look on as friends the
collie always comported himself with a courteous aloofness But he had
seemed to regard every woman as something to be humored and guarded
and to be treated with the same cordial friendliness that he bestowed on
their childrenwhich is the way of the best type of collie。 Yet Bruce had
actually snarled at this woman who had chirped to him from the steps of
the church！ And he showed every sign of following up the challenge by
still more drastic measures。
〃Bruce！〃 called Mahan sharply。 〃BRUCE！ Shame！ Come over here！
Come； NOW！〃
At the Sergeant's vehement summons Bruce turned reluctantly away
from the foot of the church steps and came across the street toward the
estaminet。 He came slowly。 Midway he halted and looked back over his
shoulder at the nurse； his fangs glinting once more in a snarl。 At a second
and more emphatic call from Mahan the dog continued his progress。
The nurse had started back in alarm at the collie's angry demonstration。
Now； gathering up her work； she retreated into the church。
〃I'm sorry； Miss！〃 Mahan shouted after her。 〃I never saw him that way；
before； when a lady spoke to him。 If it was any dog but old Bruce； I'd give
him a whaling for acting like that to you。 I'm dead…sure he didn't mean any
harm。〃
〃Oh； I was going in； anyway；〃 replied the nurse； from the doorway。 〃It
is of no consequence。〃
She spoke nervously； her rich contralto voice shaken by the dog's
fierce show of enmity。 Then she vanished into the church； and Mahan and
Vivier took turns in lecturing Bruce on his shameful dearth of courtesy。
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The big dog paid no heed at all to his friends' discourse。 He was
staring sullenly at the doorway through which the nurse had gone。
〃That's one swell way for a decently bred dog to treat a woman！〃
Mahan was telling him。 〃Least of all； a Red Cross nurse！ I'm clean
ashamed of you！〃
Bruce did not listen。 In his heart he was still angryand very much
perplexed as well。 For he knew what these stupid humans did not seem to
know。
HE KNEW THE RED CROSS NURSE WAS NO WOMAN AT ALL；
BUT A MAN。
Bruce knew； too； that the nurse did not belong to his loved friends of
the Red Cross。 For his uncanny power of scent told him the garments worn
by the impostor belonged to some one else。 To mere humans； a small and
slender man； who can act； and who dons woman's garb； is a woman。 To
any dog； such a man is no more like a woman than a horse with a
lambskin saddle…pad is a lamb。 He is merely a man who is differently
dressed from other meneven as this man who had chirped to Bruce； from
the church steps； was no less a man for the costume in which he had
swathed his body。 Any dog； at a glance and at a sniff； would have known
that。
Women； for one thing； do not usually smoke dozens of rank cigars
daily for years； until their flesh is permeated with the smell of tobacco。 A
human could not have detected such a smellsuch a MAN…smell；on the
person who had chirped to Bruce。 Any dog； twenty feet away； would have
noticed it； and would have tabulated the white…clad masquerader as a man。
Nor do a woman's hair and skin carry the faint but unmistakable odor of
barracks and of tent…life and of martial equipment； as did this man's。 The
masquerader was evidently not only a man but a soldier。
Dogs；high…strung dogs；do not like to have tricks played on them；
least of all by strangers。 Bruce seemed to take the nurse…disguise as a
personal affront to himself。 Then； too； the man was not of his own army。
On the contrary； the scent proclaimed him one of the horde whom Bruce's
friends so manifestly hatedone of the breed that had more than once fired
on the dog。
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Diet and equipment and other causes give a German soldier a
markedly different scent； to dogs' miraculously keen nostrils； and to
those of certain humans；from the French or British or American troops。
War records prove this。 Once having learned the scent； and having learned
to detest it； Bruce was not to be deceived。
For all these reasons he had snarled loathingly at the man in white。 For
these same reasons he could not readily forget the incident； but continued
every now and then to glance curiously across toward the church。
Presently；not relishing the rebukes of the friends who had heretofore
pestered him by overmuch petting；the collie arose quietly from his couch
of trampled earth at the foot of the stone bench and strolled back across
the street。 Most of the men were too busy； talking； to note Bruce's
departure。 But Sergeant Mahan caught sight of him just as the dog was
mounting the last of the steps leading into the church。
As a rule； when Bruce went investigating； he walked carelessly and
with his tail slightly a…wag。 Now his tail was stiff as an icicle； and he
moved warily； on the tips of his toes。 His tawny… maned neck was low。
Mahan； understanding dogs； did not like the collie's demeanor。
Remembering that the nurse had entered the church a few minutes earlier；
the Sergeant got to his feet and hastily followed Bruce。
The dog； meanwhile； had passed through the crazily splintered
doorway and had paused on the threshold of the improvised hospital； as
the reek of iodoform and of carbolic smote upon his sensitive nostrils。 In
front of him was the stone…paved vestibule。 Beyond was the interior of the
shattered church； lined now with double rows of cots。
Seated on a camp…chair in the shadowy vestibule was the pseudo Red
Cross nurse。 At sight of the collie the nurse got up in some haste。 Bruce；
still walking stiff…legged； drew closer。
Out from under the white skirt flashed a capable and solidly… shod foot。
In a swinging kick； the foot let drive at the oncoming dog。 Before Bruce
could dodge or could so much as guess what was coming；the kick smote
him with agonizing force； square on the shoulder。
To a spirited collie； a kick carries more than the mere pain of its
inflicting。 It is a grossly unforgivable affront as wellas many a tramp and
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thief have learned； at high cost。
By the time the kick had fairly landed； Bruce had recovered from his
instant of incredulous surprise； and with lightning swiftness he hurled
himself at his assailant。
No bark or growl heralded the murderous throatlunge。 It was all the
more terrible for the noiselessness wherewith it was delivered。 The
masquerading man saw it coming； just too late to guard against it。 He
lurched backward； belatedly throwing both hands up to defend his throat。
It was the involuntary backward step which saved his jugular。 For his heel
caught in the hem of his white skirt。 And wholly off balance； he pitched
headlong to the floor。
This jerky shift of position； on the part of the foe； spoiled Bruce's aim。
His fearful jaws snapped together harmlessly in empty air at a spot where；
a fraction of a second earlier；
