bruce(布鲁斯)-第23节
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His fearful jaws snapped together harmlessly in empty air at a spot where；
a fraction of a second earlier； the other's throat had been。 Down crashed
the disguised man。 And atop of him the furious dog hurled himself；
seeking a second time the throatgrip he had so narrowly missed。
At this point on the program Sergeant Mahan arrived just in time to
bury both hands in the mass of Bruce's furry ruff and to drag the snarlingly
rabid dog back from his prey。
The place was in an uproar。 Nurses and doctors came rushing out into
the vestibule； sick and wounded men sat up on their cots and eagerly
craned their necks to catch sight of the scrimmage。 Soldiers ran in from
the street。
Strong as he was； Mahan had both hands full in holding the frantic
Bruce back from his enemy。 Under the insult of the kick from this
masquerader； whom he had already recognized as a foe； the collie had
temporarily lost every vestige of his stately dignity。 He was for the
moment merely a wild beast； seeking revenge for a brutal injury。 He
writhed and fought in Mahan's grasp。 Never once did he seek to attack the
struggling man who held him。 But he strained every giant sinew to get at
the foe who had kicked him。
The dog's opponent scrambled to his feet； helped by a dozen willing
hands and accosted by as many solicitous voices。 The victim's face was
bone…gray with terror。 His lips twitched convulsively。 Yet； as befitted a
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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〃
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Bruce
〃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 hands
officer 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〃
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〃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 e
