bruce(布鲁斯)-第29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！
101
… Page 102…
Bruce
〃Yes； and he knew he was risking it； too。 There's blame little he didn't
know。 He saw war…dogs； all around him； choking to death from gas； or
screaming their lives out； in No Man's Land； when a bit of shell had
disemboweled 'em or a bullet had cracked their backbones。 He saw 'em
starve to death。 He saw 'em one bloody mass of scars and sores。 He saw
'em die of pneumonia and mange and every rotten trench disease。 And he
knew it might be his turn； any time at all； to die as they were dying； and he
knew the humans was too busy nursing other humans； to have time to
spare on caring for tortured dogs。 （Though those same dogs were dying for
the humans； if it comes to that。）
〃Yes； Bruce knew what the end was bound to be。 He knew it。 And he
kept on； as gay and as brave as if he was on a day's romp。 He never
flinched。 Not even that time the K。O。 sent him up the hill for
reenforcements at Rache； when every sharpshooter in the boche trenches
was laying for him； and when the machine guns were trained on him； too。
Bruce knew he was running into death；then and a dozen other times。 And
he went at it like a white man。
〃I'mI'm getting longwinded。 And I'll stop。 Butmaybe if you boys
will remember the Big Dogand what he did for us；when you get back
home；if you'll remember him and what he did and what thousands of
other war…dogs have done；then maybe you'll be men enough to punch the
jaw of any guy who gets to saying that dogs are nuisances and that
vivisection's a good thing； and all that。 If you'll just do that much； then
well； then Bruce hasn't lived and died for nothing！
〃Brucie； old boy；〃 bending to lift the tawny body and lower it into the
grave； 〃it's good…by。 It's good…by to the cleanest； whitest pal that a poor
dub of a doughboy ever had。 I〃
Mahan glowered across at the clump of silent men。
〃If anybody thinks I'm crying；〃 he continued thickly； 〃he's a liar。 I got
a cold； and〃
〃Sacre bon Dieu！〃 yelled old Vivier； insanely。 〃Regarde…donc！ Nom
d'une pipe！〃
He knelt quickly beside the body； in an ecstasy of excitement。 The
others craned their necks to see。 Then from a hundred throats went up a
102
… Page 103…
Bruce
gasp of amazement。
Bruce； slowly and dazedly； was lifting his magnificent head！
〃Chase off for the surgeon！〃 bellowed Mahan； plumping down on his
knees beside Vivier and examining the wound in the dog's scalp。 〃The
bullet only creased his skull！ It didn't go through！ It's just put him out for a
few hours； like I've seen it do to men。 Get the surgeon！ If that bullet in his
body didn't hit something vital； we'll pull him around； yet！ GLORY BE！〃
* * * * * * * * * * *
It was late summer again at The Place； late opulent summer； with the
peace of green earth and blue sky； the heavy droning of bees and the
promise of harvest。 The long shadows of late afternoon stretched lovingly
across the lawn； from the great lakeside trees。 Over everything brooded a
dreamy amber light。 The war seemed a million miles away。
The Mistress and the Master came down from the vine…shaded veranda
for their sunset walk through the grounds。 At sound of their steps on the
gravel； a huge dark…brown…and…white collie emerged from his resting…
place under the wistaria…arbor。
He stretched himself lazily； fore and aft； in collie…fashion。 Then he
trotted up to his two deities and thrust his muzzle playfully into the
Mistress's palm； as he fell into step with the promenaders。
He walked with a stiffness in one foreleg。 His gait was not a limp。 But
the leg's strength could no longer be relied on for a ten…mile gallop。 Along
his forehead was a new…healed bullet… crease。 And the fur on his sides had
scarcely yet grown over the mark of the high…powered ball which had
gone clear through him without touching a mortal spot。
Truly； the regimental surgeon of the 〃Here…We…Comes〃 had done a job
worthy of his own high fame！ And the dog's wonderful condition had done
the rest。
Apart from scars and stiffness； Bruce was none the worse for his year
on the battle…front。 He could serve no longer as a dashing courier。 But his
life as a pet was in no way impaired。
〃Here's something that came by the afternoon mail； Bruce；〃 the Master
greeted him； as the collie ranged alongside。 〃It belongs to you。 Take a look
at it。〃
103
… Page 104…
Bruce
The Master drew from his pocket a leather box； and opened it。 On the
oblong of white satin； within the cover； was pinned a very small and very
thin gold medal。 But； light as it was； it had represented much abstinence
from estaminets and tobacco…shops； on the part of its donors。
〃Listen；〃 the Master said； holding the medal in front of the collie。
〃Listen； while I read you the inscription： 'To Bruce。 From some of the
boys he saved from the boches。'〃 Bruce was sniffing the thin gold lozenge
interestedly。 The inscription meant nothing to him。 Butstrong and vivid
to his trained nostrilshe scented on the medal the loving finger… touch of
his old friend and admirer； Top Sergeant Mahan。
THE END
104
