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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 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； 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 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