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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〃
〃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 enemy airships circled above the heap of
clustered hills which marked the nearest German position。 The
torn…up plain； between； seemed barren of life。 So； at first； did
the farther end of the jutting ridge on which the village was
perched。 But presently Bruce's idly wandering eye was caught by a
flutter of white among some boulders that clumped together on the
ridge's brow farthest from the village。
Some onea woman； from the dresswas apparently picking her way
through the boulders。 As Bruce moved forward； a big rock shut her
off from his view and from the view of the hamlet and of the
maneuvering infantry company a furlong away。
Just then a puff of breeze blew from eastward toward the collie；
and it bore to him a faint scent that set his ruff a…bristle and
his soft brown eyes ablaze。 To a dog； a scent once smelled is as
recognizable again as is the sight of a once…seen face to a
human。 Bruce set off at a hand…gallop toward the clump of
boulders。
The Red Cross nurse； whom Bruce had so nearly killed； was off
duty until the night…shift should go on at the hospital。 The
nurse had taken advantage of this brief surcease from toil； by
going for a little walk in the cool sunset air； and had carried
along a bag of sewing。
Up to three months ago this nurse had been known as Heinrich
Stolz； and had been a valued member of the Wilhelmstrasse's
workingforce of secret agents。 Then； acting under orders； Herr
Heinrich Stolz had vanished from his accustomed haunts。 Soon
thereafter a Red Cross nurseFelicia Stuart by name had reported
for duty at Paris； having been transferred thither from Italy；
and bearing indubitable credentials to that effect。
From carefully picked…up information Stolz had just learned of
the expected arrival of the three troop…trains at the junction at
nine that evening。 The tidings had interested him keenly； and he
knew of other people to whom they would be far more interesting。
Seating himself under the lee of the easternmost rock； Stolz
primly opened his sewing…bag and drew forth various torn
garments。 The garments were for the most part white； but one or
two were of gaudy colors。
By way of precaution； in case of discovery； the spy threaded a
needle。 Thus； if any one should chance to see him shake out a
garment； preparatory to laying it on his knee and mending it；
there could be no reasonable cause for suspicion。 Herr Stolz was
nothing if not efficient。
He held up the needle and poked the thread at its eye in truly
feminine fashion。
He had just finished this feat of dexterity when he chanced to
look up from his work at sound of fast…pattering feet。 Not thirty
feet away； charging head on at him； rushed the great brown…and…
white collie he supposed had been shot。
With a jump of abject terror； Herr Stolz sprang up。 Mingled with
his normal fear of the dog was a tinge of superstitious dread。 He
had been so certain the beast was shot！ The doctor had given the
order for his killing。 The doctor was a commissioned officer。
Stolz's German mind could not grasp the possibility of a soldier
disobeying an officer's imperative command。
The collie was upon him by the time the spy gained his feet。
Stolz reached frantically under his dress…folds for the deadly
little pistol that he always kept there。 But he was still a
novice in the mysteries of feminine apparel。 And； before his
fingers could close on the weapon； Bruce's bared fangs were
gleaming at his throat。
Stolz ceased to search for the weapon。 And； as before； he threw
up both frantic hands to ward off the furious jaws。
He was barely in time。 Bruce's white teeth drove deep into the
spy's forearm； and Bruce's eighty pounds of furry muscular bulk
smote Stolz full in the chest。 Down went the spy； under the
terrific impact； sprawling wildly on his back； and fighting with
both bleeding hands to push back the dog。
Bruce； collie…fashion； did not stick to one grip； but bit and
slashed a dozen times in three seconds； tearing and rending his
way toward the throat…hold he craved； driving through flesh of
hands and of forearms toward his goal。
Like many another German； Stolz was far more adept at causing
pain than at enduring it。 Also； from birth； he had had an
unconquerable fear of dogs。 His nerves； too； were not yet
recovered from Bruce's attack earlier in the day。 All this； and
the spectral suddenness of the onslaught； robbed him of every
atom of his usual stony self…control。
Sergeant Mahan was a good soldier。 Yet a minute earlier he had
almost ruined his reputation as such。 He ha