Theall-importantmessagewasfastenedinplace。Thecolonelhimselfwenttotheedgeofthetraverse，andwithhisownarmsliftedtheeighty-poundcollietothetop。
Therewastendernessaswellasstrengthintheliftingarms。AshesetBrucedownonthebrink，thecolonelsaid，asifspeakingtoafellow-human：
"Ihatetodoit，oldchap。IHATEto！Thereisn'tonechanceinthreeofyourgettingallthewayupthehillalive。Buttherewouldn'tbeonechanceinahundred，foraMAN。Thebocheswillbeonthelookoutforjustthismove。Andtheirbestsharpshooterswillbewaitingforyou——evenifyoudodgetheshrapnelandtherestoftheartillery。I'msorry！And——good-by。"
Then，tersely，heraspedoutthecommand——
"Bruce！Headquarters！Headquarters！QUICK！"
Atabound，thedogwasgone。
Breastingtheriseofthehill，Brucesetoffatasweepingrun，histawny-and-whitemaneflyinginthewind。
Athousandeyes，fromtheHere-We-Cometrenches，watchedhisflight。AndasmanyeyesfromtheGermanlinessawthehugecollie'sdashupthecoverlessslope。
ScarcehadBrucegottenfairlyintohisstridewhenthebochebulletsbegantosing——notadesultorylittleflurryofshots，asbefore；butbythescore，andwithamurderousearnestness。Whenhehadappeared，onhiswaytothetrenches，anhourearlier，theGermanshadopenedfireonhim，merelyfortheirownamusement——
uponthesamemerryprinciplewhichalwaysledthemtoshootatanAllywar-dog。Butnowtheyunderstoodhisall-importantmission；andtheystrovewiththeirbestskilltothwartit。
ThecoloneloftheHere-We-Comesdrewhisbreathsharplybetweenhisteeth。Hedidnotregretthesendingofthecollie。Ithadbeenamoveofstarkmilitarynecessity。Andtherewasanoffchancethatitmightmeanthesavingofhiswholecommand。
ButthecolonelwasfondofBruce，anditangeredhimtohearthefranticeffortofthebochemarksmentodownsomagnificentacreature。Thebulletsweresprayingallaboutthegallopingdog，kickinguptinyswirlsofdustathisheelsandinfrontofhimandtoeitherside。
Mahan，watching，withstreamingeyesandblaspheminglips，recalledtheFrenchsergeant'stheorythatBruceboreacharmedlife。AndheprayedthatViviermightberight。Butinhisprayerwasverylittlefaith。Forundersuchafusilladeitseemedimpossiblethatatleastonehighpowerbulletshouldnotreachthecolliebeforetheslopecouldbetraversed。Afast-runningdogisnotaneasymarkforabullet——especiallyifthedogbeacollie，withatraceofwolf——ancestryinhisgait。Adog，atbest，doesnotgallopstraightaheadasdoesahorse。Thereisalmostalwaysasidewiselilttohisrun。
Brucewasstillfurtheraidedbytheshell-plowedconditionofthehillside。Againandagainhehadtobreakhisstride，toleapsomeshell-hole。Oftenhehadtoencirclesuchholes。Morethanonceheboundedheadlongdownintoagapingcraterandscrambledupitsfarside。Theseerraticmoves，andthenine-hundred-yarddistance（adistancethatwaswideningateverysecond）madethesharpshooters'taskanythingbutanexactscience。
Mahan'sgazefollowedthedog'severystep。Brucehadclearedmorethanthree-fourthsoftheslope。Thetop-sergeantpermittedhimselftheluxuryofabroadgrin。
"I'llbuyVivierallthered-inkwinehecangargle，nextpay-
day！"hevowed。"Hewasdeadrightaboutthedog。Nobulletwasevermoldedthatcanget——"
Mahanbrokeoffinhisexultation，withanexplosiveoath，asanewnoteinthefiringsmoteuponhistrainedhearing。
"Theswine！"heroared。"Thefilthy，unsportsmanly，dog-eatingPrussianswine！They'returningMACHINE-GUNSonhim！"
Inplaceoftheintermittentrattleofrifleshotsnowcamethepurringcoughofrapidfireguns。Thebulletshittheupperhillsideinswathes，beginningafewyardsbehindtheflyingcollieandmovingupwardtowardhimlikeasweepingofanunseenscythe。
"That'sthewind-up！"groanedMahan。"Lord，sendmeanevenbreakagainstoneofthoseHunmachinegunnerssomeday！If——"
AgainMahanfailedtofinishhistrainofthought。Hestaredopen-mouthedupthehill。Almostattheverysummit，withinarodortwoofthepointwherethecrestwouldintervenebetweenhimandhisfoes，Brucewhirledinmid-airandfellprone。
Thefast-followingswathsofmachine-gunbulletshadnotreachedhim。ButanotherGermanenemyhad。Frombehindaheapofoffal，onthecrest，ayellow-graydoghadsprung，andhadlaunchedhimselfbodilyuponBruce'sflankastheunnoticingcolliehadflashedpasthim。
Theassailantwasanenormousandhyena-likeGermanpolice-dog。
Hewasoneofthemanyofhisbreedthatwereemployed（forworkorfood）intheGermancamps，andwhichusedtosneakawayfromtheirhard-kickingsoldier-ownerstoplyamorecongenialtradeasscavengers，andasseekersforthedead。For，intraitsaswellasinlooks，thepolice-dogoftenemulatestheghoulishhyena。
Seeingtheapproachingcollie（alwaysinveteratefoeofhiskind），thepolice-doghadgaugedthedistanceandhadlaunchedhissurpriseattackwithtrueTeutonsportsmanshipandefficiency。DownwentBruceunderthefierceweightthatcrashedagainsthisshoulder。Butbeforetheothercouldgainhiscovetedthroat-grip，Brucewasupagain。Likeafurrywhirlwindhewasatthepolice-dog，fightingmorelikeawolfthanacivilizedcollie——tearingintohisopponentwithamaniacrage，snapping，slashing；hisglitteringwhitefangsdrivingatadozenvulnerablepointsinasinglesecond。
ItwasasthoughBruceknewhehadnotimetowastefromhislife-and-deathmission。Hecouldnoteludethisenemy，sohemustfinishhimasquicklyaspossible。
"Givemeyourrifle！"sputteredMahantothesoldiernearesthim。
"I'lltakeonepotshotatthatPrussiancur，beforethemachine-
gunsgetthetwoof'em。EvenifIhitBrucebymistake，he'dratherdiebyaChristianYankee-madebulletthan——"
Justthenthescythelikemachine-gunfirereachedthehillcrestcombatants。Andinthesameinstantashellsmotetheground，apparentlybetweenthem。Upwentageyserofsmokeanddirtandrocks。Whenthecloudsettled，therewasadeepgullyinthegroundwhereamomentearlierBruceandthepolice-doghadwagedtheirdeath-battle。
"Thatsettlesit！"mutteredthecolonel。
AndhewenttomakereadyforsuchpunydefenseashismenmighthopetoputupagainsttheGermanrush。
Whilethesefutilepreparationswerestillunderway，terrificartilleryfireburstfromtheAlliedbatteriesbehindthehill，shieldingtheHere-We-CometrencheswithacurtainoffirewhoselowerfoldsdrapedthemselvesrightunlovinglyaroundtheGermanlines。Undercoverofthisbarrage，downthehillswarmedtheAlliedreserves！
"Howdidyougetword？"demandedtheastonishedcoloneloftheHere-We-Comes，laterintheday。
"Fromyournote，ofcourse，"repliedthegeneralhehadquestioned。"Thecollie——oldBruce。"
"Bruce？"babbledthecolonelfoolishly。
"Ofcourse，"answeredthegeneral。"Whoelse？ButI'mafraidit'sthelastmessagehe'lleverdeliver。Hecamerollingandstaggeringuptoheadquarters——onemassofblood，andthreeinchesthickwithcakeddirt。Hisrightsidewastornopenfromashell-wound，andhehadtwomachine-gunbulletsinhisshoulder。
He'sdeafasapost，too，fromshell-shock。Hetumbledoverinaheaponthestepsofheadquarters。ButheGOTthere。That'sBruce，allover。That'sthebesttypeofcollie，allover。Someofuswereforputtinghimoutofhismiserywithashotthroughthehead。We'dhavedoneit，too，ifithadbeenanyotherdog。
Butthesurgeon-generalwadedinandtookahandinthegame——
carriedBrucetohisownquarters。Welefthimworkingoverthedoghimself。AndheswearsBrucewillpullthrough！"
CHAPTERIV。WhenEyesWereNoUse"Yes，it'saneasyenoughtradetopickup，"lecturedTop-
SergeantMahan，formerlyoftheregulararmy。"You'vejustgottorememberafewthings。Butyou'vegottokeeponrememberingthosefew，allthetime。Ifyouforgetoneof'em，it'sthelastbitofforgettingyou'reeverlikelytodo。"
Top-SergeantMahan，ofthemixedFrench-and-Americanregimentknownas"Here-We-Come，"wassquattingateaseonthetrenchfiring——step。Fromthatprofessorialseathewasdispensingusefulknowledgetoagroupoffellow-countrymen-newlyarrivedfromthebase，topadthe"Here-We-Come"ranks，whichhadbeenthinnedattheRacheattack。
"Whatsortofthingshavewegottoremember，Sergeant？"jauntilyaskedalankyMissourian。"We'vegotthedrillprettypat；andthetrenchinstructionsand——"
"Gee！"ejaculatedMahan。"Ihadnoideaofthat！Thenwhydon'tyouwalkstraightaheadintoBerlin？Ifyouknowallyousayyoudo，aboutwar，there'snothingmoreforyoutolearn。I'lldropalinetoGeneralFochandsuggesttohimthatyourookiesbedetailedtoteachthegametousoldsters。"
"Ididn'tmeantobefresh，"apologizedthejauntyone。"Won'tyougoaheadandtellusthethingsweneedtoremember？"
"Well，"exhortedMahan，appeasedbythenewcomer'shumility，"therearen'tsomanyofthem，afterall。Learntoduck，whenyouhearaMinniegruntorawhizzbangcutloose；orafive-ninebegintowhimper。Learnnottobothertoduckwhentheriflesgettojabbering——foryou'llneverhearthebulletthatgetsyou。
Studythenocturnalhabitsofmachine-gunsandthewaysofsnipersandtherighttimenottoplaythefool。Andkeepsayingtoyourself：'Thebulletain'tmoldedthatcangetME！'Meanitwhenyousayit。Whenyou'velearnedthosefewthings，therestofthewar-gameisdeadeasy。"
"Except，"timidlyamendedoldSergeantVivier，thegraylittleFrenchman，"exceptwheneyesare——arewhatyoucallit，nouse。"
"That'sright，"assentedMahan。"Inthetimeswheneyesarenouse，allrulesfail。AndthentheonlythingyoucandoistotrusttoyourYankeeluck。Iremember——"
"'Wheneyesarenouse'？"repeatedtherecruit。"Ifyoumeanafterdark，atnight——haven'twegotthesearchlightsandthestarshellsandallthat？"
"Son，"repliedMahan，"wehave。ThoughIdon'tseehowyoueverguessedsuchanimportantsecret。Butsinceyouknoweverything，maybeyou'lljustkindlytelluswhatgoodallthelightsintheworldaregoingtodouswhenthefilthyyellow-grayfogbeginstooozeupoutofthemudandtheshell-holes，andthefilthygraymistoozesdownfromthecloudstomeetit。Fogistheonethingthatallthewar——sciencewon'tovercome。Afogpenetratorhasn'tbeeninventedyet。Ifithadbeen，there'dbemanyahuskyladlivingtoday，whohasgoneWest，thispastfewyears，onaccountofthefogs。Fogistheboche'spet。ItgivesFritzyalovelychancetocreepupor，us。It——"
"ItisthehelperofUS，too，"suggestedoldVivier。"Morethanonetime，ithaskeptmesafewhenIwasonpatrol。AnddiditnothelptosaveusatRache，when——"
"Thefogmayhavehelpedus，onepercent，atRache，"admittedMahan。"ButBrucedidninety-ninepercentofthesaving。"
"AScotchgeneral？"askedtherecruit，asViviernoddedcordialaffirmationofMahan'swords，andasothersoftheold-timersmutteredapproval。
"No，"contradictedMahan。"AScotchcollie。Ifyouweredrybehindtheears，inthislife，youwouldn'thavetoaskwhoBruceis。"
"Idon'tunderstand，"falteredtherookie，suspiciousofapossiblejoke。
"Youwillsoon，"Mahantoldhim。"Brucewillbehereto-day。I
heardtheK。O。sayingthebigdogisgoingtobesentdownwithsomedispatchesorsomething，fromheadquarters。It'shisfirsttripsincehewascutupso。"
"Iamsavinghim——this！"proclaimedVivier，disgorgingfromtheflotsamofhispocketalumpofonce-whitesugar。"Mywife，shesmugglethreeofthesetomeinherlastpaquet。OneIeatinmycafenoir；oneIpresenttomonchervieux，cebonMahan；oneI
keepforthegranddogwhatsaveusallthatday。"
"What'stheidea？"queriedthemystifiedrookie。"Idon't——"
"WewerestuckinthefrontlineoftheRachesalient，"explainedMahan，eagertorecounthisdog-friend'sprowess。"Onbothsidesoursupportsgotwordtofallback。Wecouldn'tgettheword，becauseourtelephoneconnectionwasknockedgalley-west。Therewewere，waitingforaHunattacktowipeusout。Wecouldn'tfallback，fortheywerepepperingthehillslopebehindus。Wewereatthebottom。They'dhavecutustoribbonsifwe'dshownourcarcassesintheopen。Brucewashere，withamessagehe'dbrought。TheK。O。senthimbacktoheadquartersforthereserves。
Thebocheheaviesandsnipersandmachine-gunsallcutloosetostophimashescootedupthehill。AndameaslygiantofaGermanpolicedogtriedtokillhim，too。Brucegotthroughthelotofthem；andhereachedheadquarterswiththeSOScallthatsavedus。Thepoorchapwascutandgougedandtornbybulletsandshell-scraps，andhewasnearlydeadfromshell-shock，too。
Butthesurgeongeneralworkedoverhim，himself，andpulledhimbacktolife。He——"
"HeisalovedpetofamanandawomaninyourAmerica，Ihaveheardonesay，"chimedinVivier。"Andhishome，there，wasinthequietcountry。Hewaslenttothecause，asapatrioticoffering，cebrave！Andofacertainty，hehasearnedhiswelcome。"
WhenBruce，anhourlater，trottedintothetrenches，onthewaytothe"Here-We-Come"colonel'squarters，hewasreceivedlikeavisitingpotentate。Dozensofmenhailedhimeagerlybynameashemadehiswaytohisdestinationwiththemessageaffixedtohiscollar。
Manyofthesemenwerehiswell-rememberedfriendsandcomrades。
MahanandVivier，andoneortwomore，hehadgrowntolike——aswellashecouldlikeanyoneinthatlandofhorrors，threethousandmilesawayfromThePlace，wherehewasborn，andfromtheMistressandtheMaster，whowerehisloyallyworshipedgods。
Moreover，beingonlymortalandafflictedwithaheartyappetite，Brucelovedthefoodandotherdelicaciesthemenwereforeverofferinghimasavariationonthestodgyfaredishedouttohimandhisfellowwar-dogs。
Asmuchtoamuseandinterestthesoldierswhoseherohewas，asforanyspecialimportanceinthedispatchhecarried，BrucehadbeensentnowtothetrenchesoftheHere-We-Comes。Itwashisfirstvisittotheregimenthehadsaved，sincethedaysoftheRacheassaulttwomonthsearlier。Thankstosupremelycleversurgeryandtotendercare，thedogwaslittletheworseforhiswounds。Hishearinggraduallyhadcomeback。Inoneshoulderhehadaveryslightstiffnesswhichwasnotalimp，andanew-healedfurrowscarredtheleftsideofhistawnycoat。
Otherwisehewasasgoodasnew。
AsBrucetrottedtowardthegroupthatsorecentlyhadbeentalkingofhim，theMissourirecruitwatchedwithinterestforthedog'sjoyatthisreunionwithhisoldfriends。Bruce'ssnowychestandblack-stippledcoatwerefluffedoutbymanyrecentbaths。Hissplendidheadhighandhisdarkeyesbright，thecollieadvancedtowardthegroup。
Mahangreetedhimjoyously。Vivierstretchedoutahandwhichdisplayedtemptinglythelong-hoardedlumpofsugar。Athirdmanproduced，fromnowhereinparticular，alargeandmeat-fringedsoup-bone。
"Iwonderwhichofyouhe'llcometo，first，"saidtheinterestedMissourian。
Thequestionwasansweredatonce，andrighthumiliatingly。ForBrucedidnotfalterinhisswingingstrideashecameabreastofthegroup。NotbysomuchasasecondglancedidhenoticeMahan'shailandthetemptingfood。
AshepassedwithinsixinchesofthelumpofsugarwhichVivierwasholdingouttohim，thedog'ssilkenearsquiveredslightly，suresignofhard-repressedemotioninathoroughbredcollie，——
buthegavenoothermanifestationthatheknewanyonewasthere。
"Well，I'llbeblessed！"snickeredtheMissourianinhighderision，asBrucepassedoutofsightaroundanangleofthetrench。"Sothat'sthepupwhoissuchapalofyoufellows，ishe？Gee，butitwasatreattoseehowtickledhewastomeetyouagain！"
Totherookie'samazementnoneofhishearersseemedintheleastchagrinedoverthedogschillingdisregardofthem。Instead，Mahanactuallygruntedapprobation。
"He'llbeback，"prophesiedtheSergeant。"Don'tyouworry。He'llbeback。Weoughttohavehadmoresensethantrytostophimwhenhe'sonduty。Hehasbetterdisciplinethantherestofus。
That'soneofveryfirstthingstheyteachacourier-dog——topaynoattentiontoanybody，whenhe'sondispatchduty。WhenBrucehasdeliveredhismessagetotheK。O。，he'llhavetherighttohuntuphischums。Andnooneknowsitbetter'nBrucehimself。"
"Itwasasin——athoughtlessness——ofmetoholdthesugarathim，"saidoldVivier。"Ah，butheisasogoodsoldier，cebraveBruce！Helooknottotheleftnoryettotheright，noryettotheso-desiredsugar-lump。Hekeephisheadatattention！Allbutthefurrytipsofhisears。Themhehasnotyettaughttobegoodsoldiers。Theytremble，whenhesmellthesugarandthegoodsoup-bone。Theyquiverlikethelittleleaf。Buthekeepon。He——
"
Therewasascurryoffast-canteringfeet。AroundtheangleofthetrenchdashedBruce。Headerect，softdarkeyesshiningwithalightofgaymischief，hegallopeduptothegrinningSergeantVivierandstood。Thedog'sgreatplumeofatailwaswaggingviolently。Histulipearswerecocked。HiswholeinterestinlifewasfixedonthepreciouslumpofsugarwhichVivierheldouttohim。
Frompuppyhood，Brucehadadoredlumpsugar。EvenatThePlace，sugarhadbeenararityforhim，fortheMistressandtheMasterhadknownthedamageitcanwreakuponadog'steethanddigestion。Yet，onceinawhile，asaspecialluxury，theMistresshadbeenwonttogivehimasolitarylumpofsugar。
SincehisarrivalinFrance，thedoghadneverseennorscentedsuchathinguntilnow。Yethedidnotjumpforthegift。HedidnottrytosnatchitfromVivier。Instead，hewaiteduntiltheoldFrenchmanhelditclosertowardhim，withtheinvitation：
"Takeit，monvieux！Itisforyou。"
ThenandthenonlydidBrucereachdaintilyforwardandgripthegrimybitofsugarbetweenhismightyjaws。Vivierstrokedthecollie'sheadwhileBrucewaggedhistailandmunchedthesugarandblinkedgratefullyupatthedonor。Mahanlookedon，enviously。"Adog'sgotforty-twoteeth，insteadofthethirty-
twothatushumanshavetochewon，"observedtheSergeant。"A
vet'toldmethatonce。Andsugarisbadforallforty-twoof'em。Maybeyoudidn'tknowthat，MonsooVivier？Likely，atthisrate，we'llhavetochipinbeforelongandbuypoorBrucieadoublesetoffalseteeth。Justbecauseyou'veputhisrealonesoutofbusinesswithlumpsofsugar！"
Vivierlookedgenuinelyconcernedatthisgrimforecast。Brucewanderedacrosstotheplacewherethedonorofthesoup-bonebrandishedhisoffering。Othermen，too，werecrowdingaroundwithgifts。
Betweenpettingandfeeding，thecolliespentabusyhouramonghiscomrades-at-arms。Hewastostaywiththe"Here-We-Comes"
untilthefollowingday，andthencarrybacktoheadquartersareconnaissancereport。
Atfouro'clockthatafternoontheskywassoftlyblueandtheairwasunwontedlyclear。Byfiveo'clockagentleIndia-summerhazeblurredtheworld'ssharperoutlines。Bysixablanket-fogrolledin，andtheairwaswetlyunbreatheable。Thefoglaysothickoverthesoggyearththatobjectstenfeetawaywereinvisible。
"This，"commentedSergeantMahan，"isoneofthetimesIwastalkingaboutthismorning——wheneyesarenouse。Thisissurethecountryforfogs，inwar-time。ThecockneystellmetheLondonfogsaren'tapatchon'em。"
The"Here-We-Comes"wereencamped，forthewhile，attheedgeofasectorfromwhenceallmilitaryimportancehadrecentlybeenremovedbyaconvulsivetwistofahundred-milebattle-front。Inthisdullhole-in-a-cornerthenew-arrivedrivetswereinprocessofweldingintothemoreveteranstructureofthemixedregiment。
Notaquarter-mileaway——acrossNoMan'sLandandathwarttwobarriersofbarbedwire——layaseriesofGermantrenches。Now，inallprobability，andfromalloutwardsigns，theoccupantsofthisbochepositionconsistedonlyofaregimentortwowhichhadbeensobadlycutup，inafoileddrive，astoneedamonthofnon-excitingroutinebeforegoingbackintomoreperilousservice。
Yetthecommanderofthedivisiontowhichthe"Here-We-Comes"
wereattacheddidnottrusttoprobabilitiesnortooutwardsigns。Hehadbeenatthefrontlongenoughtorealizethattheonlythinglikelytohappenwasthethingwhichseemedunlikeliest。AndhefeltamorbidcuriositytolearnmoreaboutthepersonnelofthosedormantGermantrenches。
Whereforehehadsentanorderthatahandfulofthe"Here-We-
Comes"goforthintoNoMan'sLand，onthefirstfavorablenight，andtrytopickupabocheprisonerortwoforquestioning-
purposes。Ascouringofthedoublywiredareabetweenthehostilelinesmightreadilyharvestsomesolitarysentinelorsomeothermanonspecialduty，oreventheoccupantsofalistening-post。
Andthedivisioncommanderearnestlydesiredtoquestionsuchprisonerorprisoners。Thefogfurnishedanidealnightforsuchanexpedition。
ThusitwasthataveryyounglieutenantandSergeantMahanandtenprivates——thelankyMissourianamongthem——weredetailedfortheprisoner-seekingjob。Ateleveno'clock，theycreptoverthetop，singlefile。
Itwasanightwhereinahundredsearchlightsandamillionstar——
flareswouldnothavemademoreimpressiononthedensityofthefogthanwouldthestrikingofasafetymatch。YetthetwelvereconnoitererswereinstructedtoproceedinthecautiousmannercustomarytosuchnocturnalexpeditionsintoNoMan'sLand。Theymovedforwardatthelieutenant'sorder，tiptoeingabreast，sometwentyfeetapartfromoneanother，andadvancinginthree-footstrides。Ateverythirtystepstheentirelinewasrequiredtohaltandtoreestablishcontact——inotherwords，to"dress"onthelieutenant，whowasattheextremeright。
Thismaneuverwasmoretime-wastingandlesssimplethanitsrecitalwouldimply。Forinthedark，unaccustomedlegsareliabletomiscalculationinthematteroflengthofstride，evenwhenshell-holesandotherinequalitiesofgrounddonotcomplicatethecalculationsstillfurther。Anditishardtomaintainaperfectlystraightlinewhenmovingforwardthroughchokingfogandoverscoresofobstacles。
Thehaltsforrealignmentconsumedmuchtimeandcausednolittleconfusion。NervousnessbegantoencompasstheMissourirecruit。
Hewasasbraveasthenextman。Butthereissomethingcreepyaboutwalkingwithmeasuredtreadthroughaninvisiblespace，withnosoundbutthestealthypad-pad-padofequallyhesitantfootstepstwentyfeetawayoneitherside。TheMissourianwasgratefulfortheintervalsthatbroughtthemenintomutualcontact，astheeeriemarchcontinued。
Thefirstlineofbarbedwirewascutandpassed。ThenfollowedanendlessgropingprogressacrossNoMan'sLand，andseveraldelays，asonemanoranotherhadtroubleinfindingcontactwithhisneighbor。
AtlastthepartycametotheGermanwires。Thelieutenanthaddrawnonarubberglove。Inhisglovedhandhegraspedastripofsteelwhichheheldinfrontofhim，likeawand，fanningtheairwithit。
Ashecametotheentanglement，heprobedthebarbedwirecarefullywithhiswand，watchingforanensuingspark。FortheGermansmorethanoncehadbeenknowntoelectrifytheirwires，withfatalresultstolucklessprowlers。
Thesewires，to-night，werenotcharged。And，withpliers，thelieutenantandMahanstartedtocutapassagewaythroughthem。
Astheveryfirststrandpartedunderhispressure，Mahanlaidonehandwarninglyonthelieutenant'ssleeve，andthenpassedthesameprearrangedwarningdownthelinetotheleft。
Silence——moveless，tense，sharplylisteningsilence——followedhismotion。ThentherestofthepartyheardthesoundwhichMahan'skeenerearshadcaughtamomentearlier——thethudofmanymarchingfeet。Herewasnofurtivecreeping，aswhenthetwelveYankeeshadmovedalong。Ratherwasittherhythmicbeatofatleastahundredpairsofshapelessarmyboots——perhapsofmore。
Theunseenmarchersweremovingwordlessly，butwithnoeffortatmufflingtheeventreadoftheirmultiplefeet。
"They'recomingthisway！"breathedSergeantMahanalmostwithoutsound，hislipsclosetotheexcitedyounglieutenant'sear。"Andthey'renotfiftypacesoff。Thatmeansthey'reboches。SoneartheGermanwire，ourmenwouldeitherbecrawlingorelsecharging，notmarching！It'sacompany——maybeabattalion——comingbackfromareconnaissance，andmakingforagapintheirownwiresomewherenearhere。Ifwelaylowthere'sanoffchancetheymaypassusby。"
Withoutawaitingthelieutenant'sorder，Mahanpassedalongthesignalforeverymantodroptoearthandliethere。Heallbutforcedtheeagerlygesticulatinglieutenanttotheground。
OncametheswingingtreadoftheGermans。Mahan，listeningbreathlessly，triedtogaugethedistanceandthedirection。Hefigured，presently，thatthebreaktheGermanshadmadeintheirwirecouldbeonlyafewyardsbelowthespotwhereheandthelieutenanthadbeenatworkwiththepliers。Thustheintruders，fromtheirpresentcourse，mustinevitablypassveryclosetotheprostrateAmericans——soclose，perhaps，astobrushagainstthenearestofthem，oreventostepononeormoreofthecrouchingfigures。
Mahanwhisperedtothemanonhisimmediateleft，therookiefromMissouri：
"Edgeclosertothewire——closeasyoucanwiggle，andlieflat。
Passontheword。"
TheMissourianobeyed。Beforewrithinghislongbodyforwardagainstthebristlymassofwirehepassedtheinstructionsontothemanathisownleft。
Buthisnerveswereatbreaking-point。
Ithadbeenbadenoughtocrawlthroughtheblindfog，withtheghostlystepsofhiscomradespatteringsoftlyateithersideofhim。Butitwasathousandtimeshardertoliehelplesshere，inthechokingfogandonthesoakedground，whilecountlessenemieswerebearingdown，unseen，uponhim，ononeside，andanimpenetrablewirecutoffhisretreatontheother。
TheMissourianhadlethisimaginationbegintowork；alwaysamistakeinaprivatesoldier。HewasvisualizingthemomentwhenthistrampingGermanforceshouldbecomeawareofthepresenceoftheirpunyfoesandshouldslaughterthemagainstthemercilesswires。Itwouldnotbeafairstand-upfight，thismurder-rushofhundredsofmenagainsttwelvewhowerepennedinandcouldnotmaneuvernorescape。Andthethoughtofitwasdoingqueerthingstotherookie'soverwroughtnerves。
Havingpassedthewordtocreepclosertothewires，hebegantoexecutetheorderinperson，withnodelayatall。Buthewasafractionofasecondtoolate。TheGermansweremovinginhike-
formationwith"points"thrownoutinadvancetoeitherside——a"point"beingaprivatesoldierwho，forscoutingandotherpurposes，marchesatsomedistancefromthemainbody。
Thepoint，aheadoftheplatoon，hadswervedtoofartotheleft，intheblackness——anerrorthatwouldinfalliblyhavebroughthimupagainstthewires，withconsiderableforce，inanothertwosteps。ButtheMissourianwasbetweenhimandthewires。Andthepoint'sheavy-shodfootcamedown，heelfirst，onthebackoftherookie'sout-gropinghand。Suchacrushingimpact，onthehand-back，isoneofthemostagonizingminorinjuriesamancansustain。AndthisfacttheMissouriandiscoveredwithgreatsuddenness。
Histoo-tautnervesforcedfromhisthroatayellthatsplitthedeathlystillnesswithanear-piercingvehemence。Hesprangtohisfeet，forgetfulofordersintentonlyonthrustinghisbayonetthroughtheHunwhohadcausedsuchacutetorturetohishand。Halfwayup，therookie'sfeetwentoutfromunderhimintheslimymud。Hecaromedagainstthepoint，thenfellheadlong。
TheGerman，doubtlessthinkinghehadstumbleduponasinglestrayAmericanscout，whirledhisownriflealoft，todashoutthebrainsofhislucklessfoe。Butbeforetheupflungbuttcoulddescend，——beforetherookiecouldriseordodge，——thepointaddedhisquotatotherudebreakingofthenight'ssilence。Hescreamedinpanicterror，droppedhisbrandishedgunandreeledbackward，clawingathisownthroat。
Foroutoftheeeriedarkness，somethinghadlauncheditselfathim——somethingsilentandterrible，thathadflowntotheMissourian'said。DownwithacrashwenttheGerman，onhisback。
HerolledagainsttheMissourian，whopromptlysoughttograpplewithhim。
ButevenasheclawedfortheGerman，therookie'snerveswrungfromhimasecondyell——thistimelessofragethanofhorror。
"Sufferin'cats！"hebellowed。"Whydidn'tanybodyevertellmeGermanswascoveredwithfurinsteadofclothes？"
Thebocheplatoonwasnolongerstridingalonginhike-
formation。Itwasbrokenupintomassesofwildlyrunningmen，allofthembearingdownupontheplacewhenceissuedthisungodlyracketandturmoil。Stumbling，reeling，blindlyfallingandrisingagain，theycameon。
Someoneamongthemloosedarifle-shotinthegeneraldirectionoftheyelling。AsecondandathirdGermanriflemanfollowedtheexampleofthefirst。FromthedistantAmericantrenches，oneortwosnipersbegantopepperawaytowardtheenemylines，thoughthefogwastoothickforthem，toseetheGermanrifle-flashes。
Thebochesfarthesttotheleft，intheblindrush，fouledwiththewires。Germansnipers，frombehindtheHunparapets，openedfire。Aminuteearlierthenighthadbeenstillasthegrave。Nowitfairlyvibratedwithclangor。Allbecauseonerookie'snerveshadbeenlessstaunchthanhiscourage，andbecausethatsamerookiehadnotonlyhadhishandsteppedoninthedark，buthadencounteredsomethingswirlingandhairywhenhegrabbedforthesoldierwhohadsteppedonhim！
TheAmericanlieutenant，attheonsetoftheclamor，sprangtohisfeet，whippingouthispistol；hisdrylipspartedinacommandtocharge——acommandwhich，naturally，wouldhavereducedhiselevenmenandhimselftotwelvecorpsesortoanequalnumberofmishandledprisonerswithinthenextfewseconds。Butabighandwasclappedunceremoniouslyacrosstheyoungofficer'smouth，silencingthehalf-spokensuicidalorder。
SergeantMahan'scareerintheregulararmyhadgivenhimanalmostuncannypowerofsizinguphisfellowmen。Andhehadlongagodecidedthatthiswasthesortofthinghisuntriedlieutenantwouldbelikelytodo，injustsuchanemergency。
Whereforehisflagrantbreachofdisciplineinshovinghispalmacrossthemouthofhissuperiorofficer。
Andashewascommittingthisbreachofdiscipline，heheardtheMissourian'sstrangledgaspof：
"Whydidn'tanybodyevertellmeGermanswascoveredwithfur？"
InaflashMahanunderstood。Wheeling，hestoopedlowandflungoutbotharmsinawide-sweepingcircle。Luckilyhisrighthand'sfingertips，astheycompletedthecircle，touchedsomethingfast-movingandfurry。
"Bruce！"hewhisperedfiercely，tighteninghisprecariousgriponthewispoffurhisfingershadtouched。"Bruce！Standstill，boy！It'sYOUwho'sgottogetusclearofthis！Nobodyelse，shortofthegoodLord，candoit！"
Brucehadhadapleasantlylazydaywithhisfriendsinthefirst-linetrenches。Therehadbeenmuchgoodfoodandmorepetting。Andatlast，comfortablytiredofitall，hehadgonetosleep。Hehadawakenedinamostfriendlymood，andalittlehungry。Whereforehehadsalliedforthinsearchofhumancompanionship。Hefoundplentyofsoldierswhoweremorethanwillingtotalktohimandmakemuchofhim。But，alittlefartherahead，hesawhisgoodfriend，SergeantMahan，andothersofhisacquaintances，startingovertheparapetonwhatpromisedtobeajollyeveningstroll。
Alldogsfindithardtoresistthemysteriouslureofawalkinhumancompanionship。True，thenightwasnotanidealoneforaramble，andthefoghadawayofcongealingwetlyonBruce'sshaggycoat。Still，adampcoatwasnotenoughofadiscomforttooffsetthejoyofastrollwithhisfriends。SoBrucehadfollowedthetwelvemenquietlyintoNoMan'sLand，fallingdecorouslyintostepbehindMahan。
Ithadnotbeenmuchofawalk，forspeedorforfun。Forthehumanswentridiculouslyslowly，andhadaneccentricwayofbunchingtogether，everynowandagain，andthenofstringingoutintoashamblingline。Still，itwasawalk，andthereforebetterthanloafingbehindinthetrenches。AndBrucehadkepthisnoiselessplaceattheSergeant'sheels。
Then——longbeforeMahanheardtheapproachingtrampoffeet——
BrucecaughtnotonlythesoundbutthescentoftheGermanplatoon。Thescentatoncetoldhimthatthestrangerswerenotofhisownarmy。AGermansoldierandanAmericansoldier——
becauseoftheirdifferenceindietaswellasforcertainotherandmorecogentreasons——havebynomeansthesameodor，toacollie'strainedscent，nortothatofotherbreedsofwar-dogs。
Officialrecordsofdog-sentinelsprovethat。
AlienswerenearingBruce'sfriends。Andthedog'sruffbegantostandup。ButMahanandtherestseemedinnowayconcernedinspiritthereby——though，tothedog'sunderstanding，theymustsurelybeawareoftheapproach。SoBrucegavenofurthersignofdispleasure。Hewasoutforawalk，asaguest。Hewasnotonsentry-duty。
ButwhenthenearestGermanwasalmostuponthem，andalltwelveAmericansdroppedtotheground，thecolliebecameinterestedoncemore。AGermansteppedonthehandofoneofhisnewestfriends。Andthefriendyelledinpain。WhereattheGermanmadeasiftostrikethestepped-onman。
ThiswasquiteenoughforloyalBruce。Withoutsomuchasagrowlofwarning，hejumpedattheoffender。
Dogandmantumbledearthwardtogether。Thenafteraninstantofflurryandnoise，BrucefeltMahan'sfingersonhisshoulderandheardthestarkappealofMahan'swhisperedvoice。Instantlythedogwasaprofessionalsoldieroncemore——alertlyobedientandresourceful。
"Catchholdmyleftarm，Lieutenant！"Mahanwasexhorting。"Closeup，there，boys——everyman'shandgrabbingtighttotheshoulderofthemanonhisleft！Passtheword。Andyou，Missouri，hangontotheLieutenant！Quick，there！Andtreadsoftandtreadfast，anddon'tletgo，whateverhappens！Notasoundoutofanyone！
I'mleadingtheway。AndBruceisgoingtoleadme。"
Therewasascurryingscrambleasthemengropedforoneanother。
MahantightenedhisholdonBruce'smane。
"Bruce！"hesaid，verylow，butwithastrengthofappealthatwasnotlostonthelisteningdog。"Bruce！Camp！BacktoCAMP！
AndkeepQUIET！Backtocamp，boy！CAMP！"
Hehadnoneedtorepeathiscommandsooftenandsostrenuously。
Brucewasatrainedcourier。Theoneword"Camp！"wasquiteenoughtotellhimwhathewastodo。
Turning，hefacedtheAmericanlinesandtriedtobreakintoagallop。Hisscentandhisknowledgeofdirectionwerealltheguidesheneeded。Adogalwaysreliesonhisnosefirstandhiseyeslast。Thefogwasnoobstacleatalltothecollie。HeunderstoodtheSergeant'sorder，andhesetoutatoncetoobeyit。
Butattheveryfirststep，hewaschecked。Mahandidnotreleasethatfeverishlytightholdonhismane，butmerelyshiftedtohiscollar。
Bruceglancedback，impatientatthedelay。ButMahandidnotletgo。Insteadhesaidoncemore：
"CAMP，boy！"
AndBruceunderstoodhewasexpectedtomakehiswaytocamp，withMahanhangingontohiscollar。
Brucedidnotenjoythismodeoflocomotion。Itwasinconvenient，andthereseemednosenseinit；butthereweremanythingsaboutthisstrenuouswar-tradethatBruceneitherenjoyednorcomprehended，yetwhichheperformedatcommand。
Soagainheturnedcampward，Mahanathiscollarandanannoyinglyhinderingtailofmenstumblingsilentlyonbehindthem。AllaroundweretheGermans——buttingdrunkenlythroughtheblanket-densefog，swingingtheirrifleslikeflails，shoutingconfusedorders，occasionallyfiring。Nowandthentwoormoreofthemwouldcollideandwouldwrestleinblindfury，thinkingtheyhadencounteredanAmerican。
Impededbytheirownsightlesslyswarmingnumbers，asmuchasbytheimpenetrabledarkness，theysoughtthefoe。AndbutforBrucetheymustquicklyhavefoundwhattheysought。Evenincompactform，theAmericanscouldnothavehadthesheerlucktododgeeveryscatteredcontingentofHunswhichstarredtheGermanendofNoMan'sLand——mostofthembetweenthefugitivesandtheAmericanlines。
ButBrucewasondispatchduty。Itwashisworktoobeycommandsandtogetbacktocampatonce。ItwasbadenoughtobehandicappedbyMahan'sgrasponhiscollar。Hewasnotmindedtosufferfurtherdelaybyrunningintoanyoftheclumpsofgesticulatingandcabbage-reekingGermansbetweenhimandhisgoal。Sohesteeredclearofsuchgroups，makingseveralwidedetoursinordertodoso。OnceortwicehestoppedshorttoletsomeoftheGermansgropepasthim，notsixfeetaway。Againheveeredsharplytotheleft——increasinghispaceandforcingMahanandtheresttoincreasetheirs——toavoidasquadofthirtymenwhowerequarteringthefieldincloseformation，andwhoallbutjostledthedogastheystrodesightlesslyby。Anoccasionalrifle-shotspatforthitschallenge。Frombothtrench-linesmenwerefiringataventure。Afewofthebulletssangnastilyclosetothetwelvehuddledmenandtheircanineleader。OnceaGerman，notthreeyardsaway，screamedaloudandfellsprawlingandkicking，asonesuchchancebulletfoundhim。Aboveandbehind，soundedtheplopofstar-shellssentupbytheenemyinfutilehopeofpenetratingtheviscidfog。Andeverywherewasheardtheshuffleandstumblingofinnumerableboots。
Atlastthenoiseoffeetbegantodieaway，andtheunevengropingtreadofthetwelveAmericanstosoundmoredistinctlyforthelesseningofthesurroundingturmoil。AndinanotherfewsecondsBrucecametoahalt——nottoanabruptstop，aswhenhehadallowedanenemysquadtopassinfrontofhim，butaleisurelycheckingofspeed，todenotethathecouldgonofartherwiththeloadhewashelpingtohaul。
Mahanputouthisfreehand。ItencounteredtheAmericanwires。
Brucehadstoppedatthespotwherethepartyhadcutanarrowpaththroughtheentanglementontheoutwardjourney。Alone，thedogcouldeasilyhavepassedthroughthegap，buthecouldnotbecertainofpullingMahanwithhim。Whereforethehalt。
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Thelastofthetwelvemenscrambleddowntosafety，intheAmericanfirst-linetrench，Bruceamongthem。Thelieutenantwentstraighttohiscommandingofficer，tomakehisreport。SergeantMahanwentstraighttohiscompanycook，whomhewokefromasnorefulsleep。PresentlyMahanranbacktowherethesoldiersweregatheredadmiringlyaroundBruce。
TheSergeantcarriedachunkoffriedbeef，forwhichhehadjustgiventhecookhisentireremainingstockofcigarettes。
"Hereyouare，Bruce！"heexclaimed。"Thebestintheshopisnonetoogoodforthedogthatgotussafeoutofthatfilthymess。Eathearty！"
Brucedidnotsomuchassniffatthe（moreorless）temptingbitofmeat。ColdlyhelookedupatMahan。Then，withsensitiveearslaidflatagainsthissilkenhead，intokenofstrongcontempt，heturnedhisbackontheSergeantandwalkedaway。
WhichwasBruce'smethodofshowingwhathethoughtofahumanfoolwhowouldgivehimacommandandwhowouldthenholdsotightlytohimthatthedogcouldhardlycarryouttheorder。
CHAPTERVTheDoubleCrossInthebackgroundlayalandscapethathadoncebeenbeautiful。
Inthemiddledistancerottedavillagethathadoncebeenalive。
Intheforegroundstoodanedificethathadoncebeenachurch。
Theonce-beautifullandscapehadthelookofagiganticpockmarkedface，soscoredwasitbyshell-scarandcrater。Itsvegetationwassweptaway。Itstreeswereshatteredstumps。Itsfarmsteadswerecharredpilesofrubble。
Thevillagewasunlikethegenerallandscape，inthatithadneverbeenbeautiful。Inspiteofglobe-trotters'sentimentalgush，notallvillagesofnorthernFrancewerebeautiful。Manywerebuiltforthriftandforcomfortandforexpediency；notforarchitecturalornaturalloveliness。
ButthisvillageofMeran-en-Layewasnotmerelydeprivedofwhatbeautyitoncemightormightnothavepossessed。Exceptbycourtesyitwasnolongeravillageatall。Itwasadoublerowofsqualidruins，zig-zaggingalongthetwosidesofwhatwasleftofitsmainstreet。Hereandthereacottageortinyshoporshedwasstillhabitable。Therestwasdebris。
Thechurchintheforegroundwasrecognizableassuchbytheshapeandsizeofitsraggedwalls，andbyahalf-smashedimageoftheVirginandChildwhichslantedoutataperilousangleaboveitsfa？ade。
Yet，miserableastheruinedhamletseemedtothecasualeye，itwasatpresentavacation-resort——andadecidedlywelcomeone——tonolessthanthreethousandtiredmen。Thewreckedchurchwasanimpromptuhospitalbeneathwhoseshatteredroofdozensofthesemenlayhelplessonmakeshiftcots。
ForthemixedAmericanandFrenchregimentknownasthe"Here-We-
Comes"wasbilletedatMeran-en-Layeduringarespitefromtherigorsandperilsofthefront-linetrenches。
Therestandthefreedomfromrisks，supposedtobeapartofthe"billeting"system，werenotwhollytheportionofthe"Here-WeComes。"Meran——en——Layewasjustthenasomewhatimportantlittlespeckonthewarmap。
TheGermanshadbeenuptotheirfavoritefieldsportoftryingtosplitinhalftwooftheAlliedarmies，andtorollupeach，independently。Theefforthadbeenafailure；yetithadcomesoneartosuccessthatmanyrailwaycommunicationswerecutoffordeflected。AndMeran-en-Layehadforthemomentgainednewimportance，byvirtueofaspurrailway-linewhichranthroughitsoutskirtsandwhichmadejunctionwithanewsetoftrackstheAmericanengineerswerecompleting。Alongthistransverseofroadsmuchammunitionandfoodandmanyfightingmenweredailyrushed。
Thesafetyofthevillagehadthusbecomeofmuchsignificance。
Whileitwastoofarbehindthelinestobeingravedangerofenemyraids，yetsuchdangerexistedtosomeextent。"Whereforethepresenceofthe"Here-We-Comes"——fortheparadoxicaldoublepurposeof"restingup"andofguardingtherailwayFunction。
Still，itwasbetterthantrench-work；andthe"Here-We-Comes"
enjoyedit——foradayorso。Thentroublehadsetin。
Agroupofsoldierswereloungingonthestoneseatinfrontofthevillageestaminet。Beingoffduty，theywererevelinginthatpopularmartialpastimeknowntotheTommyas"grousing"andtotheYankeedoughboyas"airingagrouch。"
Top-SergeantMahan，formerlyoftheregulararmy，washaranguingtheothers。Somelistenedapprovingly，othersdissentinglyandothersnotatall。
"Itellyou，"Mahandeclaredforthefourthtime，"somebody'sdouble-crossingusagain。There'saleak。Andiftheydon'tfindoutwhereitis，awholelotofgoodmenandamilliondollars'
worthofsuppliesareliabletospilloutthroughthatsameleak。
It——"
"But，"arguedhiscrony，oldSergeantVivier，inhishard-
learnedEnglish，"butitmayallbeofachance，monvieux。Itmay，notbethedoubledcross，——whateveradoubledcrossmeans，——
butthemerechance。Suchthingsoften——"
"Chance，mygrandmother'swall-eyedcat！"snortedMahan。"Maybeitmighthavebeenchance——whenthisplacehadn'tbeenbombedforamonth——forawholeflightofbocheartilleryandairshipgrenadestocutlooseagainstitthedayGeneralPershinghappenedtostophereforanhouronhiswaytoChateau-Thierry。
Maybethatwaschance——thoughIknowblamedwellitwasn't。Maybeitwaschancethattheplacewasn'tbombedagaintilltwodaysago，whenthattroop-trainhadtospendsuchalotoftimegettingshuntedatthejunction。Maybeitwaschancethatthechurch，overacrossthestreet，hadn'tbeentouchedsincethelastdrive，tillourregiment'swoundedwereputinit——andthatit'sbeenhitthreetimessincethen。Maybeanyoneofthosethings——andofadozenotherswaschance。Butit'sacinchthatALLofthemweren'tchance。Chancedoesn'tworkthatway。I——"
"Perhaps，"doubtfullyassentedoldVivier，"perhaps。ButIlittleliketobelieveit。Foritmeansaspy。Andaspyinone'smidstisliketoasnakeinone'sblankets。Itisanotpleasingcomrade。Anditstandsinsoreneedofkilling。"
"there'sspieseverywhere，"averredMahan。"That'sbeenprovedoftenenough。Sowhynothere？ButIwishtotheLordIcouldlayhandsonhim！Ifthiswasoneofthelittleshelteredvillages，inavalley，hisworkwouldbeharder。Andthebocheairshipsandthelong-rangerswouldn'tfindussuchasimpletarget。Butuphereonthisridge，allaspyhastodoistoflashasignal，anynight，thatabocheairmancanpickuporthatcanevenbeseenwithgoodglassesfromsomehighpointwhereitcanberelayedtotheGermanlines。Theguywholaidoutthisburgwassurethoughtless。Hemighthaveknownthere'dbeawarsomeday。Hemightevenhavestrainedhismindandguessedthatwe'dbestuckhere。Gee！"
Hebrokeoffwithagruntofdisgust；nordidhesomuchaslistentoanotherofthegroupwhosoughttolurehimintoanopinionastowhetherthespymightbeaninhabitantofthevillageoracamp-follower。
Suckingathispipe；theSergeantgloweredmoodilydowntheruinedstreet。Thevillagedrowsedunderthehotmidday。Hereandthereasoldierloungedalongaimlesslyortriedouthisexercise-bookFrenchonsomepuzzled，native。Nowandthenanofficerpassedinoroutofthehalf-unroofedmairiewhichservedasregimentalheadquarters。
Beyond，inthehandkerchief-sizedvillagesquare，aplatoonwasdrilling。AthinFrenchhousewifewashangingsheetsonalinebehindashell-twistedhovel。ARedCrossnursecameoutofthehospital——churchacrossthestreetfromtheestaminetandseatedherselfonthestonestepswithabasketfulofsewing。
Mahan'shalf-shuteyesrestedcriticallyonthedrillingplatoon——amusedlyonthewomanwhowassocarefullyhangingtheraggedsheets，——andthenapprovinglyupontheRedCrossnurseonthechurchstepsacrosstheway。
Mahan，likemostothersoldiers，honoredandreveredtheRedCrossforitsworkofmercyinthearmy。AndthesightofoneoftheseverallocalnursesoftheOrderwonfromhimaglanceofrealapprobation。
Butpresentlyintohisweather-beatenfacecameanexpressionofgladwelcome。Outofthemairiegateandintothesleepywarmthofthestreetloungedahugedark-brown-and-whitecollie。Thedonstretchedhimselflazily，foreandaft，intruecolliestyle，thenstoodgazingabouthimasifinsearchofsomethingofinteresttooccupyhisboredattention。
"Hello！"observedMahan，breakinginonahomilyofVivier's。
"There'sBruce！"
Vivier'sleatheryfacebrightenedatsoundofthecollie'sname。
HelookedeagerlyinthedirectionofMahan'spointingfinger。
"Cebrave！"exclaimedtheFrenchman。"Ididnotknoweventhathewasinthevillage。Itmustbeheisbutnew-arriven。Otherwisehewould，ofanassuredly，havehunteduphisoldfriends。Ohe，Bruce！"hecalledinvitingly。
"Thebigdogmusthavegottenherejustafewminutesago，"saidSergeantMahan。"HewascomingoutofheadquarterswhenIsawhim。Thatmustmeanhe'sjuststruckthetown，andwithamessagefortheK。O。Healwaysgoeslikegreasedlightningwhenhe'sondispatchduty，tillhehasdeliveredhismessage。Then，ifhe'stobeallowedtohangaroundawhilebeforehe'ssentback，heloafs，lazy-like；thewayyouseehimnow。Ifallthecourier-
dogswerelikehim，everyhumancourierwouldbeoutofajob。"
AtVivier'shailthegreatcolliehadprickedhisearsandglancedinquiringlyupanddownthestreet。Catchingsightofthegroupseatedinfrontoftheestaminet，hebegantowaghisplumytailandsetofftowardthematatrot。
Tenminutesearlier，BrucehadcanteredintoMeran-en-Layefromtheoppositeendofthestreet，bearinginhiscollaradispatchfromthecorpscommandertothecolonelofthe"Here-We-Comes。"
Thecolonel，atthemairie，hadreadthedispatchandhadpatteditsbearer；thenhadbiddenthedogliedownandrest，ifhechose，afterhislongrun。
Instead，Brucehadpreferredtostrolloutinsearchoffriends。
Top-SergeantMahan，bytheway，wouldhavefelthighlyflatteredhadhechancedtogetaglimpseofthedispatchBrucehadbroughttothecolonel。ForitboreoutMahan'sowntheoryregardingthepresenceofspiesatornearthevillage，anditbadethe"Here-
We-Come"coloneluseeverymeansfortracingthem。
Itaddedtheinformationthatthreetroop-trainswithnineenginesweretopassthroughthevillagethatnightontheirwaytothetrenches，andthatthetrainsweredueatthejunctionatnineo'clockorshortlythereafter。Themairiewasontheothersideofthestreetfromtheestaminet。Incidentally，itwasontheshadysideofthestreet——forwhichreasonBruce，——beingwise，andthedaybeinghot，——remainedonthatside，untilheshouldcomeoppositethebenchwherehisfriendsawaitedhim。
Hiscourse，thus，broughthimdirectlypastthechurch。
Ashetrottedbythesteps，theRedCrossnurse，whosatsewingthere，chirpedtimidlyathim。Brucepausedinhisleisurelyprogresstoseewhohadaccostedhimwhetheranoldacquaintance，tobegreetedassuch，ormerelyapleasantlyinclinedstranger。
Hissoftbrowneyesrestedfirstinidleinquiryupontheangularandwhite-robedfigureonthesteps。Then，ontheinstant，thefriendlyinquiringlooklefthiseyesandtheirsoftnesswentwithit——leavingthedog'sgazecoldandfranklyhostile。
OnecornerofBruce'slipsslowlylifted，revealingatinyviewoftheterriblewhitefangsbehindthem。Hisgaylyerectheadwaslowered，andinthedepthsofhisfurrythroatagrowlwasborn。
Whenadogbarksandholdshisheadup，thereislittleenoughtofearfromhim。Butwhenhelowershisheadandgrowl——thenlookout。
Mahanknewdogs。InstarkamazementhenownotedBruce'sstrangeattitudetowardthenurse。Neverbeforehadheseenthedogshowactivehostilitytowardastranger——leastofalltowardastrangerwhohadinnowaymolestedhim。Itwasincrediblethatthewontedlydignifiedandsweet-temperedcolliehadthusreturnedagreeting。Especiallyfromawoman！
MahanhadoftenseenRedCrossnursesstoptocaressBruce。Hehadbeenamusedatthedog'salmostprotectivecordialitytowardallwomen，whethertheFrenchpeasantsorthewearersofthebrassardofmercy。
Towardmen——exceptthosehehadlearnedtolookonasfriends——
thecolliealwayscomportedhimselfwithacourteousaloofnessButhehadseemedtoregardeverywomanassomethingtobehumoredandguardedandtobetreatedwiththesamecordialfriendlinessthathebestowedontheirchildren——whichisthewayofthebesttypeofcollie。YetBrucehadactuallysnarledatthiswomanwhohadchirpedtohimfromthestepsofthechurch！
Andheshowedeverysignoffollowingupthechallengebystillmoredrasticmeasures。
"Bruce！"calledMahansharply。"BRUCE！Shame！Comeoverhere！
Come，NOW！"
AttheSergeant'svehementsummonsBruceturnedreluctantlyawayfromthefootofthechurchstepsandcameacrossthestreettowardtheestaminet。Hecameslowly。Midwayhehaltedandlookedbackoverhisshoulderatthenurse，hisfangsglintingoncemoreinasnarl。AtasecondandmoreemphaticcallfromMahanthedogcontinuedhisprogress。
Thenursehadstartedbackinalarmatthecollie'sangrydemonstration。Now，gatheringupherwork，sheretreatedintothechurch。
"I'msorry，Miss！"Mahanshoutedafterher。"Ineversawhimthatway，before，whenaladyspoketohim。IfitwasanydogbutoldBruce，I'dgivehimawhalingforactinglikethattoyou。I'mdead-surehedidn'tmeananyharm。"
"Oh，Iwasgoingin，anyway，"repliedthenurse，fromthedoorway。"Itisofnoconsequence。"
Shespokenervously，herrichcontraltovoiceshakenbythedog'sfierceshowofenmity。Thenshevanishedintothechurch；andMahanandViviertookturnsinlecturingBruceonhisshamefuldearthofcourtesy。
Thebigdogpaidnoheedatalltohisfriends'discourse。Hewasstaringsullenlyatthedoorwaythroughwhichthenursehadgone。
"That'soneswellwayforadecentlybreddogtotreatawoman！"
Mahanwastellinghim。"Leastofall，aRedCrossnurse！I'mcleanashamedofyou！"
Brucedidnotlisten。Inhishearthewasstillangry——andverymuchperplexedaswell。Forheknewwhatthesestupidhumansdidnotseemtoknow。
HEKNEWTHEREDCROSSNURSEWASNOWOMANATALL，BUTAMAN。
Bruceknew，too，thatthenursedidnotbelongtohislovedfriendsoftheRedCross。Forhisuncannypowerofscenttoldhimthegarmentswornbytheimpostorbelongedtosomeoneelse。Tomerehumans，asmallandslenderman，whocanact，andwhodonswoman'sgarb，isawoman。Toanydog，suchamanisnomorelikeawomanthanahorsewithalambskinsaddle-padisalamb。Heismerelyamanwhoisdifferentlydressedfromothermen——evenasthismanwhohadchirpedtoBruce，fromthechurchsteps，wasnolessamanforthecostumeinwhichhehadswathedhisbody。Anydog，ataglanceandatasniff，wouldhaveknownthat。
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