bruce-第15章

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purpose　of　〃resting　up〃　and　of　guarding　the　railway　Function。



Still；　it　was　better　than　trench…work；　and　the　〃Here…We…Comes〃

enjoyed　itfor　a　day　or　so。　Then　trouble　had　set　in。



A　group　of　soldiers　were　lounging　on　the　stone　seat　in　front　of

the　village　estaminet。　Being　off　duty；　they　were　reveling　in　that

popular　martial　pastime　known　to　the　Tommy　as　〃grousing〃　and　to

the　Yankee　doughboy　as　〃airing　a　grouch。〃



Top…Sergeant　Mahan；　formerly　of　the　regular　army；　was　haranguing

the　others。　Some　listened　approvingly；　others　dissentingly　and

others　not　at　all。



〃I　tell　you；〃　Mahan　declared　for　the　fourth　time；　〃somebody's

double…crossing　us　again。　There's　a　leak。　And　if　they　don't　find

out　where　it　is；　a　whole　lot　of　good　men　and　a　million　dollars'

worth　of　supplies　are　liable　to　spill　out　through　that　same　leak。

It〃



〃But；〃　argued　his　crony；　old　Sergeant　Vivier；　in　his　hard…

learned　English；　〃but　it　may　all　be　of　a　chance；　mon　vieux。　It

may；　not　be　the　doubled　cross；whatever　a　doubled　cross　means；

but　the　mere　chance。　Such　things　often〃



〃Chance；　my　grandmother's　wall…eyed　cat！〃　snorted　Mahan。　〃Maybe

it　might　have　been　chancewhen　this　place　hadn't　been　bombed　for

a　monthfor　a　whole　flight　of　boche　artillery　and　airship

grenades　to　cut　loose　against　it　the　day　General　Pershing

happened　to　stop　here　for　an　hour　on　his　way　to　Chateau…Thierry。

Maybe　that　was　chancethough　I　know　blamed　well　it　wasn't。　Maybe

it　was　chance　that　the　place　wasn't　bombed　again　till　two　days

ago；　when　that　troop…train　had　to　spend　such　a　lot　of　time

getting　shunted　at　the　junction。　Maybe　it　was　chance　that　the

church；　over　across　the　street；　hadn't　been　touched　since　the

last　drive；　till　our　regiment's　wounded　were　put　in　itand　that

it's　been　hit　three　times　since　then。　Maybe　any　one　of　those

thingsand　of　a　dozen　others　was　chance。　But　it's　a　cinch　that

ALL　of　them　weren't　chance。　Chance　doesn't　work　that　way。　I〃



〃Perhaps；〃　doubtfully　assented　old　Vivier；　〃perhaps。　But　I　little

like　to　believe　it。　For　it　means　a　spy。　And　a　spy　in　one's　midst

is　like　to　a　snake　in　one's　blankets。　It　is　a　not　pleasing

comrade。　And　it　stands　in　sore　need　of　killing。〃



〃there's　spies　everywhere；〃　averred　Mahan。　〃That's　been　proved

often　enough。　So　why　not　here？　But　I　wish　to　the　Lord　I　could　lay

hands　on　him！　If　this　was　one　of　the　little　sheltered　villages；

in　a　valley；　his　work　would　be　harder。　And　the　boche　airships　and

the　long…rangers　wouldn't　find　us　such　a　simple　target。　But　up

here　on　this　ridge；　all　a　spy　has　to　do　is　to　flash　a　signal；　any

night；　that　a　boche　airman　can　pick　up　or　that　can　even　be　seen

with　good　glasses　from　some　high　point　where　it　can　be　relayed　to

the　German　lines。　The　guy　who　laid　out　this　burg　was　sure

thoughtless。　He　might　have　known　there'd　be　a　war　some　day。　He

might　even　have　strained　his　mind　and　guessed　that　we'd　be　stuck

here。　Gee！〃



He　broke　off　with　a　grunt　of　disgust；　nor　did　he　so　much　as

listen　to　another　of　the　group　who　sought　to　lure　him　into　an

opinion　as　to　whether　the　spy　might　be　an　inhabitant　of　the

village　or　a　camp…follower。



Sucking　at　his　pipe；　the　Sergeant　glowered　moodily　down　the

ruined　street。　The　village　drowsed　under　the　hot　midday。　Here　and

there　a　soldier　lounged　along　aimlessly　or　tried　out　his

exercise…book　French　on　some　puzzled；　native。　Now　and　then　an

officer　passed　in　or　out　of　the　half…unroofed　mairie　which　served

as　regimental　headquarters。



Beyond；　in　the　handkerchief…sized　village　square；　a　platoon　was

drilling。　A　thin　French　housewife　was　hanging　sheets　on　a　line

behind　a　shell…twisted　hovel。　A　Red　Cross　nurse　came　out　of　the

hospitalchurch　across　the　street　from　the　estaminet　and　seated

herself　on　the　stone　steps　with　a　basketful　of　sewing。



Mahan's　half…shut　eyes　rested　critically　on　the　drilling

platoonamusedly　on　the　woman　who　was　so　carefully　hanging　the

ragged　sheets；and　then　approvingly　upon　the　Red　Cross　nurse　on

the　church　steps　across　the　way。



Mahan；　like　most　other　soldiers；　honored　and　revered　the　Red

Cross　for　its　work　of　mercy　in　the　army。　And　the　sight　of　one　of

the　several　local　nurses　of　the　Order　won　from　him　a　glance　of

real　approbation。



But　presently　into　his　weather…beaten　face　came　an　expression　of

glad　welcome。　Out　of　the　mairie　gate　and　into　the　sleepy　warmth

of　the　street　lounged　a　huge　dark…brown…and…white　collie。　The　don

stretched　himself　lazily；　fore　and　aft；　in　true　collie　style；

then　stood　gazing　about　him　as　if　in　search　of　something　of

interest　to　occupy　his　bored　attention。



〃Hello！〃　observed　Mahan；　breaking　in　on　a　homily　of　Vivier's。

〃There's　Bruce！〃



Vivier's　leathery　face　brightened　at　sound　of　the　collie's　name。

He　looked　eagerly　in　the　direction　of　Mahan's　pointing　finger。



〃Ce　brave！〃　exclaimed　the　Frenchman。　〃I　did　not　know　even　that　he

was　in　the　village。　It　must　be　he　is　but　new…arriven。　Otherwise

he　would；　of　an　assuredly；　have　hunted　up　his　old　friends。　Ohe；

Bruce！〃　he　called　invitingly。



〃The　big　dog　must　have　gotten　here　just　a　few　minutes　ago；〃　said

Sergeant　Mahan。　〃He　was　coming　out　of　headquarters　when　I　saw

him。　That　must　mean　he's　just　struck　the　town；　and　with　a　message

for　the　K。O。　He　always　goes　like　greased　lightning　when　he's　on

dispatch　duty；　till　he　has　delivered　his　message。　Then；　if　he's

to　be　allowed　to　hang　around　a　while　before　he's　sent　back；　he

loafs；　lazy…like；　the　way　you　see　him　now。　If　all　the　courier…

dogs　were　like　him；　every　human　courier　would　be　out　of　a　job。〃



At　Vivier's　hail　the　great　collie　had　pricked　his　ears　and

glanced　inquiringly　up　and　down　the　street。　Catching　sight　of　the

group　seated　in　front　of　the　estaminet；　he　began　to　wag　his　plumy

tail　and　set　off　toward　them　at　a　trot。



Ten　minutes　earlier；　Bruce　had　cantered　into　Meran…en…Laye　from

the　opposite　end　of　the　street；　bearing　in　his　collar　a　dispatch

from　the　corps　commander　to　the　colonel　of　the　〃Here…We…Comes。〃

The　colonel；　at　the　mairie；　had　read　the　dispatch　and　had　patted

its　bearer；　then　had　bidden　the　dog　lie　down　and　rest；　if　he

chose；　after　his　long　run。



Instead；　Bruce　had　preferred　to　stroll　out　in　search　of　friends。



Top…Sergeant　Mahan；　by　the　way；　would　have　felt　highly　flattered

had　he　chanced　to　get　a　glimpse　of　the　dispatch　Bruce　had　brought

to　the　colonel。　For　it　bore　out　Mahan's　own　theory　regarding　the

presence　of　spies　at　or　near　the　village；　and　it　bade　the　〃Here…

We…Come〃　colonel　use　every　means　for　tracing　them。



It　added　the　information　that　three　troop…trains　with　nine

engines　were　to　pass　through　the　village　that　night　on　their　way

to　the　trenches；　and　that　the　trains　were　due　at　the　junction　at

nine　o'clock　or　shortly　thereafter。　The　mairie　was　on　the　other

side　of　the　street　from　the　estaminet。　Incidentally；　it　was　on

the　shady　side　of　the　streetfor　which　reason　Bruce；being

wise；　and　the　day　being　hot；remained　on　that　side；　until　he

should　come　opposite　the　bench　where　his　friends　awaited　him。



His　course；　thus；　brought　him　directly　past　the　church。



As　he　trotted　by　the　steps；　the　Red　Cross　nurse；　who　sat　sewing

there；　chirped　timidly　at　him。　Bruce　paused　in　his　leisurely

progress　to　see　who　had　accosted　him　whether　an　old　acquaintance；

to　be　greeted　as　such；　or　merely　a　pleasantly　inclined　stranger。



His　soft　brown　eyes　rested　first　in　idle　inquiry　upon　the　angular

and　white…robed　figure　on　the　steps。　Then；　on　the　instant；　the

friendly　inquiring　look　left　his　eyes　and　their　softness　went

with　itleaving　the　dog's　gaze　cold　and　frankly　hostile。



One　corner　of　Bruce's　lips　slowly　lifted；　revealing　a　tiny　view

of　the　terrible　white　fangs　behind　them。　His　gayly　erect　head　was

lowered；　and　in　the　depths　of　his　furry　throat　a　growl　was　born。

When　a　dog　barks　and　holds　his　head　up；　there　is　little　enough　to

fear　from　him。　But　when　he　lowers　his　head　and　growlthen　look

out。



Mahan　knew　dogs。　In　stark　amazement　he　now　noted　Bruce's　strange

attitude　toward　the　nurse。　Never　before　had　he　seen　the　dog　show

active　hostility　toward　a　strangerleast　of　all　toward　a

stranger　who　had　in　no　way　molested　him。　It　was　incredible　that

the　wontedly　dignified　and　sweet…tempered　collie　had　thus

returned　a　greeting。　Especially　from　a　woman！



Mahan　had　often　seen　Red　Cross　nurses　stop　to　caress　Bruce。　He

had　been　amused　at　the　dog's　almost　protective　cordiality　toward

all　women；　whether　the　French　peasants　or　the　wearers　of　the

brassard　of　mercy。



Toward　menexcept　those　he　had　learned　to　look　on　as　friends

the　collie　always　comported　himself　with　a　courteous　aloofness

But　he　had　seemed　to　regard　every　woman　as　something　to　be

humored　and　guarded　and　to　be　treated　with　the　same　cordial

friendliness　that　he　bestowed　on　their　childrenwhich　is　the　way

of　the　best　type　of　collie。　Yet　Bruce　had　actually　snarled　at

this　woman　who　had　chirped　to　him　from　the　steps　of　the　church！

And　he　showed　every　sign　of　following　up　the　challenge　by　still

more　drastic　measures。



〃Bruce！〃　called　Mahan　sharply。　〃BRUCE！　Shame！　Come　over　here！

Come；　NOW！〃



At　the　Sergeant's　vehement　summons　Bruce　turned　reluctantly　away

from　the　foot　of　the　church　steps　and　came　across　the　street

toward　the　estaminet。　He　came　slowly。　Midway　he　halted　and　looked

back　over　his　shoulder　at　the　nurse；　his　fangs　glinting　once　more

in　a　snarl。　At　a　second　and　more　emphatic　call　from　Mahan　the　dog

continued　his　progress。



The　nurse　had　started　back　in　alarm　at　the　collie's　angry

demonstration。　Now；　gathering　up　her　work；　she　retreated　into　the

church。



〃I'm　sorry；　Miss！〃　Mahan　shouted　after　her。　〃I　never　saw　him　that

way；　before；　when　a　lady　spoke　to　him。　If　it　was　any　dog　but　old

Bruce；　I'd　give　him　a　whaling　for　acting　like　that　to　you。　I'm

dead…sure　he　didn't　mean　any　harm。〃



〃Oh；　I　was　going　in；　anyway；〃　replied　the　nurse；　from　the

doorway。　〃It　is　of　no　consequence。〃



She　spoke　nervously；　her　rich　contralto　voice　shaken　by　the　dog's

fierce　show　of　enmity。　Then　she　vanished　into　the　church；　and

Mahan　and　Vivier　took　turns　in　lecturing　Bruce　on　his　shameful

dearth　of　courtesy。



The　big　dog　paid　no　heed　at　all　to　his　friends'　discourse。　He　was

staring　sullenly　at　the　doorway　through　which　the　nurse　had　gone。



〃That's　one　swell　way　for　a　decently　bred　dog　to　treat　a　woman！〃

Mahan　was　telling　him。　〃Least　of　all；　a　Red　Cross　nurse！　I'm

clean　ashamed　of　you！〃



Bruce　did　not　listen。　In　his　heart　he　was　still　angryand　very

much　perplexed　as　well。　For　he　knew　what　these　stupid　humans　did

not　seem　to　know。



HE　KNEW　THE　RED　CROSS　NURSE　WAS　NO　WOMAN　AT　ALL；　BUT　A　MAN。



Bruce　knew；　too；　that　the　nurse　did　not　belong　to　his　loved

friends　of　the　Red　Cross。　For　his　uncanny　power　of　scent　told　him

the　garments　worn　by　the　impostor　belonged　to　some　one　else。　To

mere　humans；　a　sm