bruce(布鲁斯)-第17章
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the Sergeant and walked away。
Which was Bruce's method of showing what he thought of a human
fool who would give him a command and who would then hold so tightly
to him that the dog could hardly carry out the order。
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CHAPTER V
The Double Cross
In the background lay a landscape that had once been beautiful。 In the
middle distance rotted a village that had once been alive。 In the foreground
stood an edifice that had once been a church。 The once…beautiful landscape
had the look of a gigantic pockmarked face； so scored was it by shell…scar
and crater。 Its vegetation was swept away。 Its trees were shattered stumps。
Its farmsteads were charred piles of rubble。
The village was unlike the general landscape； in that it had never been
beautiful。 In spite of globe…trotters' sentimental gush； not all villages of
northern France were beautiful。 Many were built for thrift and for comfort
and for expediency； not for architectural or natural loveliness。
But this village of Meran…en…Laye was not merely deprived of what
beauty it once might or might not have possessed。 Except by courtesy it
was no longer a village at all。 It was a double row of squalid ruins； zig…
zagging along the two sides of what was left of its main street。 Here and
there a cottage or tiny shop or shed was still habitable。 The rest was debris。
The church in the foreground was recognizable as such by the shape
and size of its ragged walls； and by a half…smashed image of the Virgin
and Child which slanted out at a perilous angle above its fa 鏰 de。
Yet； miserable as the ruined hamlet seemed to the casual eye； it was at
present a vacation…resortand a decidedly welcome oneto no less than
three thousand tired men。 The wrecked church was an impromptu hospital
beneath whose shattered roof dozens of these men lay helpless on
makeshift cots。
For the mixed American and French regiment known as the 〃Here…We…
Comes〃 was billeted at Meran…en…Laye during a respite from the rigors
and perils of the front…line trenches。
The rest and the freedom from risks； supposed to be a part of the
〃billeting〃 system； were not wholly the portion of the 〃Here…We
Comes。〃 MeranenLaye was just then a somewhat important little
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speck on the warmap。 The Germans had been up to their favorite field
sport of trying to split in half two of the Allied armies； and to roll up each；
independently。 The effort had been a failure； yet it had come so near to
success that many railway communications were cut off or deflected。 And
Meran…en…Laye had for the moment gained new importance； by virtue of a
spur railway…line which ran through its outskirts and which made junction
with a new set of tracks the American engineers were completing。 Along
this transverse of roads much ammunition and food and many fighting
men were daily rushed。
The safety of the village had thus become of much significance。 While
it was too far behind the lines to be in grave danger of enemy raids； yet
such danger existed to some extent。 〃Wherefore the presence of the 〃Here…
We…Comes〃for the paradoxical double 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
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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
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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 platoon
amusedly 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
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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
