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。