Women，foronething，donotusuallysmokedozensofrankcigarsdailyforyears，untiltheirfleshispermeatedwiththesmelloftobacco。Ahumancouldnothavedetectedsuchasmell——suchaMAN-smell，——onthepersonwhohadchirpedtoBruce。Anydog，twentyfeetaway，wouldhavenoticedit，andwouldhavetabulatedthewhite-cladmasqueraderasaman。Nordoawoman\'shairandskincarrythefaintbutunmistakableodorofbarracksandoftent-lifeandofmartialequipment，asdidthisman\'s。Themasqueraderwasevidentlynotonlyamanbutasoldier。
Dogs，——high-strungdogs，——donotliketohavetricksplayedonthem；leastofallbystrangers。Bruceseemedtotakethenurse-disguiseasapersonalaffronttohimself。Then，too，themanwasnotofhisownarmy。Onthecontrary，thescentproclaimedhimoneofthehordewhomBruce\'sfriendssomanifestlyhated——oneofthebreedthathadmorethanoncefiredonthedog。
DietandequipmentandothercausesgiveaGermansoldieramarkedlydifferentscent，todogs\'miraculouslykeennostrils，——
andtothoseofcertainhumans，——fromtheFrenchorBritishorAmericantroops。Warrecordsprovethis。Oncehavinglearnedthescent，andhavinglearnedtodetestit，Brucewasnottobedeceived。
Forallthesereasonshehadsnarledloathinglyatthemaninwhite。Forthesesamereasonshecouldnotreadilyforgettheincident，butcontinuedeverynowandthentoglancecuriouslyacrosstowardthechurch。
Presently，——notrelishingtherebukesofthefriendswhohadheretoforepesteredhimbyovermuchpetting，——thecolliearosequietlyfromhiscouchoftrampledearthatthefootofthestonebenchandstrolledbackacrossthestreet。Mostofthemenweretoobusy，talking，tonoteBruce\'sdeparture。ButSergeantMahancaughtsightofhimjustasthedogwasmountingthelastofthestepsleadingintothechurch。
Asarule，whenBrucewentinvestigating，hewalkedcarelesslyandwithhistailslightlya-wag。Nowhistailwasstiffasanicicle，andhemovedwarily，onthetipsofhistoes。Histawny-
manedneckwaslow。Mahan，understandingdogs，didnotlikethecollie\'sdemeanor。Rememberingthatthenursehadenteredthechurchafewminutesearlier，theSergeantgottohisfeetandhastilyfollowedBruce。
Thedog，meanwhile，hadpassedthroughthecrazilysplintereddoorwayandhadpausedonthethresholdoftheimprovisedhospital，asthereekofiodoformandofcarbolicsmoteuponhissensitivenostrils。Infrontofhimwasthestone-pavedvestibule。Beyondwastheinterioroftheshatteredchurch，linednowwithdoublerowsofcots。
Seatedonacamp-chairintheshadowyvestibulewasthepseudoRedCrossnurse。Atsightofthecolliethenursegotupinsomehaste。Bruce，stillwalkingstiff-legged，drewcloser。
Outfromunderthewhiteskirtflashedacapableandsolidly-
shodfoot。Inaswingingkick，thefootletdriveattheoncomingdog。BeforeBrucecoulddodgeorcouldsomuchasguesswhatwascoming，——thekicksmotehimwithagonizingforce，squareontheshoulder。
Toaspiritedcollie，akickcarriesmorethanthemerepainofitsinflicting。Itisagrosslyunforgivableaffrontaswell——asmanyatrampandthiefhavelearned，athighcost。
Bythetimethekickhadfairlylanded，Brucehadrecoveredfromhisinstantofincreduloussurprise；andwithlightningswiftnesshehurledhimselfathisassailant。
Nobarkorgrowlheraldedthemurderousthroatlunge。Itwasallthemoreterribleforthenoiselessnesswherewithitwasdelivered。Themasqueradingmansawitcoming，justtoolatetoguardagainstit。Helurchedbackward，belatedlythrowingbothhandsuptodefendhisthroat。Itwastheinvoluntarybackwardstepwhichsavedhisjugular。Forhisheelcaughtinthehemofhiswhiteskirt。Andwhollyoffbalance，hepitchedheadlongtothefloor。
Thisjerkyshiftofposition，onthepartofthefoe，spoiledBruce\'saim。Hisfearfuljawssnappedtogetherharmlesslyinemptyairataspotwhere，afractionofasecondearlier，theother\'sthroathadbeen。Downcrashedthedisguisedman。Andatopofhimthefuriousdoghurledhimself，seekingasecondtimethethroatgriphehadsonarrowlymissed。
AtthispointontheprogramSergeantMahanarrivedjustintimetoburybothhandsinthemassofBruce\'sfurryruffandtodragthesnarlinglyrabiddogbackfromhisprey。
Theplacewasinanuproar。Nursesanddoctorscamerushingoutintothevestibule；sickandwoundedmensatupontheircotsandeagerlycranedtheirneckstocatchsightofthescrimmage。
Soldiersraninfromthestreet。
Strongashewas，MahanhadbothhandsfullinholdingthefranticBrucebackfromhisenemy。Undertheinsultofthekickfromthismasquerader，whomhehadalreadyrecognizedasafoe，thecolliehadtemporarilylosteveryvestigeofhisstatelydignity。Hewasforthemomentmerelyawildbeast，seekingrevengeforabrutalinjury。HewrithedandfoughtinMahan\'sgrasp。Neveroncedidheseektoattackthestrugglingmanwhoheldhim。Buthestrainedeverygiantsinewtogetatthefoewhohadkickedhim。
Thedog\'sopponentscrambledtohisfeet，helpedbyadozenwillinghandsandaccostedbyasmanysolicitousvoices。Thevictim\'sfacewasbone-graywithterror。Hislipstwitchedconvulsively。Yet，asbefittedapersoninhisposition，hehadasplendidsetofnerves。Andalmostatonceherecoveredpartialcontroloverhimself。
\"I——Idon\'tknowhowithappened，\"hefaltered，hisrichcontraltovoiceshakywiththeground-swellsofhisrecentshock。
\"ItbeganwhenIwassittingonthesteps，sewing。Thisdogcamepast。HegrowledatmesothreateninglythatIcameindoors。A
minutelater，whileIwassittingheresewing，hesprangatmeandthrewmedown。Ibelievehewould——wouldhavekilledme，\"thenarratorfinished，withaverygenuineshudder，\"ifIhadnotbeenrescuedwhenIwas。Suchbloodthirstybrutesoughttobeshot！\"
\"HenotonlyOUGHTtobe，\"hotlyagreedthechiefsurgeon，\"butheisGOINGtobe。Takehimoutintothestreet，oneofyoumen，andputaballinhishead。\"
Thesurgeonturnedtothepantingnurse。
\"You\'recertainhedidn\'thurtyou？\"heasked。\"Idon\'twantanewcomer，likeyourself，tothinkthisistheusualtreatmentournursesget。Liedownandrest。Youlookscaredtodeath。Anddon\'tbenervousaboutthecurattackingyouagain。He\'llbedeadinsideofthreeminutes。\"
Thenurse，withamumbledwordofthanks，scuttledoffintotherearofthechurch，wherethetumbledownvestryhadbeenfittedupasadormitory。
BrucehadcalmeddownsomewhatunderMahan\'ssharpreproof。Buthenowstruggledafreshtogetathisvanishedquarry。AndagaintheSergeanthadatussletoholdhim。
\"Idon\'tknowwhat\'sgotintothebigfellow！\"exclaimedMahantoVivierastheoldFrenchmanjoinedthetumultuousgroup。\"He\'sgonecleandaft。He\'dofkilledthatpoorwoman，ifIhadn\'t——\"
\"Gethimoutofhere！\"orderedthesurgeon。\"Andclearout，yourselves，allofyou！Thisrumpushasprobablysetalotofmypatients\'temperaturestorocketing。Takethecuroutandshoothim！\"
\"Excuseme，sir，\"spokeupMahan，asVivierstaredaghastatthemanwhocommandedBruce\'sdestruction，\"buthe\'snocur。He\'sacourier-collie，officiallyintheserviceoftheUnitedStatesGovernment。Andhe\'sthebestcourier-doginFranceto-day。Thisis——\"
\"Idon\'tcarewhatheis！\"ragedthesurgeon。\"He——\"
\"ThisisBruce，\"continuedMahan，\"thedogthatsavedthe\'Here-
We-Comes\'atRache，andthatsteeredadetailofustosafetyonenightinthefog，intheChateau-Thierrysector。Ifyouorderanymanofthe\'Here-We-Comes\'toshootBruce，you\'reliabletohaveamutinyonyourhands——officerornoofficer。Butifyouwish，sir，IcantransmityourordertotheK。O。Ifheendorsesit——\"
Butthesurgeonsought，atthatmoment，tosavetheremnantsofhisdignityandofabadsituationbystalkingloftilybackintothehospital，andleavingMahaninthemiddleofhisspeech。
\"Or，sir，\"theSergeantgrinninglycalledafterhim，\"youmightwritetotheGeneralCommanding，andtellhimyouwantBruceshot。TheBigDogalwayssleepsinthegeneral\'sownroom，whenhe\'soff-duty，atDivisionHeadquarters。MaybethegeneralwillO。K。hisdeath-sentence，ifyouaskhimto。He——\"
Somewhatquickeninghisstatelystride，thesurgeonpassedoutofearshot。Attheofficers\'messofthe\"Here-We-Comes，\"hehadoftenheardBruce\'spraisessung。Hehadneverchancedtoseethedoguntilnow。But，beneathhisarmorofdignity，hequakedtothinkwhattheresultstohimselfmusthavebeen，hadheobeyedhisfirstimpulseofdrawinghispistolandshootingtheadoredandpricelesslyusefulcollie。
Mahan，——stolidlyrejoicinginhisvictoryoverthetop-loftypotentatewhomhedisliked，——ledthewayoutofthecrowdedvestibuleintothestreet。BrucefolloweddemurelyathisheelsandVivierbombardedeverybodyinsightforinformationastowhatthewholefracaswasabout。
Brucewashimselfagain。Nowthatthedetestedmaninwoman\'sclotheshadgoneaway，therewasnosenseincontinuingtostruggleortowasteenergyinashowoffury。Nevertheless，inhisbigheartburneddeathlesshatredtowardtheGermanwhohadkickedhim。And，likeanelephant，acollieneverforgets。
\"But，\"Vivierwasdemandingofeverybody，\"butwhyshouldthegentleBrucehaveattackedagoodnurse？Itisnotwhatyoucall\'make-sense。\'C\'estungentilhomme，cevieux！HewouldnotattackawomanlessstillasisteroftheRedCross。He——\"
\"Ofcoursehewouldn\'t，\"glumlyassentedthedownheartedMahan。
\"ButheDID。That\'stheanswer。Isawhimdoit。Heknockedherdownand——\"
\"Whichnursewasshe？\"askedasoldierwhohadcomeupafterthetroublewasover。
\"Anewonehere。Idon\'tknowhername。Shecamelastweek。Isawherwhenshegothere。IwasondutyattheK。O。\'sofficewhenshereported。Shehadaletterfromsomeoneonthesurgeon-
general\'sstaff。ButwhyBruceshouldhavegoneforherto-day——
orforanywoman——ismorethanIcansee。Shewasscaredhalftodeath。It\'sluckysheheardthesurgeonorderhimshot。She\'llsupposehe\'sdead，bynow。Andthat\'llcureherscare。WemusttrytokeepBruceawayfromthisendofthestreettillhegoesbacktoheadquartersto-morrow。\"
AsaresultBrucewascoaxedtoMahan\'scompany-shedandbydintoffood-giftsandpettingwasinducedtospendmostofthedaythere。
AtsunsetBrucetiredofhisdullsurroundings。Mahanhadgoneonduty；sohadVivier；sohadothersofhisfriends。Thedogwasboredandlonely。Alsohehadeatenmuch。Andawalkisgood，notonlyforloneliness，butforsettlinganoverfullstomach。Brucedecidedtogoforawalk。
Throughtheirregularstreetofthevillagehepickedhisway，andontowardtheopencountrybeyond。Asentryortwosnappedfingersofgreetingtohimashestrolledpastthem。Thefolkofthevillageeyedhisbulkandgracefuldignitywithsomethinglikeawe。
Beyondthehamlettheridgeofhilltopranonforperhapsaquarter-milebeforedippingintotheplainbelow。Atoneendofthislittleplateauacompanyofinfantrywasdrilling。BrucerecognizedMahanamongthemarchinglines，buthesawhisfriendwasondutyandrefrainedfromgoinguptohim。
Above，thesunsetskywascloudless。Liketinyspecks，milestoeastward，afewenemyairshipscircledabovetheheapofclusteredhillswhichmarkedthenearestGermanposition。Thetorn-upplain，between，seemedbarrenoflife。So，atfirst，didthefartherendofthejuttingridgeonwhichthevillagewasperched。ButpresentlyBruce\'sidlywanderingeyewascaughtbyaflutterofwhiteamongsomebouldersthatclumpedtogetherontheridge\'sbrowfarthestfromthevillage。
Someone——awoman，fromthedress——wasapparentlypickingherwaythroughtheboulders。AsBrucemovedforward，abigrockshutherofffromhisviewandfromtheviewofthehamletandofthemaneuveringinfantrycompanyafurlongaway。
Justthenapuffofbreezeblewfromeastwardtowardthecollie；
anditboretohimafaintscentthatsethisruffa-bristleandhissoftbrowneyesablaze。Toadog，ascentoncesmelledisasrecognizableagainasisthesightofaonce-seenfacetoahuman。Brucesetoffatahand-galloptowardtheclumpofboulders。
TheRedCrossnurse，whomBrucehadsonearlykilled，wasoffdutyuntilthenight-shiftshouldgoonatthehospital。Thenursehadtakenadvantageofthisbriefsurceasefromtoil，bygoingforalittlewalkinthecoolsunsetair，andhadcarriedalongabagofsewing。
UptothreemonthsagothisnursehadbeenknownasHeinrichStolz，andhadbeenavaluedmemberoftheWilhelmstrasse\'sworkingforceofsecretagents。Then，actingunderorders，HerrHeinrichStolzhadvanishedfromhisaccustomedhaunts。SoonthereafteraRedCrossnurse——FeliciaStuartbynamehadreportedfordutyatParis，havingbeentransferredthitherfromItaly，andbearingindubitablecredentialstothateffect。
Fromcarefullypicked-upinformationStolzhadjustlearnedoftheexpectedarrivalofthethreetroop-trainsatthejunctionatninethatevening。Thetidingshadinterestedhimkeenly，andheknewofotherpeopletowhomtheywouldbefarmoreinteresting。
Seatinghimselfundertheleeoftheeasternmostrock，Stolzprimlyopenedhissewing-baganddrewforthvarioustorngarments。Thegarmentswereforthemostpartwhite，butoneortwowereofgaudycolors。
Bywayofprecaution，incaseofdiscovery，thespythreadedaneedle。Thus，ifanyoneshouldchancetoseehimshakeoutagarment，preparatorytolayingitonhiskneeandmendingit，therecouldbenoreasonablecauseforsuspicion。HerrStolzwasnothingifnotefficient。
Hehelduptheneedleandpokedthethreadatitseyeintrulyfemininefashion。
Hehadjustfinishedthisfeatofdexteritywhenhechancedtolookupfromhisworkatsoundoffast-patteringfeet。Notthirtyfeetaway，chargingheadonathim，rushedthegreatbrown-and-
whitecolliehesupposedhadbeenshot。
Withajumpofabjectterror，HerrStolzsprangup。Mingledwithhisnormalfearofthedogwasatingeofsuperstitiousdread。Hehadbeensocertainthebeastwasshot！Thedoctorhadgiventheorderforhiskilling。Thedoctorwasacommissionedofficer。
Stolz\'sGermanmindcouldnotgraspthepossibilityofasoldierdisobeyinganofficer\'simperativecommand。
Thecolliewasuponhimbythetimethespygainedhisfeet。
Stolzreachedfranticallyunderhisdress-foldsforthedeadlylittlepistolthathealwayskeptthere。Buthewasstillanoviceinthemysteriesoffeminineapparel。And，beforehisfingerscouldcloseontheweapon，Bruce\'sbaredfangsweregleamingathisthroat。
Stolzceasedtosearchfortheweapon。And，asbefore，hethrewupbothfrantichandstowardoffthefuriousjaws。
Hewasbarelyintime。Bruce\'swhiteteethdrovedeepintothespy\'sforearm，andBruce\'seightypoundsoffurrymuscularbulksmoteStolzfullinthechest。Downwentthespy，undertheterrificimpact，sprawlingwildlyonhisback，andfightingwithbothbleedinghandstopushbackthedog。
Bruce，collie-fashion，didnotsticktoonegrip，butbitandslashedadozentimesinthreeseconds，tearingandrendinghiswaytowardthethroat-holdhecraved；drivingthroughfleshofhandsandofforearmstowardhisgoal。
LikemanyanotherGerman，Stolzwasfarmoreadeptatcausingpainthanatenduringit。Also，frombirth，hehadhadanunconquerablefearofdogs。Hisnerves，too，werenotyetrecoveredfromBruce\'sattackearlierintheday。Allthis，andthespectralsuddennessoftheonslaught，robbedhimofeveryatomofhisusualstonyself-control。
SergeantMahanwasagoodsoldier。Yetaminuteearlierhehadalmostruinedhisreputationassuch。Hehadbeenhardputtoittorefrainfromleavingtheranksofhisdrillingcompany，afurlongfromtherocks，andrunningatrecordspeedtowardtheboulders。Forhehadseenthesupposednursepassthatway。AndalmostdirectlyafterwardhehadseenBrucefollowherthither。
Andhecouldguesswhatwouldhappen。
Luckilyforthesakeofdiscipline，theorderof\"Breakranks！\"
wasgivenbeforeMahancoulddisgracehimselfbysuchunmartialbehavior。And，ontheinstant，theSergeantbrokeintoaruninthedirectionoftherocks。
Wonderingathiseccentricaction，severalofthesoldiersfollowed。Thecompanycaptain，atsightofaknotofhismendashingatbreakneckspeedtowardtheboulders，startedatamoreleisurelypaceinthesamedirection。
Mahanhadreachedtheedgeoftherockswhenhisearsweregreetedbyayellofmortalfear。Thecaptainandtherest，catchingthesound，wentfaster。Screechafterscreechrangfromtherockyenclosure。
Mahanroundedthebigboulderatthecrestoftheridgeandflunghimselfuponthetwocombatants，astheythrashedaboutinatumultuousdualmassontheground。AndjustthenBruceatlastfoundhisgriponStolz\'sthroat。
AstoicalGermansignal-corpsofficer，onahilltopsomemilestoeastward，laidasidehisfield——glassandcalmlyremarkedtoamanathisside\"Wehavelostagoodspy！\"
SuchwasthesoleepitaphandeulogyofHerrHeinrichStolz，fromhisarmy。
Meantime，SergeantMahanwaspryingloosethecollie\'sferociousjawsfromtheirpreyandwastuggingwithallhismighttodragthedogofftheshriekingspy。Thethroat-hold，henoted，wasabareinchfromthejugular。
Therestofthesoldiers，rushinguppell-mell，helpedhimpulltheinfuriatedBrucefromhisvictim。Thespectacleoftheiradmireddog-hero，somurderouslymaulingawomanoftheRedCross，dazedthemwithhorror。
\"TakehimAWAY！\"bellowedStolz，deliriouswithpainandfear。
\"He\'sKILLEDme——dergottverdammteTeufelhund！\"
Andnowthecrazedvictim\'sunconscioususeofGermanwasnotneededtotelleveryonewithinhearingjustwhoandwhathewas。
Forthequaveringtoneswerenolongerarichcontralto。Theywereathroatybaritone。AndtheaccentwasTeutonic。
\"Bruce！\"observedTop-SergeantMahannextmorning，\"I\'vealwayssaidamanwhokicksadogismoreofacurthanthedogis。Butyou\'llneverknowhownearIcametokickingyouyesterday，whenIcaughtyoumanglingthatfilthyspy。AndBrucie，ifIhadkickedyou，well——I\'dbeprayingatthisminutethatthegoodLordwouldgrowathirdlegonme，sothatIcouldkickmyselfallthewayfromheretoBerlin！\"
CHAPTERVI。TheWerewolfWhenBruceleftthequietpeaceofThePlaceforthehelloftheWesternFront，ithadbeenstipulatedbytheMistressandtheMasterthatifeverheweredisabled，heshouldbeshippedbacktoThePlace，attheirexpense。
ItwasastipulationmaderathertosoothetheMistress\'ssorrowatpartingfromherlovedpetthaninanyhopethatitcouldbefulfilled；fortheaveragelifeofacourierdogonthebattle-
frontwastragicallyshort。Andhisfatewasmorethanordinarilycertain。Ifthebochebulletsandshrapnelhappenedtomisshim，therewerecountlessdiseases——bredoftrenchandofhardshipandofabominablefood——tokillhim。
TheRedCrossappealraisedcountlessmillionsofdollarsandbroughtrescuetoinnumerablehumanwarriors。Butincaringforhumans，thegenerosityofmostgiversreacheditslimit；andtheBlueCross——\"forthereliefofdogsandhorsesinjuredintheserviceoftheAllies\"——wasforcedtotakewhatitcouldget。Yetmanyaman，andmanyabodyofmen，owedlifeandsafetytotheheroismofsomewar-dog，adogwhichsurelymeritedspecialcarewhenitsowncertainhourofagonystruck。
Bruce\'swarmestoverseasfriendsweretobefoundintheranksofthemixedFranco-Americanregiment，nicknamedthe\"Here-We-Comes。\"Rightgallantly，inmorethanonetightplace，hadBrucebeenofusetothe\"Here-We-Comes。\"Onhisofficialvisitstotheregiment，hewasalwaysreceivedwithajoyouswelcomethatwouldhaveturnedanyheadlesssteadythanathoroughbredcollie\'s。
Bruceenjoyedthistreatment。Heenjoyed，too，thefood-daintieswherewiththe\"Here-We-Comes\"pliedhim。ButtonomaninthearmywouldhegivetheadoringpersonalloyaltyhehadleftatThePlacewiththeMistressandtheMaster。Thosetwowerestillhisonlygods。AndhemissedthemandhissweetlifeatThePlacemostbitterly。Yethewastoogoodasoldiertomope。
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Formonthsthe\"Here-We-Comes\"hadbeenquarteredina\"quiet\"——oronlyoccasionallytumultuous——sector，nearChateau-Thierry。Thenthecomparativequietallatonceturnedtopandemonium。
Alankyanddegenerateyouth（whobeforethewarhadbeenunlovinglyknownthroughoutEuropeasthe\"WhiteRabbit\"andwhonowwasmentionedindispatchesasthe\"CrownPrince\"）hadsucceededinleadingsomehalf-millionfellow-Germansintoa\"pocket\"thathadlatelybeenmerelyasalient。
Fromthethreelowersidesofthepocket，theAlliesecstaticallyflungthemselvesupontheirtrappedfoesinalaudableefforttocrushthehalf-millionbochesandtheirrabbit-facedprincelingintosurrenderbeforethelattercouldgetoutofthesnare，andtotheshelterofthehighgroundandthereenforcementsthatlaybehindit。TheGermansobjectedmoststrenuouslytothiscrushingprocess。Andthethreebeleaguerededgesofthepocketbecameatriple-sectionofhell。
Itwasaperiodwhennoone\'snerveswereinanydegreenormal——
leastofallthenervesoftheeternallyhammeredGermans。EventhefiercelyadvancingFranco-Americans，the\"Here-We-Comes，\"hadlostthegrimlyhumorouscomposurethathadbeentheirs，andwaxedsullenandferociousintheireagerness。
ThusitwasthatBrucemissedhiswontedlyuproariouswelcomeashecantered，atsunsetoneJulyday，intoasmashedfarmsteadwherehisfriends，the\"Here-We-Comes，\"werebivouackedforthenight。Byinstinct，thebigdogseemedtoknowwheretofindthetemporaryregimentalheadquarters。
Hetrottedpastasentry，intoanunroofedcattle-shedwherethecolonelwasbusilyscribblingadetailedreportoftheworkdonebythe\"Here-We-Comes\"duringthatday\'sdrive。
Comingtoahaltbythecolonel\'sside，Brucestoodexpectantlywagginghisplumytailandwaitingforthefoldedmessagefromdivisionheadquarterstobetakenoffhiscollar。
Usually，onsuchvisits，thecolonelmademuchofthedog。To-dayhemerelyglancedupabstractedlyfromhiswriting，atsightofBruce\'ssilkenheadathisside。Heunfastenedthemessage，readit，frownedandwentonwithhisreport。
Brucecontinuedtowaghistailandtolookupwistfullyforthewontedpettingandwordofcommendation。Butthecolonelhadforgottenhisexistence。Sopresentlythecollieweariedofwaitingforacaressfromamanwhosecaresses，atbest，hedidnotgreatlyvalue。Heturnedandstrolledoutoftheshed。Hismessagedelivered，heknewhewasatlibertytoamusehimselfashemightchooseto，untilsuchtimeashemustcarrybacktohisgeneralareplytothedispatchhehadbrought。
Fromoutsidecamethevoicesoftiredandloungingsoldiers。A
travelingkitchenhadjustbeensetupnearby。Fromitaroseablendofsmellsthatweremightytemptingtoahealthilyhungrydog。Thither，atadecorousbutexpectantpace，Brucebenthissteps。
Top-SergeantMahanwasgazingwithsolicitousinterestuponthetoilofthecooksatthewheeledkitchen。Besidehim，sharinghisconcerninthesupperpreparations，wasMahan\'sclosestcrony，oldSergeantVivier。ThewizenedlittleFrenchman，asaboy，hadbeeninthesurrenderofSedan。Nightly，eversince，hehadbesoughtthesaintstogivehim，someday，atinyshareintheavengingofthatblackdisgrace。
MahanandVivierwerethewarmestofBruce\'smanyadmirersinthe\"Here-We-Comes。\"Ordinarilyadualwhoopofjoyfromthemwouldhavegreetedhisadvent。Thisafternoontheymerelychirpedabstractedlyathim，andMahanpattedhimcarelesslyontheheadbeforereturningtotheinspectionofthecookingfood。
Sinceanhourbeforedawn，bothmenhadbeeninhotaction。Thecommandforthe\"Here-We-Comes\"toturnasideandbivouacforthenighthadbeenasharpdisappointmenttothem，aswellastoeveryunwoundedmanintheregiment。
Whenagamblerisinthemiddleofawinningstreak，whenanathletefeelshehastheraceinhisownhands，whenabusinessmanhasallbutclosedthedealthatmeansfortunetohim——atsuchcrisesitismaddeningtobehaltedattheveryvergeoftriumph。Buttosoldierswho，aftermonthsofreverses，atlasthavetheirhatedfoeontherun，suchacheckdoesoddthingstotemperandtonerves。
Insuchplightwerethemenofthe\"Here-We-Comes，\"onthislateafternoon。MahanandVivierweretooseasonedandtoosanetogivewaytotheburstsoftemperandtheswirlsofblasphemythatswayedsomanyoftheircomrades。Neverthelesstheywereglumandsilentandhadnoheartforjollywelcomings，——eventosodearafriendasBruce。
Experiencetoldthemthatasquaremealwouldworkmiraclesinthewayofcalmingandbracingthem。Hence，apartfromstarkhunger，theirinterestinthecookingofsupper。
Brucewastoomuchaphilosopher——andnotdevotedenoughtohissoldierfriends——tobehurtatthelackofwarmthinthegreeting。Withtheairofanepicure，hesniffedatthecontentsofoneofthekitchen\'sbubblingkettles。Thenhewalkedoffandcurledhimselfcomfortablyonapileofbedding，theretorestuntilsuppershouldbeready。
Severaltimes，ashelaythere，soldierspassedandrepassed。Oneortwoofthemsnappedtheirfingersatthedogorevenstooped，inpassing，tostrokehishead。Butonthefacesofallofthemwasunrestandacertainwolfisheagerness，whichprecludedplayingwithpetsatsuchatime。Thehotzestoftheman-huntwasuponthem。Itwasgnawingintheveinsofthenewestrecruit，ever，asintheheartoftheusuallyself-containedcoloneloftheregiment。
Thecolonel，infact，hadbeensocarriedawaybythejoyofseeinghismendrivethehatedgraycoatsbeforethemthatdaythathehadoversteppedthespiritofhisownordersfromthedivisioncommander。
Inbrief，hehadmadenoeffortto\"dress\"hiscommand，intheadvance，upontheregimentstoeithersideofit。Asaresult，whenthesignaltobivouacforthenightwasgiven，the\"Here-We-
Comes\"weresomethinglikeamileaheadoftheregimentwhichshouldhavebeenattheirimmediateright，andnearlytwomilesinfrontofthebrigadeattheirleft。
Inotherwords，the\"Here-We-Comes\"nowoccupiedasalientoftheirown，aheadoftherestoftheFrancoAmericanline。Itwasinrebukeforthisbitofgoodprogressandbadtacticsthatthedivisioncommanderhadwrittentothecolonel，inthedispatchwhichBrucehadbrought。
Germanairmen，sailingfarabove，anddodgingasbesttheycouldthechargesoftheAllied\'planes，hadjustnotedthatthe\"Here-
We-Comes\"\"salient\"wasreallynosalientatall。Sofarhaditadvancedthat，forthemoment，itwasoutoftouchwiththerestofthedivision。Itwas，indeed，inanexcellentpositiontobecutoffanddemolishedbyadashingnightattack。AndareporttothiseffectwasdeliveredtoafuminglydistractedGermanmajorgeneral，whoyearnedforachancetoatoneinsomewayfortheday\'sshamefulreverses。
\"Iftheyhadn\'thaltedusandmadeuscallitaday，justasweweregettingintoourstride，\"loudlygrumbledoneYankeeprivatetoanotherasthetwoclumpeduptothekitchen，\"we\'dhavebeeninFere-en-Tardenoisbynow。Whatlazyguyisrunningthisdrive，anyhow？\"
\"ThesamelazyguythatwillstickyouintothehoosgowforinsubordinationandleaveyoutodoyourbittherewhiletherestofusstrollontoBerlin！\"snappedTop-SergeantMahan，wheelinguponthegrumbler。\"Tillyoulearnhowtoobeyorderswithoutgrouching，itisn\'tuptoyoutoknockwisermen。Shutup！\"
ThoughMahan\'stoneofreproofwasprofessionallyharsh，hisspiritwasnotinhiswords。Andthesilencedprivateknewit。Heknew，too，thatthetop-sergeantwasassavageovertheearlyhaltasweretherestofthemen。
Bruce，asarule，whenhehonoredthe\"Here-We-Comes\"withavisit，spentthebulkofhistimewithMahanandoldVivier。Butto-dayneitherofthesefriendswasaninspiringcompanion。NorweretherestofBruce\'sacquaintancesdisposedtofriendliness。
Wherefore，assoonassupperwaseaten，thedogreturnedtohisheapofbedding，forthehourorsooflazinesswhichNatureteachesallherchildrentodemand，afterafullmeal，——andwhichtheso-called\"dumb\"animalsaloneareintelligentenoughtotake。
DuskhadmergedintonightwhenBrucegottohisfeetagain。Tapshadjustsounded。Thetiredmengladlyrolledthemselvesintotheirblanketsandfellintoadeadsleep。Asentry-reliefsetforthtoreplacethefirstbatchofsentinelswiththesecond。
Mahanwasoftheparty。Thoughthetopsergeanthadbeenastupidcomrade，thusfarto-day，hewasnowevidentlygoingforawalk。
Andeventhoughitwasaduty-walk，yettheideaofitappealedtothedogafterhislonginaction。
SoBrucegotupandfollowed。Ashecamealongsidethestifflymarchingtop-sergeant，thecolliesofarsubverteddisciplineastothrusthisnose，infriendlygreeting，intoMahan\'sslightlycuppedpalm。Andthetop-sergeantsofarabettedthebreachofdisciplineastogivethecollie\'sheadafurtivepat。Thenightwasdim，asthemoonhadnotrisen；sothemutualcontactofgood-fellowshipwasnotvisibletothemarchingmenoneithersideofMahanandthedog。Anddiscipline，therefore，didnotsuffermuch，afterall。
Atonepostafteranother，asentinelwasrelievedandafreshmantookhisplace。Farthestinfrontofthe\"Here-We-Comes\"
lines——andnearesttotheGerman——waspostedalankyMissourianwhomBruceliked，amanwhohadawayofdiscoveringinhisdeeppocketsstraybitsoffoodwhichhehadhoardedthereforthecollieanddelightedtodoleouttohim。TheMissourianhadadrawlinglysoftvoicethedogliked，andheusedtotalktoBruceasifthelatterwereanotherhuman。
Forallthesereasons——andbecauseMahanwastoobusyandtoogrumpytobotherwithhim——Bruceelectedtostaywherehewas，forawhile，andsharetheMissourian\'svigil。So，whentherestofthepartymovedalongtothenextsentry-go，thedogremained。
TheMissourianwasonlytoogladtohavehimdoso。Itistediousandstupidtopaceadesolatebeat，alone，atdeadofnight，afteradayofhardfighting。Andthemanwelcomedthecompanionshipofthedog。
Foratime，astheMissourianpacedhissolitarystretchofbrokenandshrub-grownground，Brucegravelypacedtoandfroathisside。Butpresentlythisaimlesspromenadebegantowaxuninteresting。And，asthetwocametothefarendofthebeat，Bruceyawnedandlaydown。Itwaspleasantertoliethereandtowatchthesentineldothewalking。
Stretchedout，inalittlegrass-hollow，thedogfollowedblinkinglywithhissoftbrowneyesthependulumlikeprogressofhisfriend。Andalwaysthedog\'splumedtailwouldbeatrhythmicwelcomeagainstthegroundasthesentryapproachedhim。
Thusnearlyanhourworeon。Afatmoonbutteditslazywaythroughthesmoke-mistsoftheeasternskyline。
Thensomethinghappened——somethingthatBrucecouldreadilyhaveforestalledifthewindhadbeenblowingfromtheotherdirection，andifadog\'seyeswerenotasnearsightedashisnoseisfarsmelling。
TheMissourianpausedtorunhishandcaressinglyoverthecollie\'sroughmane，andmovedon，downthelonelybeat。Brucewatchedhisrecedingfigure，drowsily。Attheendofninetyyardsormore，theMissourianpassedbyabunchoflowbusheswhichgrewatthenearsideofastretchofhillyandshellpockedground。Hemovedpastthebushes，stillwatchedbythesomewhatboreddog。
ItwasthenthatBrucesawapatchofbushshadowdetachitselffromtherest，undertheglowoftherisingmoon。Theshadowwashumpyandsquat。Noiseless，itglidedoutfromamongthebushes，closeatthesentry\'sheels，andcreptafterhim。
Bruceprickedhisearsandstartedtogetup。Hiscuriositywasroused。Thedirectionofthewindpreventedhimfromsmellingoutthenatureofthemystery。Italsokepthiskeenhearingfromsupplyinganyclue。Andthedistancewouldnotpermithimtoseewithanydistinctness。
Stillhiscuriositywasverymild。Surely，ifdangerthreatened，thesentinelwouldrealizeit。ForbythistimetheShadowwasabarethreefeetbehindhimnearenough，byBruce\'ssystemoflogic，fortheMissouriantohavesmelledandheardthepursuer。
SoBrucegotup，inthemostleisurelyfashion，preparatorytostrollingacrosstoinvestigate。Butatalmosthisfirststephesawsomethingthatchangedhisgracefullyslouchingwalkintoachargingrun。
TheShadowsuddenlyhadmergedwiththesentinel。Foraninstant，instarksilence，thetwoseemedtoclingtogether。ThentheShadowfled，andthelankyMissourianslumpedtotheearthinasprawlingheap，histhroatcut。
Theslayerhadbeenadefthandatthejob。NosoundhadescapedtheMissourian，fromthemomentthestranglinglytightleftarmhadbeenthrownaroundhisthroatfrombehinduntil，asecondlater，hefellbleedingandlifeless。
Intwentyleapingstrides，Brucecameuptotheslainsentinelandbentoverhim。Dog-instincttoldthecolliehisfriendhadbeendonetodeath。Andthedog\'spowerofscenttoldhimitwasaGermanwhohaddonethekilling。
Formanymonths，BrucehadbeenfamiliarwiththescentofGermansoldiers，sodifferentfromthatofthearmyinwhichhetoiled。
Andhehadlearnedtohateit，evenasadoghatesthevague\"crushedcucumber\"smellofapitviper。Butwhileeverydogdreadstheviper-smellasmuchasheloathesit，Brucehadnofearatallofthebocheodor。Instead，italwaysawokeinhimablood-lust，asfierceasanythathadburnedinhiswolf-
ancestors。
Thissamefuryswepthimnow，ashestood，quivering，abovethebodyofthekindlymanwhosolatelyhadpettedhim；thisandacravingtorevengethemurderofhishumanfriend。
Forthebriefesttime，Brucestoodthere，hisdarkeyesabrimwithunhappinessandbewilderment，ashegazeddownonthehuddledforminthewetgrass。Thenanelectricchangecameoverhim。Thesoftnessfledfromhiseyes，leavingthembloodshotandblazing。Hisgreattawnyruffbristledlikeanangrycat\'s。Thelazygracefulnessdepartedfromhismightybody。Itbecametenseandterrible。Inthegrowingmoonlighthisteethgleamedwhitelyfromunderhisupcurledlip。
Inaflashheturnedandsetoffatalopingrun，noseclosetoground，hislongstridedeceptivelyswift。Thezestoftheman-
hunthadobsessedhim，ascompletelyas，thatday，ithadspurredtheadvanceofthe\"Here-We-Comes。\"
Thetrailoftheslayerwasfresh，evenoversuchbrokenground。
FastastheGermanhadfled，Brucewasflyingfaster。Despitethemurderer\'slongstart，thedogspeedilycutdownthedistancebetweenhisquarryandhimself。Nottrustingtosight，butsolelytohisunerringsenseofsmell。Brucespedon。
Then，inamomentortwo，hishearingre-enforcedhisscent。Hecouldcatchthepad-pad-padofrunningfeet。Andtheincreasingofthesoundtoldhimhewasgainingfast。
Butinanotherboundhisearstoldhimsomethingelse——somethinghewouldhaveheardmuchsooner，hadnotthenightwindbeensettingsostronglyintheotherdirection。Heheardnotonlythepoundingofhisprey\'sheavy-shodfeet，butthesoftthudofhundreds——perhapsthousands——ofotherarmyshoes。Andnow，despitetheadversewind，theodorofinnumerablesoldierscametohisfiercelysniffingnostrils。Notonlywasitthescentofsoldiers，butofGermansoldiers。
Forthefirsttime，Bruceliftedhisheadfromtheground，asheran，andpeeredinfrontofhim。Themoonhadrisenabovethelow-lyinghorizonvaporsintoaclearsky，andthereachofcountrywassharplyvisible。
Brucesawthemanhewaschasing，——sawhimplainly。TheGermanwasstillrunning，butnotatallasonewhofleesfromperil。Heran，rather，asmightthebearerofgladtidings。Andhewasevennowdrawinguptoagroupofmenwhoawaitedeagerlyhiscoming。
Theremusthavebeenfiftymeninthegroup。Behindthem——inopenformationandasfarasthedog\'snear-sightedeyescouldsee——
weremoremen，andmore，andmore——thousandsofthem，allmovingstealthilyforward。
Now，acollie（inbrain，thoughneverinheart）ismuchmorewolfthandog。Abullterrier，oranAiredale，wouldhavechargedonathisfoe，andwouldhavelethimselfbehackedtopiecesbeforeloosinghisholdontheman。
But——evenasawolfcheckshispursuitofagallopingsheepwhenthelatterdashesintotheguardedfold——Brucecametoanabrupthalt，atsightofthesereenforcements。Hestoodirresolute，stillmadwithvengefulanger，butnotfoolishenoughtoassailawholebrigadeofarmedmen。
Itisquiteimpossible（thoughMahanandVivierusedtoswearitmustbetrue）thatBrucehadthereasoningpowerstofigureoutthewholesituationwhichconfrontedhim。HecouldnothaveknownthataGermanbrigadehadbeensenttotakeadvantageofthe\"Here-We-Comes\"temporarilyisolatedposition——thatthreesentrieshadbeenkilledinsilenceandthattheirdeathshadleftawidegapthroughwhichthebrigadehopedtocreepunobserveduntiltheyshouldbewithinstrikingdistanceoftheirunsuspectinglyslumberingvictims。
Brucecouldnothaveknownthis。Hecouldnothavegraspedtheslightestfractionoftheidea，beingonlyareal-lifedogandnotafairytaleanimal。ButwhathecouldanddidrealizewasthatamassofdetestedGermanswasmovingtowardhim，andthathecouldnothopetoattackthem，single-handed；also，thathewasnotmindedtoslinkpeacefullyawayandleavehisfriendunavenged。
Thwartedragedraggedfromhisfurrythroatadeepgrowl；agrowlthatresoundedeerilythroughthatsilentplaceofstealthymoves。Andhesteppedmajesticallyforthfromthesurroundinglonggrass，intothefullglareofmoonlight。
Thedeceptiveglowmadehimloomgiganticandblack，andtingedhissnowychestwiththephosphorousgleamofasnowfield。Hiseyesshonelikeawildbeast\'s。
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CorporalRudolphFreund，oftheKoniginLuiseRegiment，hadjustfinishedhisthree-wordreporttohissuperior。Hehadmerelysalutedandannounced\"Heisdead！\"
CorporalFreunddidnotthrill，asusual，tothecolonel\'sgruntofapproval。TheCorporalwasworried。HewasaBlackForestpeasant；and，whileironmilitarylifehaddulledhisnativesuperstitions，ithadnotdispelledthem。
Thenightwasmystic，initsoddblendofmoonandshadows。
Howeverhardenedonemaybe，itisanerve-straintocreepthroughlonggrass，likearedIndian，tothemurderofahostilesentinel。AndeveryGermaninthe\"Pocket\"hadbeenunderfrightfulmentalandphysicalstress，forthepastweek。
CorporalRudolphFreundwasabravemanandabrute。Butthatweekhadsappedhisnerve。Andtheworkofthisnighthadbeentheclimax。Thedesolateground，overwhichhehadcrawledtothekilling，hadsuddenlyseemedpeopledwithevilgnomesandgoblins，whoseexistencenotrueBlackForestpeasantcandoubt。
And，ontherunback，hehadbeencertainheheardsomeunseenmonstertearingthroughtheunderbrushinhotpursuitofhim。Socertainhadhebeen，thathehadredoubledhisspeed。
Therewerenowolvesorotherlargewildanimalsinthatregion。
Whenhehadwriggledtowardtheslow-pacingAmericansentinel，hehadseenandheardnocreatureofanysort。Yethewassurethatonthewaybackhehadbeenpursuedby——bySomething！Andintohisscaredmemory，asheran，hadflashedtheofttoldBlackForesttaleoftheWerewolf——thedevil——beastthatisenteredbythesoulofamurderedmanandwhichtracksthemurderertohisdeath。
GladwastheunnervedCorporalFreundwhenhisrunceasedandhestoodclosetohisgrosslysolidandrank-scentedfellowmenoncemore。AlmosthewasinclinedtolaughathisfearsofthefabledWerewolf——andespeciallyattheideathathehadbeenpursued。Hedrewalongbreathofrelief。Hedrewthebreathin。Buthedidnotatonceexpelit。Foronhisearscamethesoundofahideousmenacinggrowl。
CorporalFreundspunabout，inthedirectionofthemysteriousthreat。Andthere，notthirtyfeetfromhim，intheghostlymoonlight，stoodtheWerewolf！
Thistimetherecouldbenoquestionofoverstrainednervesandofimagination。TheThingwasTHERE！
Horriblyvisibleineverydetail，theWerewolfwasglaringathim。Hecouldseetheredglowofthegiganticdevil-beast\'seyes，thewhiteflashofitsteeth，theghostlyshimmeringofitssnowychest。Thesoulofthemanhehadslainhadtakenthistraditionalformandwashuntingdowntheslayer！AthousandstoriesofFreund\'schildhoodverifiedthefrightfultruth。Andoverwroughthumannature\'sendurancewenttopiecesundertheshock。
Amaniachowlofterrorsplitthemidnightstillness。Shriekaftershriekrenttheair。Freundtumbledconvulsivelytothegroundathiscolonel\'sfeet，grippingtheofficer\'sbootedkneesandscreechingforprotection。Thecolonel，ragingthatthesurpriseattackshouldbeimperiledbysucharacket，beatthefranticmanoverthemouthwithhisheavyfist，kickingferociouslyathisupturnedwrithingface，andsnarlingtohimtobesilent。
TheshowerofblowsbroughtFreundbacktosanity，totheextentofchanginghiscraventerrorintoFear\'ssecondaryphase——theimpulsetostrikebackatthethingthathadcausedthefright。
Rollingoverandoverontheground，undertheimpactofhissuperior\'sfistblowsandkicks，Freundsomehowregainedhisfeet。
Reelinguptothenearestsoldier，thepanic-crazedcorporalsnatchedtheprivate\'srifleandfiredthreetimes，blindly，atBruce。Then，foamingatthemouth，Freundfellheavilytoearthagain，chatteringandtwitchinginafit。
Bruce，atthesecondshot，leapedhighintheair，andcollapsed，inaninertfurryheap，amongthebushes。Therehelay，——hiscareerasacourier-dogforeverended。
CorporalRudolphFreundwasperhapsthebestsniperinhisregiment。Wildlythoughhehadfired，marksman-instincthadguidedhisbullets。Andatsuchcloserangetherewasnomissing。
Brucewenttoearthwithonerifleballthroughhisbody，andanotherinhisleg。Athirdhadreachedhisskull。
Now，thecompleteelementofsurprisewasall-needfulfortheattacktheGermanshadplannedagainstthe\"Here-We-Comes。\"
Deprivedofthatadvantagetheexpeditionwasdoomedtoutterfailure。For，givenachancetowakeandtorally，theregimentcouldnotpossiblybe\"rushed，\"invividmoonlight，beforethenearestAlliedforcescouldmoveuptoitssupport。Andthoseforceswereonlyamileorsototherear。Therecanbenopossiblehopeforasurpriseattackuponawell-appointedcampwhenthenight\'sstillnesshasbeenshatteredbyaseriesofmaniacscreamsandbythreeechoingrifle-shots。
Alreadytheguardwasout。Abuglewasblowing。Inanotherminute，thesentry-callswouldlocatethegapmadebythethreemurderedsentinels。
Aswiftgutturalconferenceamongtheleadersofthegray-cladmarauderswasfollowedbythebarkingofequallygutturalcommands。AndtheGermanswithdrewasquietlyandasrapidlyastheyhadcome。
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Itwasthemouthingandjabberingofthefit-possessedCorporalRudolphFreundthatdrewtohimthenoticeofasquadofYankeesledbyTop-SergeantMahan，tenminuteslater。Itwastheshudder——accompaniedpointingofthedeliriousman\'sfinger，towardthenearbyclumpofundergrowth，thatrevealedtothemthestillwarmbodyofBruce。
Backtocamp，carriedlovinglyinMahan\'sstrongarms，wentallthatwasleftofthegreatcourier-dog。Backtocamp，propelledbetweentwonone-too-gentlesoldiers，staggeredthefit-riddenCorporalFreund。
Atthecolonel\'squarters，acompellingdoseofstimulantclearedsomeofthemistsfromtheprisoner\'sbrain。Hisnerveandhiswill-powerstillgonetosmash，hebabbledeagerlyenoughofthenightattack，ofthekillingofthesentriesandofhisencounterwiththeWerewolf。
\"Isawhimfall！\"heraved。\"Butheisnotdead。TheWerewolfcanbekilledonlybyasilverbullet，markedwithacrossandblessedbyapriest。Hewilllivetotrackmedown！Lockmewherehecannotfindme，forthesakeofsweetmercy！\"
Andinthisway，the\"Here-We-Comes\"learnedofBruce\'spartinthenight\'saverteddisaster。
OldVivierweptunashamedoverthebodyofthedoghehadloved。
Top-SergeantMahan——thebigtearssplashing，unnoted，fromhisownredeyes——besoughttheFrenchmantostriveforbetterself-
controlandnottosetacry-babyexampletothemen。
Thenagroupofgrim-facedsoldiersdugagrave。And，carriedbyMahanandVivier，thebeautifuldog\'sbodywasbornetoitsresting-place。Athrongofmeninthegraydawnstoodwordlessaroundthegrave。Someoneshamefacedlytookoffhishat。Withequalshamefacedness，everybodyelsefollowedtheexample。
Mahanlaidthedog\'sbodyontheground，atthegrave\'sbrink。
Then，lookingabouthim，heclearedhisthroatnoisilyandspoke。
\"Boys，\"hebegan，\"whenahumandiesforotherhumans，there\'saChristianburialservicereadoverhim。I\'dhaveaskedthechaplaintoreadoneoverBruce，here，ifIhadn\'tknownhe\'dsayno。ButtheBigDogisn\'tgoingtorestwithoutawordsaidoverhisgrave，forallthat。\"
Mahanclearedhisthroatnoisilyoncemore，winkedfast，thenwenton：——
\"Youcanlaughatme，ifanyofyoufeellikeit。Butthere\'ssomeofyouherewhowouldn\'tbealivetolaugh，ifBrucehadn\'tdonewhathedidlastnight。Hewasonlyjustadog——withnosoul，andwithnolifeafterthisone，Is\'pose。Sohewentaheadanddidhisworkandtooktherisks，andaskednopay。
\"Andbyandbyhedied，stilldoinghisworkandaskingnopay。
\"Hedidn\'tworkwiththeideaofgettingacrossoraribbonorapromotionorapensionorhisnameinthepaperortomakethecrowdcheerhimwhenhegotbackhome，ortobragtothehomefolksabouthowhewasahero。HejustwentaheadandWASahero。That\'sbecausehewasonlyadog，withnosoul——andnotaman。
\"Allofushumansareworkingforsomereward，evenifit\'sonlyforourpayorforthefunofdoingourshare。ButBrucewasaherobecausehewasjustadog，andbecausehedidn\'tknowenoughtobeanythingelsebutahero。
\"I\'veheardabouthim，beforehejoinedupwithus。Iguessmostofushave。HelivedupinJersey，somewhere。Withfolksthathadbredhim。I\'llbetayear\'spayhewasmadealotofbythosefolks；andthatitwrenched\'emtolethimgo。Youcouldseehe\'dbeenbroughtupthatway。Lifemust\'a\'beenprettyhappyfortheoldchap，backthere。Thenhewaspickedupandslungintothemiddleofthishell。
\"Sowastherestofus，saysyou。Butyou\'rewrong。Thoseofusthatwaitedforthedrafthadourchoiceofgoingtothehoosgow，as\'conscientiousobjectors，\'ifwedidn\'twanttofight。Andeverymother\'ssonofusknewwewasfightingfortheRight；andthatwewasmakingtheworldadecenterandsaferplaceforourgrandchildrenandourwomenfolkstolivein。Wedidn\'tbragaboutGodbeingonourside，likethebochesdo。ItwasenoughforustoknowWEwasonGOD\'SsideandfightingHisgreatfightforHim。WehadpatriotismandreligionandRight，behindus，togiveusstrength。
\"Bruciehadn\'taoneofthosethings。Hedidn\'tknowwhathewasherefor——andwhyhe\'dbeenpitchedoutofhisnicehome，intoallthis。Hedidn\'thaveachancetosayYesorNo。Hedidn\'thaveanyspellbinderstotellhimhewasmakingtheworldsafeford\'mocracy。HewasMADEtocome。
\"Howwouldanyofushumanshaveacted，ifadeallikethathadbeenhandedtous？We\'d\'a\'grouchedandslackedandmaybedeserted。That\'sbecausewe\'relordsofcreationandhavesoulsandbrainsandsuch。WhatdidBrucedo？Hejumpedintothisgame，withbellson。Heriskedhislifeahundredtimes；andhewasjustasreadytoriskitagainthenextday。
\"Yes，andheknewhewasriskingit，too。There\'sblamelittlehedidn\'tknow。Hesawwar-dogs，allaroundhim，chokingtodeathfromgas，orscreamingtheirlivesout，inNoMan\'sLand，whenabitofshellhaddisemboweled\'emorabullethadcrackedtheirbackbones。Hesaw\'emstarvetodeath。Hesaw\'emonebloodymassofscarsandsores。Hesaw\'emdieofpneumoniaandmangeandeveryrottentrenchdisease。Andheknewitmightbehisturn，anytimeatall，todieastheyweredying；andheknewthehumanswastoobusynursingotherhumans，tohavetimetospareoncaringfortortureddogs。（Thoughthosesamedogsweredyingforthehumans，ifitcomestothat。）
\"Yes，Bruceknewwhattheendwasboundtobe。Heknewit。Andhekepton，asgayandasbraveasifhewasonaday\'sromp。Heneverflinched。NoteventhattimetheK。O。senthimupthehillforreenforcementsatRache，wheneverysharpshooterinthebochetrencheswaslayingforhim，andwhenthemachinegunsweretrainedonhim，too。Bruceknewhewasrunningintodeath——，thenandadozenothertimes。Andhewentatitlikeawhiteman。
\"I\'m——I\'mgettinglongwinded。AndI\'llstop。But——maybeifyouboyswillremembertheBigDog——andwhathedidforus，——whenyougetbackhome，——ifyou\'llrememberhimandwhathedidandwhatthousandsofotherwar-dogshavedone，——thenmaybeyou\'llbemenenoughtopunchthejawofanyguywhogetstosayingthatdogsarenuisancesandthatvivisection\'sagoodthing，andallthat。
Ifyou\'lljustdothatmuch，then——well，thenBrucehasn\'tlivedanddiedfornothing！
\"Brucie，oldboy，\"bendingtoliftthetawnybodyandloweritintothegrave，\"it\'sgood-by。It\'sgood-bytothecleanest，whitestpalthatapoordubofadoughboyeverhad。I——\"
Mahangloweredacrossattheclumpofsilentmen。
\"IfanybodythinksI\'mcrying，\"hecontinuedthickly，\"he\'saliar。Igotacold，and——\"
\"SacrebonDieu！\"yelledoldVivier，insanely。\"Regarde-donc！Nomd\'unepipe！\"
Hekneltquicklybesidethebody，inanecstasyofexcitement。
Theotherscranedtheirneckstosee。Thenfromahundredthroatswentupagaspofamazement。
Bruce，slowlyanddazedly，wasliftinghismagnificenthead！
\"Chaseoffforthesurgeon！\"bellowedMahan，plumpingdownonhiskneesbesideVivierandexaminingthewoundinthedog\'sscalp。
\"Thebulletonlycreasedhisskull！Itdidn\'tgothrough！It\'sjustputhimoutforafewhours，likeI\'veseenitdotomen。
Getthesurgeon！Ifthatbulletinhisbodydidn\'thitsomethingvital，we\'llpullhimaround，yet！GLORYBE！\"
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ItwaslatesummeragainatThePlace，lateopulentsummer，withthepeaceofgreenearthandbluesky，theheavydroningofbeesandthepromiseofharvest。Thelongshadowsoflateafternoonstretchedlovinglyacrossthelawn，fromthegreatlakesidetrees。Overeverythingbroodedadreamyamberlight。Thewarseemedamillionmilesaway。
TheMistressandtheMastercamedownfromthevine-shadedverandafortheirsunsetwalkthroughthegrounds。Atsoundoftheirstepsonthegravel，ahugedark-brown-and-whitecollieemergedfromhisresting-placeunderthewistaria-arbor。
Hestretchedhimselflazily，foreandaft，incollie-fashion。
ThenhetrotteduptohistwodeitiesandthrusthismuzzleplayfullyintotheMistress\'spalm，ashefellintostepwiththepromenaders。
Hewalkedwithastiffnessinoneforeleg。Hisgaitwasnotalimp。Buttheleg\'sstrengthcouldnolongerbereliedonforaten-milegallop。Alonghisforeheadwasanew-healedbullet-
crease。Andthefuronhissideshadscarcelyyetgrownoverthemarkofthehigh-poweredballwhichhadgoneclearthroughhimwithouttouchingamortalspot。
Truly，theregimentalsurgeonofthe\"Here-We-Comes\"haddoneajobworthyofhisownhighfame！Andthedog\'swonderfulconditionhaddonetherest。
Apartfromscarsandstiffness，Brucewasnonetheworseforhisyearonthebattle-front。Hecouldservenolongerasadashingcourier。Buthislifeasapetwasinnowayimpaired。
\"Here\'ssomethingthatcamebytheafternoonmail，Bruce，\"theMastergreetedhim，asthecollierangedalongside。\"Itbelongstoyou。Takealookatit。\"
TheMasterdrewfromhispocketaleatherbox，andopenedit。Ontheoblongofwhitesatin，withinthecover，waspinnedaverysmallandverythingoldmedal。But，lightasitwas，ithadrepresentedmuchabstinencefromestaminetsandtobacco-shops，onthepartofitsdonors。
\"Listen，\"theMastersaid，holdingthemedalinfrontofthecollie。\"Listen，whileIreadyoutheinscription：\'ToBruce。
Fromsomeoftheboyshesavedfromtheboches。\'\"
Brucewassniffingthethingoldlozengeinterestedly。Theinscriptionmeantnothingtohim。But——strongandvividtohistrainednostrils——hescentedonthemedalthelovingfinger-
touchofhisoldfriendandadmirer，TopSergeantMahan。