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The dog； meanwhile； had passed through the crazily splintered
doorway and had paused on the threshold of the improvised hospital； as
the reek of iodoform and of carbolic smote upon his sensitive nostrils。 In
front of him was the stone…paved vestibule。 Beyond was the interior of the
shattered church； lined now with double rows of cots。
Seated on a camp…chair in the shadowy vestibule was the pseudo Red
Cross nurse。 At sight of the collie the nurse got up in some haste。 Bruce；
still walking stiff…legged； drew closer。
Out from under the white skirt flashed a capable and solidly… shod foot。
In a swinging kick； the foot let drive at the oncoming dog。 Before Bruce
could dodge or could so much as guess what was coming；the kick smote
him with agonizing force； square on the shoulder。
To a spirited collie； a kick carries more than the mere pain of its
inflicting。 It is a grossly unforgivable affront as wellas many a tramp and
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thief have learned； at high cost。
By the time the kick had fairly landed； Bruce had recovered from his
instant of incredulous surprise； and with lightning swiftness he hurled
himself at his assailant。
No bark or growl heralded the murderous throatlunge。 It was all the
more terrible for the noiselessness wherewith it was delivered。 The
masquerading man saw it coming； just too late to guard against it。 He
lurched backward； belatedly throwing both hands up to defend his throat。
It was the involuntary backward step which saved his jugular。 For his heel
caught in the hem of his white skirt。 And wholly off balance； he pitched
headlong to the floor。
This jerky shift of position； on the part of the foe； spoiled Bruce's aim。
His fearful jaws snapped together harmlessly in empty air at a spot where；
a fraction of a second earlier； the other's throat had been。 Down crashed
the disguised man。 And atop of him the furious dog hurled himself；
seeking a second time the throatgrip he had so narrowly missed。
At this point on the program Sergeant Mahan arrived just in time to
bury both hands in the mass of Bruce's furry ruff and to drag the snarlingly
rabid dog back from his prey。
The place was in an uproar。 Nurses and doctors came rushing out into
the vestibule； sick and wounded men sat up on their cots and eagerly
craned their necks to catch sight of the scrimmage。 Soldiers ran in from
the street。
Strong as he was； Mahan had both hands full in holding the frantic
Bruce back from his enemy。 Under the insult of the kick from this
masquerader； whom he had already recognized as a foe； the collie had
temporarily lost every vestige of his stately dignity。 He was for the
moment merely a wild beast； seeking revenge for a brutal injury。 He
writhed and fought in Mahan's grasp。 Never once did he seek to attack the
struggling man who held him。 But he strained every giant sinew to get at
the foe who had kicked him。
The dog's opponent scrambled to his feet； helped by a dozen willing
hands and accosted by as many solicitous voices。 The victim's face was
bone…gray with terror。 His lips twitched convulsively。 Yet； as befitted a
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Bruce
person in his position； he had a splendid set of nerves。 And almost at once
he recovered partial control over himself。
〃II don't know how it happened；〃 he faltered； his rich contralto voice
shaky with the ground…swells of his recent shock。 〃It began when I was
sitting on the steps； sewing。 This dog came past。 He growled at me so
threateningly that I came indoors。 A minute later； while I was sitting here
sewing； he sprang at me and threw me down。 I believe he wouldwould
have killed me；〃 the narrator finished； with a very genuine shudder； 〃if I
had not been rescued when I was。 Such bloodthirsty brutes ought to be
shot！〃
〃He not only OUGHT to be；〃 hotly agreed the chief surgeon； 〃but he is
GOING to be。 Take him out into the street； one of you men； and put a ball
in his head。〃
The surgeon turned to the panting nurse。
〃You're certain he didn't hurt you？〃 he asked。 〃I don't want a
newcomer； like yourself； to think this is the usual treatment our nurses get。
Lie down and rest。 You look scared to death。 And don't be nervous about
the cur attacking you again。 He'll be dead inside of three minutes。〃
The nurse； with a mumbled word of thanks； scuttled off into the rear of
the church； where the tumbledown vestry had been fitted up as a
dormitory。
Bruce had calmed down somewhat under Mahan's sharp reproof。 But
he now struggled afresh to get at his vanished quarry。 And again the
Sergeant had a tussle to hold him。
〃I don't know what's got into the big fellow！〃 exclaimed Mahan to
Vivier as the old Frenchman joined the tumultuous group。 〃He's gone
clean daft。 He'd of killed that poor woman； if I hadn't〃
〃Get him out of here！〃 ordered the surgeon。 〃And clear out； yourselves；
all of you！ This rumpus has probably set a lot of my patients' temperatures
to rocketing。 Take the cur out and shoot him！〃
〃Excuse me； sir；〃 spoke up Mahan； as Vivier stared aghast at the man
who commanded Bruce's destruction； 〃but he's no cur。 He's a courier…collie；
officially in the service of the United States Government。 And he's the best
courier…dog in France to…day。 This is〃
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Bruce
〃I don't care what he is！〃 raged the surgeon。 〃He〃
〃This is Bruce；〃 continued Mahan； 〃the dog that saved the 'Here… We…
Comes' at Rache； and that steered a detail of us to safety one night in the
fog； in the Chateau…Thierry sector。 If you order any man of the 'Here…We…
Comes' to shoot Bruce； you're liable to have a mutiny on your hands
officer or no officer。 But if you wish； sir； I can transmit your order to the
K。O。 If he endorses it〃
But the surgeon sought； at that moment； to save the remnants of his
dignity and of a bad situation by stalking loftily back into the hospital； and
leaving Mahan in the middle of his speech。
〃Or； sir；〃 the Sergeant grinningly cal