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Now； a collie （in brain； though never in heart） is much more wolf than
dog。 A bullterrier； or an Airedale； would have charged on at his foe； and
would have let himself be hacked to pieces before loosing his hold on the
man。
Buteven as a wolf checks his pursuit of a galloping sheep when the
latter dashes into the guarded foldBruce came to an abrupt halt； at sight
of these reenforcements。 He stood irresolute； still mad with vengeful anger；
but not foolish enough to assail a whole brigade of armed men。
It is quite impossible （though Mahan and Vivier used to swear it must
be true） that Bruce had the reasoning powers to figure out the whole
situation which confronted him。 He could not have known that a German
brigade had been sent to take advantage of the 〃Here…We…Comes〃
temporarily isolated positionthat three sentries had been killed in silence
and that their deaths had left a wide gap through which the brigade hoped
to creep unobserved until they should be within striking distance of their
unsuspectingly slumbering victims。
Bruce could not have known this。 He could not have grasped the
slightest fraction of the idea； being only a real…life dog and not a fairytale
animal。 But what he could and did realize was that a mass of detested
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Germans was moving toward him； and that he could not hope to attack
them； single…handed； also； that he was not minded to slink peacefully
away and leave his friend unavenged。
Thwarted rage dragged from his furry throat a deep growl； a growl that
resounded eerily through that silent place of stealthy moves。 And he
stepped majestically forth from the surrounding long grass； into the full
glare of moonlight。
The deceptive glow made him loom gigantic and black； and tinged his
snowy chest with the phosphorous gleam of a snowfield。 His eyes shone
like a wild beast's。
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Corporal Rudolph Freund； of the Konigin Luise Regiment； had just
finished his three…word report to his superior。 He had merely saluted and
announced
〃He is dead！〃
Corporal Freund did not thrill； as usual； to the colonel's grunt of
approval。 The Corporal was worried。 He was a Black Forest peasant； and；
while iron military life had dulled his native superstitions； it had not
dispelled them。
The night was mystic； in its odd blend of moon and shadows。 However
hardened one may be； it is a nerve…strain to creep through long grass； like
a red Indian； to the murder of a hostile sentinel。 And every German in the
〃Pocket〃 had been under frightful mental and physical stress； for the past
week。
Corporal Rudolph Freund was a brave man and a brute。 But that week
had sapped his nerve。 And the work of this night had been the climax。 The
desolate ground； over which he had crawled to the killing； had suddenly
seemed peopled with evil gnomes and goblins； whose existence no true
Black Forest peasant can doubt。 And； on the run back； he had been certain
he heard some unseen monster tearing through the underbrush in hot
pursuit of him。 So certain had he been； that he had redoubled his speed。
There were no wolves or other large wild animals in that region。 When
he had wriggled toward the slow…pacing American sentinel； he had seen
and heard no creature of any sort。 Yet he was sure that on the way back he
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had been pursued byby Something！ And into his scared memory； as he
ran； had flashed the ofttold Black Forest tale of the Werewolfthe devil
beast that is entered by the soul of a murdered man and which tracks the
murderer to his death。
Glad was the unnerved Corporal Freund when his run ceased and he
stood close to his grossly solid and rank…scented fellowmen once more。
Almost he was inclined to laugh at his fears of the fabled Werewolfand
especially at the idea that he had been pursued。 He drew a long breath of
relief。 He drew the breath in。 But he did not at once expel it。 For on his
ears came the sound of a hideous menacing growl。
Corporal Freund spun about； in the direction of the mysterious threat。
And there； not thirty feet from him； in the ghostly moonlight； stood the
Werewolf！
This time there could be no question of overstrained nerves and of
imagination。 The Thing was THERE！
Horribly visible in every detail； the Werewolf was glaring at him。 He
could see the red glow of the gigantic devil…beast's eyes； the white flash of
its teeth； the ghostly shimmering of its snowy chest。 The soul of the man
he had slain had taken this traditional form and was hunting down the
slayer！ A thousand stories of Freund's childhood verified the frightful truth。
And overwrought human nature's endurance went to pieces under the
shock。
A maniac howl of terror split the midnight stillness。 Shriek after shriek
rent the air。 Freund tumbled convulsively to the ground at his colonel's feet；
gripping the officer's booted knees and screeching for protection。 The
colonel； raging that the surprise attack should be imperiled by such a
racket； beat the frantic man over the mouth with his heavy fist； kicking
ferociously at his upturned writhing face； and snarling to him to be silent。
The shower of blows brought Freund back to sanity； to the extent of
changing his craven terror into Fear's secondary phasethe impulse to
strike back at the thing that had caused the fright。 Rolling over and over on
the ground； under the impact of his superior's fist blows and kicks； Freund
somehow regained his feet。
Reeling up to the nearest soldier； the panic…crazed corporal snatched
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the private's rifle and fired three times； blindly； at Bruce。 Then； foaming at
the mouth； Freund fell heavily to earth again； chattering and twitching in a
fit。
Bruce； at the second shot； leaped high in the air； and collapsed； in an
inert furry heap； among the bushes。 There he lay；his career as a courier…
dog forever ended。
Corporal Rudolph Freund was perhaps the best sniper in his regiment。
Wildly though he had fired； marksman…instinct had guided his bullets。 And