°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
holds¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡head¡¡¡¡¡¡up£»¡¡¡¡¡¡there¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡little¡¡¡¡¡¡enough¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡fear¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡
lowers¡¡his¡¡head¡¡and¡¡growlthen¡¡look¡¡out¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Mahan¡¡knew¡¡dogs¡£¡¡In¡¡stark¡¡amazement¡¡he¡¡now¡¡noted¡¡Bruce's¡¡strange¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡76¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡77¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Bruce¡¡
attitude¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡nurse¡£¡¡Never¡¡before¡¡had¡¡he¡¡seen¡¡the¡¡dog¡¡show¡¡active¡¡
hostility¡¡¡¡toward¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡strangerleast¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡toward¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡stranger¡¡¡¡¡¡who¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡
way¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡molested¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡incredible¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡wontedly¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡dignified¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡
sweet¡tempered¡¡¡¡¡¡collie¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡thus¡¡¡¡¡¡returned¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡greeting¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Especially¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡
woman£¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Mahan¡¡had¡¡often¡¡seen¡¡Red¡¡Cross¡¡nurses¡¡stop¡¡to¡¡caress¡¡Bruce¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡
been¡¡amused¡¡at¡¡the¡¡dog's¡¡almost¡¡protective¡¡cordiality¡¡toward¡¡all¡¡women£»¡¡
whether¡¡the¡¡French¡¡peasants¡¡or¡¡the¡¡wearers¡¡of¡¡the¡¡brassard¡¡of¡¡mercy¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Toward¡¡menexcept¡¡those¡¡he¡¡had¡¡learned¡¡to¡¡look¡¡on¡¡as¡¡friends¡¡the¡¡
collie¡¡¡¡¡¡always¡¡¡¡¡¡comported¡¡¡¡¡¡himself¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡courteous¡¡¡¡¡¡aloofness¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡
seemed¡¡to¡¡regard¡¡every¡¡woman¡¡as¡¡something¡¡to¡¡be¡¡humored¡¡and¡¡guarded¡¡
and¡¡to¡¡be¡¡treated¡¡with¡¡the¡¡same¡¡cordial¡¡friendliness¡¡that¡¡he¡¡bestowed¡¡on¡¡
their¡¡childrenwhich¡¡is¡¡the¡¡way¡¡of¡¡the¡¡best¡¡type¡¡of¡¡collie¡£¡¡Yet¡¡Bruce¡¡had¡¡
actually¡¡snarled¡¡at¡¡this¡¡woman¡¡who¡¡had¡¡chirped¡¡to¡¡him¡¡from¡¡the¡¡steps¡¡of¡¡
the¡¡church£¡¡¡And¡¡he¡¡showed¡¡every¡¡sign¡¡of¡¡following¡¡up¡¡the¡¡challenge¡¡by¡¡
still¡¡more¡¡drastic¡¡measures¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Bruce£¡¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡called¡¡¡¡¡¡Mahan¡¡¡¡¡¡sharply¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨BRUCE£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Shame£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Come¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡¡¡¡¡¡here£¡¡¡
Come£»¡¡NOW£¡¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡At¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Sergeant's¡¡¡¡¡¡vehement¡¡¡¡¡¡summons¡¡¡¡¡¡Bruce¡¡¡¡¡¡turned¡¡¡¡¡¡reluctantly¡¡¡¡¡¡away¡¡
from¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡foot¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡church¡¡¡¡¡¡steps¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡came¡¡¡¡¡¡across¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡street¡¡¡¡¡¡toward¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
estaminet¡£¡¡He¡¡came¡¡slowly¡£¡¡Midway¡¡he¡¡halted¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡back¡¡over¡¡his¡¡
shoulder¡¡at¡¡the¡¡nurse£»¡¡his¡¡fangs¡¡glinting¡¡once¡¡more¡¡in¡¡a¡¡snarl¡£¡¡At¡¡a¡¡second¡¡
and¡¡more¡¡emphatic¡¡call¡¡from¡¡Mahan¡¡the¡¡dog¡¡continued¡¡his¡¡progress¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡nurse¡¡had¡¡started¡¡back¡¡in¡¡alarm¡¡at¡¡the¡¡collie's¡¡angry¡¡demonstration¡£¡¡
Now£»¡¡gathering¡¡up¡¡her¡¡work£»¡¡she¡¡retreated¡¡into¡¡the¡¡church¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I'm¡¡sorry£»¡¡Miss£¡¡¨¡¡Mahan¡¡shouted¡¡after¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡never¡¡saw¡¡him¡¡that¡¡way£»¡¡
before£»¡¡when¡¡a¡¡lady¡¡spoke¡¡to¡¡him¡£¡¡If¡¡it¡¡was¡¡any¡¡dog¡¡but¡¡old¡¡Bruce£»¡¡I'd¡¡give¡¡
him¡¡a¡¡whaling¡¡for¡¡acting¡¡like¡¡that¡¡to¡¡you¡£¡¡I'm¡¡dead¡sure¡¡he¡¡didn't¡¡mean¡¡any¡¡
harm¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Oh£»¡¡I¡¡was¡¡going¡¡in£»¡¡anyway£»¡¨¡¡replied¡¡the¡¡nurse£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡doorway¡£¡¡¡¨It¡¡
is¡¡of¡¡no¡¡consequence¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡¡¡¡¡spoke¡¡¡¡¡¡nervously£»¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡rich¡¡¡¡¡¡contralto¡¡¡¡¡¡voice¡¡¡¡¡¡shaken¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡dog's¡¡
fierce¡¡show¡¡of¡¡enmity¡£¡¡Then¡¡she¡¡vanished¡¡into¡¡the¡¡church£»¡¡and¡¡Mahan¡¡and¡¡
Vivier¡¡took¡¡turns¡¡in¡¡lecturing¡¡Bruce¡¡on¡¡his¡¡shameful¡¡dearth¡¡of¡¡courtesy¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡77¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡78¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Bruce¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡big¡¡¡¡¡¡dog¡¡¡¡¡¡paid¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡heed¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡friends'¡¡¡¡¡¡discourse¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡
staring¡¡sullenly¡¡at¡¡the¡¡doorway¡¡through¡¡which¡¡the¡¡nurse¡¡had¡¡gone¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨That's¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡swell¡¡¡¡¡¡way¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡decently¡¡¡¡¡¡bred¡¡¡¡¡¡dog¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡treat¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡woman£¡¡¨¡¡
Mahan¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡telling¡¡¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Least¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡all£»¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡Red¡¡¡¡¡¡Cross¡¡¡¡¡¡nurse£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I'm¡¡¡¡clean¡¡
ashamed¡¡of¡¡you£¡¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Bruce¡¡¡¡¡¡did¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡listen¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡heart¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡still¡¡¡¡¡¡angryand¡¡¡¡¡¡very¡¡¡¡¡¡much¡¡
perplexed¡¡as¡¡well¡£¡¡For¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡what¡¡these¡¡stupid¡¡humans¡¡did¡¡not¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡
know¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡HE¡¡KNEW¡¡THE¡¡RED¡¡CROSS¡¡NURSE¡¡WAS¡¡NO¡¡WOMAN¡¡AT¡¡ALL£»¡¡
BUT¡¡A¡¡MAN¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Bruce¡¡knew£»¡¡too£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡nurse¡¡did¡¡not¡¡belong¡¡to¡¡his¡¡loved¡¡friends¡¡of¡¡
the¡¡Red¡¡Cross¡£¡¡For¡¡his¡¡uncanny¡¡power¡¡of¡¡scent¡¡told¡¡him¡¡the¡¡garments¡¡worn¡¡
by¡¡the¡¡impostor¡¡belonged¡¡to¡¡some¡¡one¡¡else¡£¡¡To¡¡mere¡¡humans£»¡¡a¡¡small¡¡and¡¡
slender¡¡man£»¡¡who¡¡can¡¡act£»¡¡and¡¡who¡¡dons¡¡woman's¡¡garb£»¡¡is¡¡a¡¡woman¡£¡¡To¡¡
any¡¡¡¡¡¡dog£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡such¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡man¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡more¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡like¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡woman¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡than¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡horse¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡
lambskin¡¡¡¡¡¡saddle¡pad¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡lamb¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡merely¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡man¡¡¡¡¡¡who¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡differently¡¡
dressed¡¡from¡¡other¡¡meneven¡¡as¡¡this¡¡man¡¡who¡¡had¡¡chirped¡¡to¡¡Bruce£»¡¡from¡¡
the¡¡¡¡¡¡church¡¡¡¡¡¡steps£»¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡less¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡man¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡costume¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡
swathed¡¡his¡¡body¡£¡¡Any¡¡dog£»¡¡at¡¡a¡¡glance¡¡and¡¡at¡¡a¡¡sniff£»¡¡would¡¡have¡¡known¡¡
that¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Women£»¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡thing£»¡¡¡¡¡¡do¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡usually¡¡¡¡¡¡smoke¡¡¡¡¡¡dozens¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡rank¡¡¡¡¡¡cigars¡¡
daily¡¡for¡¡years£»¡¡until¡¡their¡¡flesh¡¡is¡¡permeated¡¡with¡¡the¡¡smell¡¡of¡¡tobacco¡£¡¡A¡¡
human¡¡could¡¡not¡¡have¡¡detected¡¡such¡¡a¡¡smellsuch¡¡a¡¡MAN¡smell£»on¡¡the¡¡
person¡¡who¡¡had¡¡chirped¡¡to¡¡Bruce¡£¡¡Any¡¡dog£»¡¡twenty¡¡feet¡¡away£»¡¡would¡¡have¡¡
noticed¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡would¡¡have¡¡tabulated¡¡the¡¡white¡clad¡¡masquerader¡¡as¡¡a¡¡man¡£¡¡
Nor¡¡do¡¡a¡¡woman's¡¡hair¡¡and¡¡skin¡¡carry¡¡the¡¡faint¡¡but¡¡unmistakable¡¡odor¡¡of¡¡
barracks¡¡and¡¡of¡¡tent¡life¡¡and¡¡of¡¡martial¡¡equipment£»¡¡as¡¡did¡¡this¡¡man's¡£¡¡The¡¡
masquerader¡¡was¡¡evidently¡¡not¡¡only¡¡a¡¡man¡¡but¡¡a¡¡soldier¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Dogs£»high¡strung¡¡¡¡¡¡dogs£»do¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡like¡¡to¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡tricks¡¡played¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡them£»¡¡
least¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡strangers¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Bruce¡¡¡¡¡¡seemed¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡take¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡nurse¡disguise¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡
personal¡¡affront¡¡to¡¡himself¡£¡¡Then£»¡¡too£»¡¡the¡¡man¡¡was¡¡not¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own¡¡army¡£¡¡
On¡¡the¡¡contrary£»¡¡the¡¡scent¡¡proclaimed¡¡him¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡horde¡¡whom¡¡Bruce's¡¡
friends¡¡so¡¡manifestly¡¡hatedone¡¡of¡¡the¡¡breed¡¡that¡¡had¡¡more¡¡than¡¡once¡¡fired¡¡
on¡¡the¡¡dog¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡78¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡79¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Bruce¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Diet¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡equipment¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡other¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡causes¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡give¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡German¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡soldier¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡
markedly¡¡¡¡¡¡different¡¡¡¡¡¡scent£»¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡dogs'¡¡¡¡¡¡miraculously¡¡¡¡¡¡keen¡¡¡¡¡¡nostrils£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡
those¡¡of¡¡certain¡¡humans£»from¡¡the¡¡French¡¡or¡¡British¡¡or¡¡American¡¡troops¡£¡¡
War¡¡records¡¡prove¡¡this¡£¡¡Once¡¡having¡¡learned¡¡the¡¡scent£»¡¡and¡¡having¡¡learned¡¡
to¡¡detest¡¡it£»¡¡Bruce¡¡was¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡deceived¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡For¡¡all¡¡these¡¡reasons¡¡he¡¡had¡¡snarled¡¡loathingly¡¡at¡¡the¡¡man¡¡in¡¡white¡£¡¡For¡¡
these¡¡same¡¡reasons¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡readily¡¡forget¡¡the¡¡incident£»¡¡but¡¡continued¡¡
every¡¡now¡¡and¡¡then¡¡to¡¡glance¡¡curiously¡¡across¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡church¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Presently£»not¡¡relishing¡¡the¡¡rebukes¡¡of¡¡the¡¡friends¡¡who¡¡had¡¡heretofore¡¡
pestered¡¡him¡¡by¡¡overmuch¡¡petting£»the¡¡collie¡¡arose¡¡quietly¡¡from¡¡his¡¡couch¡¡
of¡¡trampled¡¡earth¡¡at¡¡the¡¡foot¡¡of¡¡the¡¡stone¡¡bench¡¡and¡¡strolled¡¡back¡¡across¡¡
the¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡street¡£¡¡¡¡Most¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡men¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡too¡¡¡¡¡¡busy£»¡¡¡¡¡¡talking£»¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡note¡¡¡¡¡¡Bruce's¡¡
departure¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡¡¡¡¡Sergeant¡¡¡¡¡¡Mahan¡¡¡¡¡¡caught¡¡¡¡¡¡sight¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡just¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡dog¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡
mounting¡¡the¡¡last¡¡of¡¡the¡¡steps¡¡leading¡¡into¡¡the¡¡church¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡rule£»¡¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡¡¡¡¡Bruce¡¡¡¡¡¡went¡¡¡¡¡¡investigating£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡walked¡¡¡¡¡¡carelessly¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡
with¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡tail¡¡¡¡¡¡slightly¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡wag¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Now¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡tail¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡stiff¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡icicle£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡
moved¡¡¡¡¡¡warily£»¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡tips¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡toes¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡His¡¡¡¡¡¡tawny¡¡¡¡¡¡¡maned¡¡¡¡¡¡neck¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡low¡£¡¡
Mahan£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡understanding¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡dogs£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡did¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡like¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡collie's¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡demeanor¡£¡¡
Remembering¡¡that¡¡the¡¡nurse¡¡had¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡church¡¡a¡¡few¡¡minutes¡¡earlier£»¡¡
the¡¡Sergeant¡¡got¡¡to¡¡his¡¡feet¡¡and¡¡hastily¡¡followed¡¡Bruce¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡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¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡79¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡80¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Bruce¡¡
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£»¡¡