going up to him。
Above； the sunset sky was cloudless。 Like tiny specks； miles to
eastward； a few enemy airships circled above the heap of clustered hills
which marked the nearest German position。 The torn…up plain； between；
seemed barren of life。 So； at first； did the farther end of the jutting ridge on
which the village was perched。 But presently Bruce's idly wandering eye
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was caught by a flutter of white among some boulders that clumped
together on the ridge's brow farthest from the village。
Some onea woman； from the dresswas apparently picking her way
through the boulders。 As Bruce moved forward； a big rock shut her off
from his view and from the view of the hamlet and of the maneuvering
infantry company a furlong away。
Just then a puff of breeze blew from eastward toward the collie； and it
bore to him a faint scent that set his ruff a…bristle and his soft brown eyes
ablaze。 To a dog； a scent once smelled is as recognizable again as is the
sight of a once…seen face to a human。 Bruce set off at a hand…gallop toward
the clump of boulders。
The Red Cross nurse； whom Bruce had so nearly killed； was off duty
until the night…shift should go on at the hospital。 The nurse had taken
advantage of this brief surcease from toil； by going for a little walk in the
cool sunset air； and had carried along a bag of sewing。
Up to three months ago this nurse had been known as Heinrich Stolz；
and had been a valued member of the Wilhelmstrasse's workingforce of
secret agents。 Then； acting under orders； Herr Heinrich Stolz had vanished
from his accustomed haunts。 Soon thereafter a Red Cross nurseFelicia
Stuart by name had reported for duty at Paris； having been transferred
thither from Italy； and bearing indubitable credentials to that effect。
From carefully picked…up information Stolz had just learned of the
expected arrival of the three troop…trains at the junction at nine that
evening。 The tidings had interested him keenly； and he knew of other
people to whom they would be far more interesting。
Seating himself under the lee of the easternmost rock； Stolz primly
opened his sewing…bag and drew forth various torn garments。 The
garments were for the most part white； but one or two were of gaudy
colors。
By way of precaution； in case of discovery； the spy threaded a needle。
Thus； if any one should chance to see him shake out a garment；
preparatory to laying it on his knee and mending it； there could be no
reasonable cause for suspicion。 Herr Stolz was nothing if not efficient。
He held up the needle and poked the thread at its eye in truly feminine
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fashion。
He had just finished this feat of dexterity when he chanced to look up
from his work at sound of fast…pattering feet。 Not thirty feet away；
charging head on at him； rushed the great brown…and… white collie he
supposed had been shot。
With a jump of abject terror； Herr Stolz sprang up。 Mingled with his
normal fear of the dog was a tinge of superstitious dread。 He had been so
certain the beast was shot！ The doctor had given the order for his killing。
The doctor was a commissioned officer。 Stolz's German mind could not
grasp the possibility of a soldier disobeying an officer's imperative
command。
The collie was upon him by the time the spy gained his feet。 Stolz
reached frantically under his dress…folds for the deadly little pistol that he
always kept there。 But he was still a novice in the mysteries of feminine
apparel。 And； before his fingers could close on the weapon； Bruce's bared
fangs were gleaming at his throat。
Stolz ceased to search for the weapon。 And； as before； he threw up
both frantic hands to ward off the furious jaws。
He was barely in time。 Bruce's white teeth drove deep into the spy's
forearm； and Bruce's eighty pounds of furry muscular bulk smote Stolz
full in the chest。 Down went the spy； under the terrific impact； sprawling
wildly on his back； and fighting with both bleeding hands to push back the
dog。
Bruce； collie…fashion； did not stick to one grip； but bit and slashed a
dozen times in three seconds； tearing and rending his way toward the
throat…hold he craved； driving through flesh of hands and of forearms
toward his goal。
Like many another German； Stolz was far more adept at causing pain
than at enduring it。 Also； from birth； he had had an unconquerable fear of
dogs。 His nerves； too； were not yet recovered from Bruce's attack earlier in
the day。 All this； and the spectral suddenness of the onslaught； robbed him
of every atom of his usual stony self…control。
Sergeant Mahan was a good soldier。 Yet a minute earlier he had almost
ruined his reputation as such。 He had been hard put to it to refrain from
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leaving the ranks of his drilling company； a furlong from the rocks； and
running at record speed toward the boulders。 For he had seen the supposed
nurse pass that way。 And almost directly afterward he had seen Bruce
follow her thither。 And he could guess what would happen。
Luckily for the sake of discipline； the order of 〃Break ranks！〃 was
given before Mahan could disgrace himself by such unmartial behavior。
And； on the instant； the Sergeant broke into a run in the direction of the
rocks。
Wondering at his eccentric action； several of the soldiers followed。 The
company captain； at sight of a knot of his men dashing at breakneck speed
toward the boulders； started at a more leisurely pace in the same direction。
Mahan had reached the edge of the rocks when his ears were greeted
by a yell of mortal fear。 The captain and the rest； catching the sound； went
faster。 Screech after screech rang from the rocky enclosure。
Mahan rounded the big boulder at the crest of the ridge and flung
himself upon the two combatants； as they thrashed about in a tumultuous
dual mass on the ground。 And just then Bruce at last found his grip on
Stolz's throat。
A stoical German signal…corps officer； on a hilltop some miles to
eastward； laid aside his fieldglass and calmly remarked to a man at his
side
〃We have lost a good spy！〃
Such was the sole epitaph and eulogy of Herr Heinrich Stolz； from his
army。
Meantime； Sergeant Mahan was prying loose the collie's ferocious
jaws from their prey and was tugging with all his might to drag the dog off
the shrieking spy。 The throat…hold； he noted； was a bare inch from the
jugular。
The rest of the soldiers； rushing up pell…mell； helped him pull the
infuriated Bruce from his victim。 The spectacle of their admired dog…hero；
so murderously mauling a woman of the Red Cross； dazed them with
horror。
〃Take him AWAY！〃 bellowed Stolz； delirious with pain and fear。 〃He's
KILLED meder gottverdammte Teufelhund！〃
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And now the crazed victim's unconscious use of German was not
needed to tell every one within hearing just who and what he was。 For the
quavering tones were no longer a rich contralto。 They were a throaty
baritone。 And the accent was Teutonic。
〃Bruce！〃 observed Top…Sergeant Mahan next morning； 〃I've always
said a man who kicks a dog is more of a cur than the dog is。 But you'll
never know how near I came to kicking you yesterday； when I caught you
mangling that filthy spy。 And Brucie； if I had kicked you； wellI'd be
praying at this minute that the good Lord would grow a third leg on me； so
that I could kick myself all the way from here to Berlin！〃
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