|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 35
The question was answered at once, and right humiliatingly. For
Bruce did not falter in his swinging stride as he came abreast of
the group. Not by so much as a second glance did he notice
Mahan's hail and the tempting food.
As he passed within six inches of the lump of sugar which Vivier
was holding out to him, the dog's silken ears quivered slightly,
sure sign of hard-repressed emotion in a thoroughbred collie,--
but he gave no other manifestation that he knew any one was
there.
"Well, I'll be blessed!" snickered the Missourian in high
derision, as Bruce passed out of sight around an angle of the
trench. "So that's the pup who is such a pal of you fellows, is
he? Gee, but it was a treat to see how tickled he was to meet you
again!"
To the rookie's amazement none of his hearers seemed in the least
chagrined over the dogs chilling disregard of them. Instead,
Mahan actually grunted approbation.
"He'll be back," prophesied the Sergeant. "Don't you worry. He'll
be back. We ought to have had more sense than try to stop him
when he's on duty. He has better discipline than the rest of us.
That's one of very first things they teach a courier-dog--to pay
no attention to anybody, when he's on dispatch duty. When Bruce
has delivered his message to the K.O., he'll have the right to
hunt up his chums. And no one knows it better'n Bruce himself."
"It was a sin--a thoughtlessness--of me to hold the sugar at
him," said old Vivier. "Ah, but he is a so good soldier, ce brave
Bruce! He look not to the left nor yet to the right, nor yet to
the so-desired sugar-lump. He keep his head at attention! All but
the furry tips of his ears. Them he has not yet taught to be good
soldiers. They tremble, when he smell the sugar and the good
soup-bone. They quiver like the little leaf. But he keep on. He--"
There was a scurry of fast-cantering feet. Around the angle of
the trench dashed Bruce. Head erect, soft dark eyes shining with
a light of gay mischief, he galloped up to the grinning Sergeant
Vivier and stood. The dog's great plume of a tail was wagging
violently. His tulip ears were cocked. His whole interest in life
was fixed on the precious lump of sugar which Vivier held out to
him.
From puppyhood, Bruce had adored lump sugar. Even at The Place,
sugar had been a rarity for him, for the Mistress and the Master
had known the damage it can wreak upon a dog's teeth and
digestion. Yet, once in a while, as a special luxury, the
Mistress had been wont to give him a solitary lump of sugar.
Since his arrival in France, the dog had never seen nor scented
such a thing until now. Yet he did not jump for the gift. He did
not try to snatch it from Vivier. Instead, he waited until the
old Frenchman held it closer toward him, with the invitation:
"Take it, mon vieux! It is for you."
Then and then only did Bruce reach daintily forward and grip the
grimy bit of sugar between his mighty jaws. Vivier stroked the
collie's head while Bruce wagged his tail and munched the sugar
and blinked gratefully up at the donor. Mahan looked on,
enviously. "A dog's got forty-two teeth, instead of the thirty-
two that us humans have to chew on," observed the Sergeant. "A
vet' told me that once. And sugar is bad for all forty-two of
'em. Maybe you didn't know that, Monsoo Vivier? Likely, at this
rate, we'll have to chip in before long and buy poor Brucie a
double set of false teeth. Just because you've put his real ones
out of business with lumps of sugar!"
Vivier looked genuinely concerned at this grim forecast. Bruce
wandered across to the place where the donor of the soup-bone
brandished his offering. Other men, too, were crowding around
with gifts.
Between petting and feeding, the collie spent a busy hour among
his comrades-at-arms. He was to stay with the "Here-We-Comes"
until the following day, and then carry back to headquarters a
reconnaissance report.
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|