第23章

WhereGrisnezwinksatDungenessAcrosstheruffledstripofsalt，Youlook，andliketheprospectless。

Onmenandgunswouldyoulaystress，TobidtheIsland’sfoemenhalt。

WhileloudtheYearisraisingcryAtbirthtoknowifitmustbearInhistorythebloodydye，AnEnglishheart，asoldier’seye，Fortheoldcountryfirstwillcare。

Andhowstandsshe，artillerist，Amongthevapourswangdense，Withcannoncharged？’Tishist!andhist!

Andnowshescrewsagoutyfist，Andnowshecountstoclutchherpence。

Withshudderschillasaconite，ThecouchantchewerofthecudWillstartattimesinpussyfrightBeforethedogs，whenreadsherspriteThestreakspredictingstreamsofblood。

Shethinkstheymaymeansomething；thinksTheymaymeannothing：haplyboth。

Wheredarknessallherdaylightdrinks，Shefainwouldfindaleaderlynx，Nottoomuchtangmentalsloth。

Cleftlikethefatedhouseintwain，Onehalfis，Arm!andone，Retrench!

Gambetta’swordondullMacMahon：

’Thecowthatseesapassingtrain’：

SospiessheRussian，German，French。

She？no，herweakness：sheunbracedAmongthoseathletesfrontingstorms!

Themuscleslessofsteelthanpaste，Why，theyofnaturefeeldistasteForflash，muchmoreforpush，ofarms。

Thepoetsings，andwellknowwe，That’irondrawsmenafterit。’

ButtoweringwealthmayseemthetreeWhichbearsthefruitINDEMNITY，Anddrawasfastasbattle’sfit，X

Iffeeblebethehandonguard，Alas，alas!AndnationsareStillthemadforces，thoughthescarred。

ShouldtheyoncedeemouremblemPardWaggeroftailforallsavewar；-

MechanicallyscrewedtoflailHisflanksbyPressesconjuringfear；-

Amoney-bagwithheadandtail；-

Toolatemayvalourthenavail!

Asyoubeheld，mycannonier，X

WhenwiththestaffofBenedek，OntheplateauofKoniggratz，Yousawbelowthatwedgeingspeck；

ForesawproudAustriarammedtowreck，WhereChlumdrovedeepinsmokyjets。

February1887。

Strikenotthydogwithastick!

Ididityesterday：

NottoundothoughIgainedTheParadise：heavyitrainedOnKobold’sflanks，andhelay。

LittleBruno，ourlong-earpup，Fromhishunthadcomebacktomyheel。

Iheardasharpworryingsound，AndBrunofoamedontheground，WithKobyasmakingameal。

IdidwhatIcouldnotundoWerethegatesoftheParadiseshutBehindme：Ideemeditwasjust。

IleftKobycrouchedinthedust，Someyardsfromthewoodman’shut。

Hebewhimperedhiswelting，andI

Scarcethoughtitenoughforhim：so，Bydegrees，throughtheupperbox-grove，Withinmeanoldstoryhove，Ofamanandadog：youshallknow。

Thedogwasofnovelbreed，TheShannonretriever，untried：

Hismaster，anoldIrishlord，InanoakenarmchairsnoredAtmidnight，whiskybeside。

Perchedupadesolatetower，Wheretheblackstorm-windwasawhipTosetitnighspinning，thesetwoWerealone，likethelastofacrew，Outworninawave-beatenship。

Thedogliftedmuzzle，andsniffed；

Hequittedhiscouchontherug，Nosetofloor，nosealoft；whined，barked；

And，findingthesignalsunmarked，Caughtahandinadeath-grappletug。

HepulledtillhismasterjumpedForfuryofwrath，andlaidonWiththelengthofatoughknottedstaff，Fittodrethelifeflyinglikechaff，Andleaveasheercarcaseanon。

Thatdone，hesat，panted，andcursedThelecrossofthisbrute：nevermoreWouldhehouseittorearsuchacur!

Thedogdraggedhislegs，painedtostir，Eyedhismaster，dropped，barkedatthedoor。