Page:A Gentleman From France (1924).djvu/194

 lar, the Airedale galloped briskly across the open field towards the woods.

But almost immediately the sharpshooters in the tall trees to the east and the west saw him and divined that he was going back for help and the bullets began spitting all about him until the spurts of sand looked like rain falling upon the surface of a placid lake. Then they opened up with two rapid-fire guns and the captain groaned aloud. "The poor little chap, the poor little chap, they will get him before he even reaches the woods."

But worse things were still to come, for from away back in the woods somewhere a great shell mounted high in air, making a beautiful curve, and fell in the open field within fifty feet of Pierre.

The dog stopped and looked at it uncertain, and then back at the captain. He