Naturally Eugenia was angry. This objectionable dog appeared designed by fate to be a nuisance to her. Yet she was unable to make up her mind what to do. She could tear herself away again with another disastrous result to her clothing; besides, the dog would doubtless seize hold on her again. And to struggle with the enormous creature could only bring misfortune upon herself, since there was no doubt of Duke’s determination.
So for twenty yards or more Eugenia moved along without further protest, then she concluded to call and summon some one to her assistance. No one chanced to be in sight, but there were, of course, several of the hospital workers not far away, so that in case Duke turned dangerous a shot would quickly put an end to him.
With this thought in mind Eugenia again looked at the dog. He was such a magnificent creature it would be a tragedy to kill him. Besides, was she not so sick at heart at all the unnecessary waste of death that she would not voluntarily destroy the tiniest spark of life?
Something of this feeling must have at this instant communicated itself to Duke’s intelligence, for suddenly and of his own accord he released Eugenia’s dress. But instead of leaving her he walked on a few steps further, stopped, turned around again and made a second appeal and then went slowly on a few feet more.
Afterwards Eugenia decided that she must have been abnormally dull at this time. But then her attention had been so concentrated upon the hope of Barbara’s and Nona’s immediate return. For it was not until Duke had made his third demand that his purpose finally occurred to her. Of course, he wished her to go with him to find some lost place or person.
Eugenia never considered the possible distance that she might be expected to travel, for all at once she seemed curiously under the domination of the dog’s desire. For she straightway put her hand reassuringly upon Duke’s collar.
“It is all right, old fellow, I understand at last and will come along with you,” she said aloud.
Then in a perfectly matter-of-fact fashion Eugenia moved along by the dog’s side. Soon after she knew that he was leading her in the direction of the French trenches which were directly within the firing line. However, it did not strike her that she was facing any greater peril than she and the field hospital staff had been enduring all day. For one grows accustomed to war’s horrors as well as to most other things.
Nevertheless, Eugenia flinched many times as the dog led the way, walking now and then beside men’s bodies that did not stir either at their approach or after their passing. Yet Red Cross nurses must learn a certain amount of stoicism to be of real value in their work.
Once or twice Eugenia wondered if she could possibly manage to finish the task Duke required of her in time to leave with the last of the field hospital staff, yet it was odd how secondary this idea became.