the bombing of hitherto unlocated trenches or detachment-camps.
For this and divers other reasons, the first lesson taught to
arriving wardogs was to abstain from barking.

The dogs were divided, roughly, by breeds, as regarded the line
of training assigned to them. The collies were taught courier-
work. The Airedales, too,--hideous, cruel, snake-headed,--were
used as couriers, as well as to bear Red Cross supplies and to
hunt for the wounded. The gaunt and wolflike police dogs were
pressed into the two latter tasks, and were taught listening-post
duty. And so on through all available breeds,--including the
stolidly wise Old English sheepdogs who were to prove invaluable
in finding and succoring and reporting the wounded,--down to the
humble terriers and mongrels who were taught to rid trenches of
vermin.

Everywhere was quiet efficiency and tirelessly patient and
skillful work on the part of the trainers. For Britain's best dog
men had been recruited for service here. On the perfection of
their charges' training might depend the fate of many thousand
gallant soldiers. Wherefore, the training was perfect.

Hundreds of dogs proved stupid or unreliable or gun-shy or too
easily confused in moments of stress. These were weeded out,
continually, and shipped back to the masters who had proffered
them.

Others developed with amazing speed and cleverness, grasping
their profession as could few human soldiers. And Bruce, lonely
and heartsore, yet throwing himself into his labors with all the