rifle , the german shepherd her parents had given her for christmas , was only two years old , but he was the smartest animal she 'd ever known , certainly savvy enough not to make a racket in the middle of the night without reason . two hundred and fifty men were forced to cram themselves into that dark and stinking little chapel . `` but i think you might be right about the fever . the doctor does n't ask about your heart-he listens to it . that 's all there is to it , boy . 