BRUNO IN BELMONT 83 



forgiven when it was explained how it had 

 happened. 



Although he was fond of sponge- and shower- 

 baths, he never could be persuaded to go into the 

 pond for a swim. He would run and play on the 

 shore, but he seemed unwilling even to put his feet 

 into the water. I forced him in one day, and the 

 result was somewhat disastrous. 



He was standing on a rock, looking down in- 

 tently into the water, watching a big fat pollywog 

 that was wriggling about just under his nose. 

 Silently I crept up behind him, and with a push 

 on his tail shoved him forward. Quick as a flash 

 he turned end for end, and before I had withdrawn 

 my hand he had bitten me on the thumb. In an 

 instant, hardly wet from the plunge, he was back 

 again on the grass, making for my ankle. As mad 

 as a hornet, he rushed at me. Three times I was 

 obliged to push him off with my feet, and the last 

 time I rolled him end over end. That seemed to 

 bring him to his senses. He played dead now, and 

 lay for a time very still on his side, narrowly watch- 

 ing me all the while from the corner of his eye. 



Luckily these bursts of temper never lasted more 

 than a few moments. Like a summer shower they 

 were soon over, and all was bright again; and he 

 never harbored any resentment for the many chas- 

 tisements I was obliged to give him. 



