BRUNO 31 



Deep was our surprise next morning to find 

 that a band of thieves had raided the town 

 during the night, and that the houses on both 

 sides of us had been entered! How we petted 

 and praised Bruno, our defender! He was 

 quite unconcerned, though, and seemed as if he 

 would say to us, 



"Oh, that was nothing. I only barked and 

 made a racket! ' 



Truly, it was only necessary for him to bark 

 and make a racket. There was never any occa- 

 sion for him to go further. His voice was so 

 loud and deep it always conveyed the impres- 

 sion of a dog as big as a house, one that 

 could swallow a man at one mouthful without 

 winking. 



People were always ready to take the hint 

 when he gave voice to his emotions. They 

 never undertook to argue with him. 



After that night we never slept with such 

 comfortable feelings of perfect security as we 

 felt at those times when we were half aroused 

 by Bruno's barks and growls. 



For a while the days passed uneventfully in 

 our little home. Julius and I were interested 

 in beautifying and improving our grounds, so 

 time never dragged with us. Rebecca rejoiced 



