58 BRUNO 



One moonlight night we three had walked 

 over to the post-office for the mail. As Julius 

 and I were slowly sauntering homeward, enjoy- 

 ing the night air, while Bruno made little excur- 

 sions in all directions, he suddenly came up in 

 front of us, and paused in that questioning way 

 which showed he had found something of which 

 he was not quite sure. 



"What is it, Boonie?' asked Julius. 



Bruno made a short run, then came back, 

 pausing as before, and glancing first in the 

 direction he had started to go, then at Julius. 



"It is probably a 'possum," I suggested. 



Bruno had shown himself to be very careful 

 about attacking strange animals. He seemed 

 to remember our adventure with the hens, his 

 first meeting with Rebecca, and some of his 

 other experiences. 



Julius answered his evident question with, 



" Yes. It 's Boonie's 'possum. Go get him ! ' 



Off he sprang, dashing into a little clump of 

 trees, about a bow-shot from us, then with a 

 yelp retreated, throwing himself on the ground, 

 uttering short cries, rubbing and rooting his 

 nose down into the grass and sand. Alas, poor 

 Bruno! We knew what it was. We did not 

 see it, we did not hear it, but we knew. He 



