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he turned end for end, and before I had withdrawn 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. 
