_Wherein we learn a lesson of a dog’s faithfulness and a man’s
carelessness._
Bruno was a dog who belonged to a kind man. He was a large handsome
dog who had been devoted to his master for many years, and always
went with him to town.
Bruno had been raised with his master’s children and had played
with them when he was a puppy. Now that he was a big dog he took
especial care to see that nothing happened to them.
One day his master sold some land and received for it a large bag
of gold money. He knew he must take it to the city immediately
in order to put it in the bank. The journey to the city was long
and tiresome, and had to be made on horseback. The master put the
gold in his saddle-bags and slung them across his horse. Calling
Bruno to go with him he set out on his long journey. On the way he
told Bruno that he wished him to take care of the bags, so as they
started along the dog kept his eyes on the saddle-bags to see that
they did not fall off or get lost.
The day was hot and the way was dusty; so when they came to a cool
spot in the woods the master got down to take a nap, using his
saddle-bags for a pillow. He soon fell asleep with Bruno keeping
watch by his side.
Presently the master was awakened by the dog’s bark. He saw that
the sun was low and the shadows long. He knew that he had been
asleep a long time, and that if he did not hurry the bank would
be closed before he got there. He jumped to his horse and set off
at a gallop. Then he saw that Bruno was acting very strangely. He
jumped and barked at the horse’s feet, and once he jumped up so
high it seemed as if he was trying to bite his master on the leg.
The master was puzzled and thought perhaps his dog had gone mad.
Presently he saw a little brook in the distance. He said to himself
that if Bruno refused to go into the brook he must have gone mad,
because a mad dog will never go in or near water.
The horse splashed through the water but Bruno remained on the
other side and barked and barked. The master called, and for the
first time, Bruno did not obey. The man was convinced that he was
mad, and so he took out his pistol and shot his faithful dog.
Poor Bruno’s leg was broken, but he turned and crawled back the way
he had come. The master rode on for awhile and then he missed his
saddle-bags that held his money. He turned his horse’s head and
galloped back as fast as he could to the place he had laid down to
rest. And what do you think he found there? Bruno had crawled back
to die with his head on the bag of forgotten gold. He was faithful
to the last.