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.