We had given him away without his consent, and he refused to be given; so the trade was off. He stayed closely at home now, seeming to think we might disappear again if he did not watch us. CHAPTER V Unless there were guests in the house, we usually slept with all the inner doors wide open for better circulation of air. One night we were awakened by tremendous barkings and growlings from Bruno. Julius spoke to him, and he answered with a whine. Then we could hear his feet pad-padding on the carpet as he went from our room, tap-tapping on the oil-cloth in the hall, pad-padding again through the sitting-room and the dining-room, then tap-tapping on the painted kitchen floor, with more loud barks and deep growls. Julius tried again to quiet him, but he refused to be quieted. "Something disturbs him," I said. "Maybe we'd better let him out." "No," said Julius, "it is probably that wretched Leo lurking around, trying to toll him off. He's better inside." I did not think he would seem so fierce if it were Leo, but I was too sleepy to argue; so we dozed off, leaving him still on the alert. 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 occasion for him to go further. His voice was so loud and deep it always conveyed the impression 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 in several successive sets of kittens. They and Bruno frolicked through the days, with exciting interruptions in the shape of the milkman's calls, Julius's returns from the office, and occasional visits from the neighbors' children. For greater convenience we always spoke collectively of Bruno, Rebecca and her kits, as "the cattle."