it; then
starting back with a cry of alarm, at a sudden loud barking, as of an
infuriated dog, at Calhoun's heels.

Bruno came bounding in with an answering bark; Calhoun thrusting his
hand into his pocket with purpose to summarily eject the pig, and at the
same time wheeling about to confront his canine antagonist, looked
utterly confounded at finding none there, while to add to his confusion
and perplexity, a bee seemed to be circling round his head, now buzzing
at one ear, now at the other.

He tried to dodge it, he put up his hand to drive it away, then wheeled
about a second time, as the furious bark was renewed in his rear but
turned pale and looked absolutely frightened at the discovery that the
dog was still invisible; then reddened again at perceiving that
everybody was laughing.

His cousin Elsie was trying to explain, but could not make herself heard
above the furious barking. She looked imploringly at Mr. Lilburn, and it
ceased on the instant.

Calhoun dropped into a chair and glanced inquiringly from one to
another.

His uncle answered him in a single word, "Ventriloquism."

"Sold!" exclaimed the youth, joining faintly in the mirth. "Strange
I did not think of that, though how could I suppose there was a
ventriloquist here?"

"An excellent one, is he not? You must hear what good service he did
last night," said Mr. Travilla, and went on to tell the story of the
attack and defense.

Elsie and Eddie listened to the account with keen interest. Vi, who had
been devoting herself in motherly fashion to a favorite doll, laid it
aside to hear what was said; but Harold was playing with Bruno, who
seemed hardly yet to have recovered from his wonder at not finding the
strange canine intruder who had so roused his ire.

Harold had climbed upon his back, and with his arms around his neck,
was talking to him in an undertone. "Now you's my horse, Bruno; let's go
ridin' like papa and Beppo."

The dog started toward the door. "With all my heart, little master;
which way shall we go?"

"Why, Bruno, you s'prise me! can you talk?" cried the little fellow in
great delight. "Why didn't you begin sooner? Mamma, oh mamma, did you
hear Bruno talk?"

Mamma smiled, and said gently, "Be quiet, son, while papa and the rest
are talking: or else take Bruno out to the veranda."

Cousin Ronald was amusing himself with the children. Vi's doll presently
began to cry and call upon her to be taken up, and she ran to it in
su