The loaded dog

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Australian literature, Henry Lawson (17 June 1867 – 2 September 1922) was an Australian writer and poet. Along with his contemporary Banjo Paterson, Lawson is among the best-known Australian poets and fiction writers of the colonial period and is often called Australia's "greatest writer". 


He was the son of the poet, publisher and feminist Louisa Lawson.


By far one of his funniest pieces, imho, was the "The Loaded Dog". It is a humorous short story. The plot concerns three gold miners and their dog, and the farcical consequences of leaving a bomb cartridge unattended. The story was first published in the collection Joe Wilson and His Mates in 1901.


Here is the synopsis:
Three gold miners named Dave Regan, Jim Bently, and Andy Page are sinking a shaft at Stony Creek. The trio own a young retriever dog named Tommy, described as "an overgrown pup... a big foolish, four-footed mate." Andy and Dave, fishing enthusiasts, devise a unique method of catching fish using explosives. The dog picks up an explosive cartridge in its mouth, and runs the fuse through the campfire, prompting the three men to flee. 


It is a "Mark Twain-style" piece of work. Here is the hotlink to the story: The loaded dog