Slowly the big door swung open and Brother Antoine stood looking with puzzled eyes at a St. Bernard dog that he did not know.  But Jan had not forgotten.  He reared on his hind legs and let his front paws drop lightly on the shoulders of the monk.  Their eyes were level, and as the dog looked at the monk, Brother Antoine called out, “Why!  It is Jan—­Prince Jan—­come back to us!”

“Woof!  Woof!” Jan’s voice brought other monks hastily to the door, where Brother Antoine stood patting the big, strange dog that stood with bright shining eyes, looking from one to the other, while his fluffy tail bobbed and wagged furiously.

As they stood talking and wondering how he came there, the doctor and the captain, with the muleteer, came in sight.  So the mystery was fully understood.

Inside the Hospice, the monks gathered around to listen to the story of the adventures of Prince Jan since that time when he had been led down the trail to a Land of No Snow.  His silver collar was examined and admired, and Jan knew they were all glad that he had come back home.

It was Brother Antoine, though, who said, “Come with me, Prince Jan.”

The big dog followed at once.  Through the corridors of the Hospice, down a few steps, he went swiftly to the basement, under high archways, and through the open entrance that led into the kennel yard.  And then, Jan stood once more in the home of his ancestors, and saw again his own kin.

Panting with excitement, he ran among them all and looked eagerly around.  Many of the dogs were strangers to him, but when he saw old Bruno limping slowly across to where he stood, Jan’s yelp made the other dogs start, and as he reached Bruno’s side and showed that he had not forgotten, Bruno’s joy was just as plain.  Two tawny streaks flashed up to Jan, sniffed, and then yelped and yelped in wildest excitement; and this time Jan’s voice mingled with his mother’s and Rollo’s, while the other dogs joined until the white mountains sent back the call of the Hospice dogs.

Brother Antoine, smiling happily, patted Jan and left him with the other dogs.  But later in the day he returned and bade Jan follow.  They went into the Big Room where the captain and the doctor were talking with several travellers and two more monks.  They watched the dog move to the side of the old man; then Brother Antoine unfastened the silver collar from Jan’s neck and hung it over the fireplace beside the big painting of the St. Bernard dog rescuing a man from the snow.

“It shall hang there so that all who come to the Hospice may see it and hear the story of Prince Jan,” said Brother Antoine.

Every one praised Jan, and he then went back to the kennel, where he was quickly surrounded by the other dogs.  It was a great day for the St. Bernards, and they were very proud of Jan when he told them the story of his adventures in the strange land where there was never any snow.