Part 5 (1/2)
[Ill.u.s.tration: THEIR CAMP-FIRE HAD DIED DOWN.]
”I tell you, Bo,” he said excitedly, ”we've made a fine start. By and by we will earn two or three times that much every day, and be able to start our bear colony before you know it.”
The little boy fondled the coins over and over. They were the first he had ever earned.
”Ratio,” he said at last, ”don't you suppose when we get a lot of money--a big lot, I mean--we might give some to those people I used to live with?”
Horatio scowled.
”I thought you said they didn't treat you well and you had to run away.”
”Yes, of course, Ratio; but then they were so poor and maybe they'd have been better to me if I had been able to earn money for them. They did take me out of the poor house, you know, and--”
”And you tried to get back again and got lost and fell in with me. Now you are sorry and want to go to them, do you?” and the Bear snorted so fiercely that the little boy trembled.
”Oh, no! Not for the world! I never was so happy in all my life, only I just thought--”
”Then don't think, Bo,” interrupted Horatio, gently. ”You are only a little boy. I will do the thinking for this firm. Now for a song, Bo, to soothe us.”
So then they played and sang softly together while the moon rose and the fire died out, and the boy poured the money from hand to hand, lovingly.
”Bosephus,” said his companion, as they paused, ”were those people you lived with nice people? Nice fat people, I mean?”
”Not very. Old Mr. Sugget might have been pretty fat if he'd had more to eat, but Mis' Sugget wasn't made to get fat, I know. It wasn't her build.”
”It was the old man that abused you, wasn't it?”
”Well, mostly.”
”Knocked you about and half starved you?”
”Sometimes, but then----”
”Wait, please. I have an idea. When we get our bear colony started we'll invite this Sugget party to visit us. We'll feed him--all he can eat. By and by, when he gets fat--how long do you suppose it will take him to get fat, Bo? Fat enough, I mean?”
”Fat enough for what?” s.h.i.+vered Bo.
Horatio drew the horsehair briskly across the strings and looked up at the moon.
”Fat enough to be entertaining,” he grinned, and began singing:--
”Oh, there was an old man and his ways were mighty mean, And he wasn't very fat and he wasn't very lean, Till he went to pay a visit to a colony of bears, Then you couldn't find a nicer man than he was, anywheres.”
While the Bear played the little boy had been watching a slim, moving shadow that seemed to have drifted out from among the heavier shadows into the half-lit open s.p.a.ce in front of them. As the music ceased it drifted back again.
”Play some more, Ratio,” he whispered.
Again the Bear played and again the slim shadow appeared in the moonlight and presently another and another. Some of them were slender and graceful; some of them heavier and slower of movement. As the music continued they swung into a half circle and drew closer. Now and then the boy caught a glimpse of two s.h.i.+ning sparks that kept time and movement with each. He could hardly breathe in his excitement.