Part 11 (1/2)
The little boy was singing along through the sweet Louisiana afternoon, putting into his song whatever came into his head:--
”And I turn, and I look, and what do I see?
Someone's left his bundle by a live oak tree.”
”What do you suppose is in that bundle, Bo?” asked the Bear, anxiously.
”Oh, I don't know. Old clothes, from the looks of it. The owner isn't far off.
”When a coat and vest and hat, and pair of trousers you espy, You can bet your bottom dollar there's a man close by.”
Horatio looked in every direction. Then he walked over to the clothes.
”Why,” said Bo, following; ”I guess somebody's taking a swim. Come on, Ratio. Remember the honey and the oranges.”
But the Bear was curious. He picked up the hat and set it on his head.
Bo laughed lazily. Then Horatio laid down his violin and slipped one arm into the waistcoat, trying vainly to reach with the other. Bo good-naturedly helped him. The little boy felt in the humor for fun, and Horatio looked too comical.
”Better not put on the coat,” said Bo. ”It might not be big enough and if you tore it the owner would make us pay for it.”
But Horatio was excited.
”Hurry, Bo! Help me on with it. How do I look, Bo? I think I'll dress this way all the time, hereafter. Is my hat becoming, Bo?”
”Oh, there was an Old Bear in a hat and a coat,”
sang Bo, but he got no further, for suddenly close by there was a loud yell, and without pausing to look behind Horatio made a wild dash in the other direction, followed by the little boy. Glancing back as they ran, Bo saw that they were pursued by a tall white man. He had paused only a second to slip on his boots and trousers, and was coming after them full speed. In one hand he carried a revolver, in the other Horatio's violin.
”Shed 'em!” he shouted. ”Shed them clothes or I'll shoot!”
”Shed 'em!” echoed Bo. ”Shed 'em, Horatio!”
The bear slipped off the coat and flung it behind him.
”Shed 'em!” shouted the man again, and the waistcoat followed.
”I won't give up the hat, Bo!” panted Horatio.
[Ill.u.s.tration: ”HOW DO I LOOK, BO?”]
But Horatio was mistaken, for at that instant the world beneath his feet suddenly opened and he disappeared. Before the boy could check himself he plunged after the Bear and was struggling in the deep waters of a bayou that came to a level with the bank and was covered thickly and concealed by fallen leaves. Rising to the surface he found Horatio clinging to a fallen tree and the man, who had now overtaken them, holding out a limb, which the little boy gladly seized. The hat had been already rescued.
”Well, you're a nice pair!” said their captor. ”To run away with a man's clothes and then go headlong into the bayou and get his hat all wet! I'm glad you didn't have that fiddle, or you'd a-ruined it. I've bin wantin'
a good fiddle a long time, an' this here looks like a good one. Come out o' that, now, an' we'll take a walk up toward the jail. I happen to be constable of this here community.”
Bo groaned as he was dragged to sh.o.r.e. He did not mind the wetting, for the weather was warm, but now they had lost the violin and would be taken to jail. Of course they would lose all their money. Perhaps Horatio would be killed. The Bear only blinked and shook himself when he had been also towed to the bank and had scrambled out.
”I hope you won't take us to jail, sir,” said Bo. ”My Bear was mischievous, but he didn't mean any harm, and I have a little money I'll give you if you'll return us the violin and let us go.”
”You come along with me!” answered the man, sternly. ”It'll take more money than you've got to pay your fine, an' as fer that chap, we don't want no bears roamin' loose aroun' here. March on ahead there, an' don't try none o' your tricks.”