I don't mind anything. I've always wanted to ride on one
of those trains, only I knew the people would be frightened at me, and
as for a steamboat, why, if I should meet a steamboat coming down the
road--"

"But steamboats don't come down the roads, Ratio; they go on the water."

"Water! Water that you drink, and drown things in?"

"Of course! And if the boat goes down we'll be drowned, too."

Horatio struck a few notes on the violin before replying.

"Bo," he said presently, "you're a friend of mine, aren't you? A true
friend?"

"Yes, Ratio, you know I am."

"Well, then, don't you go on one of those boats. It would grieve me
terribly if anything should happen to you. I might not be able to save
you, Bo, and then think how lonely I should be." And Horatio put one paw
to his eyes and sobbed.

"Oh, pshaw, Ratio! Why, I can swim like everything. I'm not afraid."

"But you couldn't save us both, Bo--I mean, we both couldn't save the
fiddle--it would get wet. Think--think of the fiddle, Bo!"

The fire was burning brightly by this time and the little boy was
getting warm. He laughed and rubbed his hands and began to sing:--

"Oh, we're going down the river on a great big boat,
And Horatio's so excited he can hardly play a note,
For he never liked the water and he never learned to swim,
And he thinks if he goes sailing now his chances will be slim."

Horatio stopped short and snorted angrily.

"I want you to understand," he said, sharply, "that I'm not afraid of
anything. You'll please remember that night when the forest people
danced and you thought your time had come, how I saved you by making you
sing. There's nothing I fear. Why if--"

But what Horatio was about to say will never be known, for at that
moment there came such a frightful noise as neither of them had ever
heard before. It came from everywhere at once, and seemed to fill all
the sky and set the earth to trembling. It was followed by two or three
fierce snorts and a dazzling gleam of light through the trees. The
little boy was startled, and as for the Bear, he gave one wild look and
fled. In his fright he did not notice a small shrub, and, tripping over
it, he fell headlong into a clump of briars, where he lay, groaning
dismally that he was killed and that the world was coming to an end.

Suddenly Bosephus gave a shout of laughter.

"Get up, Ratio," he called, "it's our steamboat! We're right near the
river and didn't know it.