They're landing, too, and we can go right
aboard."

The groaning ceased and there was a labored movement among the briars.

Presently Horatio crept out, very much crestfallen, and picked up the
violin, which in his haste he had dropped.

"Bo," he said, sheepishly, "I never told you about it before, but I am
subject to fits. I had one just then. They come on suddenly that way.
All my family have them and act strangely at times. I'm sure you don't
think for a moment that I was frightened just now."

[Illustration: HE FELL HEADLONG.]

"Oh, no, of course not. You merely picked out that briar patch as a good
place to have a fit in. Do you always think the world's coming to an
end when you are taken that way?"

"We'll go right aboard, Bo; you are a little timid, no doubt, so I'll
lead the way." And Horatio stepped out briskly toward the lights and
voices and the landing steamer.

A few steps brought them out to the river bank and a full view of the
boat that had crept silently around a bend to the woodyard, where it was
halting to take on fuel. The gang plank had not been pushed out to the
bank as yet, but a white ray of light shot from a small window to the
dark shore and looked exactly like a narrow board. The boy and the Bear
were both deceived by it, and Horatio in his eagerness to show his
bravery did not pause to investigate.

"Take the fiddle, Bo," he said, loftily, "and I'll show you how to get
on a boat. You should always be brave, Bosephus."

Bosephus took the instrument and Horatio, with arms extended as a
balance, stepped straight out into nothing and vanished. There was a
sudden splash, a growl, a scrambling sound in the shallow water and
Horatio's head appeared above the bank. Bosephus, at first frightened,
was now doubled with laughter.

"Oh, Ratio," he gasped, "how funny of you to try to walk on a moonbeam!"

Horatio shook himself and sniffed angrily. A wide gang plank was now
being lowered from the boat, and as it touched the bank the boy stepped
quickly aboard, followed by the wet, shambling Bear.

"Oh, there was an Old Bear on a dark, dark night,
Who tried to walk on a beam of light,"

sang Bo, as he crossed the plank,

"But the beam wouldn't hold and the Bear broke through,
And now Horatio follows, as Horatio ought to do."

"Hello!" called a voice. "Where did you come from?"

Bo looked up and saw a brawny man with a group of wondering negroes
behind him.

"We are trav