e'd need it again."

Horatio put out his paw for it. The boy gave it to him and he ran the
bow gently over the strings.

"Sing, Bo," he pleaded. "Sing that song about jasmine and cypress and
climbing roses. It will soothe me. Sing about girls, too, if you want
to, but leave out the oranges, Bo, and put in something else besides
honey in the last line."

"Ratio," said Bo, "you've got a touch of the swamp fever. Let me see
your tongue!"

CHAPTER IX

IN JAIL AT LAST

"Oh, the sky is blue and the sun is high,
And the days roll 'round, and the weeks go by----"

"BO," interrupted Horatio, softly; "what's that over there on the bank
that looks like a man all in a wad?"

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 oth