The Arkansaw Bear Part 15

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE POOR BEAR GAVE WAY COMPLETELY.]

The Bear was already by his side, and a moment later with the cub stepped out into the night. Then Bosephus heard low growls followed by a strange commotion, which he at first took to be the sound of fighting.

Suddenly Horatio ran to him in great excitement.

"Bo, Bo!" he exclaimed, "it's my family! and, oh, Bosephus, it's Cub's family, too! We're really brothers, and we didn't know it!" Then he ran back into the dark and presently returned with the cub and the seven other bears, following. The newcomers stared and blinked at the little boy as they entered the lighted cabin and then withdrew to a darker corner, where they sat silently regarding everything that pa.s.sed, like strangers from the country. The cub sat with them and whispered softly, in the bear tongue, and Horatio now and then went over, too, and no doubt told them marvellous tales of his strange adventures. Late that night all lay down to sleep--the little boy in the arms of his faithful friend.

And so the Bear Colony had begun, even sooner than Bo and Ratio had expected, and they had given up all notion of travelling any further.

The lumber camp was deserted for good by the woodcutters, for the largest trees had been cut out and taken away long before. The cabin was headquarters--Bosephus was president, Horatio prime minister, and the cub, because of his adventures and slight educational advancement, was chief a.s.sistant. Early spring was upon the land, and the woods were beginning to be sweet with song and blossom. Bosephus was almost afraid at first that, with the native woods and the renewal of home ties, Horatio might return more or less to his savage instincts, but he became gentler and more docile than ever. His place as prime minister and chief instructor made him realize his advancement and the importance of good behavior. He was grave and dignified, and about the fire in the evening, played the violin with an air of skill and superiority that was very impressive. Bosephus at first enjoyed it all immensely. The bears were obedient and submissive, and were gradually learning to understand his language. He had more money than he would ever need and was lord of all he surveyed.

But gradually there came a change. He grew tired of seeing only the black faces and shining eyes of his subjects and of hearing only the singing of bees and birds. At first he did not realize what was the matter. Then it came to him at last that this life of the forest was palling upon him and that, like the cub, he yearned for his own kind--the faces of men.

One morning he divided up the money into two equal parts and slipped out to where Horatio was sunning himself and playing softly before the cabin.

"Horatio," he said, tenderly, "I have divided up the money. Here is your half. You have been the best friend I ever had and it breaks my heart to leave you, but I can't live away from my own race any longer. I am going back to Louisiana, to the planter who told me to come back and he would send me to school and college and make a man of me," and then the little boy suddenly broke down and fell weeping into his companion's arms.

For some moments Horatio could not speak. Then he spoke, sobbing between every word.

"Bo--Bo--you--you're--not--not going to--to leave me! Oh, Bo!" and the poor Bear gave way completely and wept on the little boy's shoulder.

They were all alone, as the others had gone out together for a walk. At last Horatio put the boy gently from him and took up his violin. He began to play very softly and sang in a breaking voice:--

"Oh, he's going away to leave me to the Lou'siana sh.o.r.e, And I'll never see my darling, my Bosephus, any more; He's divided up the money, and he's going far away, And my poor old heart is breaking but he--will--not--stay.

We have battled with the weather--we have faced the world together-- Never caring why or whether--never minding when or where-- But he says we now must sever--happy days are done forever, For Bosephus and the fiddle and the Old--Black--Bear!"

[Ill.u.s.tration: FELL WEEPING INTO HIS COMPANION'S ARMS.]

An hour later Bo was wending his way southward through the sweet spring woods alone. In his inner breast pocket was stored every dollar the friends had earned together.

"I will never need it now, Bo," Horatio had said at parting, "and you will need a great many times as much. Take it and sometimes think of your far off faithful Ratio." And then, after one long embrace, they had parted. And now the little boy was trying to keep up courage to carry out what he had undertaken. At every turn in the path he was tempted to return and throw himself in Horatio's arms. But he pressed on, hoping to arrive at some sort of habitation for the night, which he did not like to pa.s.s alone in the woods.

"Poor old Ratio," he thought. "He will be happier with his own people after a while. And perhaps he will really civilize them." He turned and cast one long look in the direction of the colony which he could no longer see. Then facing about again he hurried forward. About a mile further on he paused at a little brook for a drink. He was bending over the water when he heard a sudden crashing in the bushes behind him. He started up instantly and seized a heavy stick that lay close at hand.

Nearer and nearer came the tearing through the brush, like some heavy animal in fierce chase. The boy stepped out of the path to let the creature pa.s.s, and then, all at once, he gave a cry of joy and surprise.

Headlong out of the bushes, stumbling and rolling at his feet, with tears streaming from his eyes and violin under his arm, was Horatio.

"Bo, Bo!" he cried. "I couldn't stand it. I'm going with you. That kind planter will give me a place to stay, I know, and maybe if he sends you to college he'll let me go, too. I could play for the college boys, Bo, and help pay your way. Don't send me back, Bo! Don't send me back!"

Bo embraced him silently.

"Why, of course not, Ratio," he said at last, "but I thought you wanted to have a colony of your own people."

"I did, Bo, but I have turned it over to Cub. He can take care of it.

Like you, Bo, I have been civilized too long to live away from men! And, besides, Bo, you need me to protect you." Horatio recovered his dignity at this point and continued, gravely, "You are brave and n.o.ble, Bosephus, but you need some one near you who is ever ready to face any danger. Let us sing now, Bosephus, as we travel onward."

And with a joyful sc.r.a.pe of the strings and a sweet burst of melody the friends set their faces once more to the South.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Music]

"Oh, there was a little boy and his name was Bo, Went out into the woods when the moon was low.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Music]

And he met an Old Bear who was hungry for a snack, And the folks are still waiting for Bosephus to come back.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Music]

"For the boy became the teacher of this kind and gentle creature, Who was faithful in his friendship and was watchful in his care,

[Ill.u.s.tration: Music]

And they travelled on forever and they'll never, never sever, Bosephus and the fiddle and the Old--Black--Bear."

[Ill.u.s.tration: "And they traveled on forever"]