Horatio drew the horsehair briskly across the strings and looked up at the moon.
"Fat enough to be entertaining," he grinned, and began singing:—
"Oh, there was an old man and his ways were mighty mean,
And he wasn't very fat and he wasn't very lean,
Till he went to pay a visit to a colony of bears,
Then you couldn't find a nicer man than he was, anywheres."
While the Bear played the little boy had been watching a slim, moving shadow that seemed to have drifted out from among the heavier shadows into the half-lit open space in front of them. As the music ceased it drifted back again.
"Play some more, Ratio," he whispered.
Again the Bear played and again the slim shadow appeared in the moonlight and presently another and another. Some of them were slender and graceful; some of them heavier and slower of movement. As the music continued they swung into a half circle and drew closer. Now and then the boy caught a glimpse of two shining sparks that kept time and movement with each. He could hardly breathe in his excitement.
"Look there, Ratio," he whispered.
"Sh-h!" he said softly. "My friends—the forest people."
The Bear slackened the music a little as he spoke and the shadows wavered and drew away. Then he livened the strain and they trooped forward again eagerly.