"Well, not exactly, but yesterday where we performed I heard a fellow say that there was a river right close here, and steamboats. You wouldn't mind a steamboat, would you, Ratio?"
"Of course not. 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."