"All right! Fire away! I couldn't get any further anyhow."
"Well," said Bo, "I want to know how you ever learned to play the fiddle."
Horatio did not reply at first, but closed his eyes reflectively and drew the bow across the string softly.
"Oh, raddy daddy dum—daddy dum—dum—dum—-
"I took a course of lessons," he said, presently, "but it is a long story, and some of it is not pleasant. I think we had better go on with the music now:—
"Oh, there was a little boy and his name was Bo,
Went out into the woods when the moon was low,
And he met an Old Bear who was hungry for a snack,
And his folks are still awaiting for Bosephus to come back."
"Go right on with the rest of it," said Bo, hastily.
"For the boy became the teacher of this kind and gentle creature,
Who can play upon the fiddle in a very skilful way."
"But I say, Ratio," interrupted Bo again, "how did it come you never learned to play the second part of that tune?"
Horatio scowled fiercely at first, and then once more grew quite pensive. He played listlessly as he replied:—