This sport being over, one of the men brought out an old fiddle and got it into tune. Several pieces were played, and then Frank suggested to Forest that Diamond be given a chance to play something on the instrument.
At Fred’s suggestion, the fiddle was handed over to Jack. The Virginian put the instrument into as perfect tune as possible, and then proceeded to play the “Last Rose of Summer.” Jack was an artist with the violin, and never before had such sweet sounds been drawn from that old instrument. The men were silent now, listening with hushed breathing to the melody. When it was finished all seemed to give a sigh of mingled regret and relief.
“Give us ‘Ben Bolt,’” urged a man.
Jack complied, and the fiddle actually seemed to sing the words of the pathetic and beautiful song. The eyes of more than one rough man were misty.
Immediately Diamond struck into a lively jig, and, out into the middle of the floor jumped the cookee, who began to “spank her down” in a manner that brought cries of applause and delight from the men. Faster and faster went the bow over the strings and faster and faster flew the feet of the dancer, while the men clapped their hands and stamped their feet.
“Good boy!”
“Whoop ’er up!”
“Hooray!”
“That’s the stuff!”
“Wake up, snakes!”