Amos finally seemed to comprehend what was wanted, and that he was not to be made a victim of violence. With a satisfied grin, he once more tucked the end of the old fiddle under his square chin, and began to draw the bow squeakingly across the taut strings, presently starting off upon the desired tune.
And when he jumped from the first to the second part it was simply amazing to watch the manner of the greasy old game poacher.
His face lighted up with ecstacy, his hand twitched, as if drawing the bow back and forth, the fingers of the other worked convulsively as if engaged in touching the strings, while even his moccasined feet started to tread a measure—so great is the power of music over the human soul.
Teddy wondered what effect this new peculiar incident might have upon the relations existing between Amos and his captors.
Would Crawley allow his gratitude to the boy to interfere with the scheme which he and Big Gabe were endeavoring to put through?
Remembering that Gabe would have to be reckoned with in the matter, and that no love of music was apt to sway him from the course he had mapped out, Teddy felt very doubtful on this score.
Crawley would not let the boy stop playing when he reached the end of the tune.
“Play her some more, boy, play her frequent-like! I’ve been awaitin’ ter git thet same chune complete so long now, seems like I never could hear it enuff. It’s great, that’s what, ain’t it, Sallie, girl? Don’t yer feel glad now to see yer ole dad lookin’ so happy like? Play on, Amos, play right along! Don’t ye dar’ stop—it’d be nigh as much as yer life was wuth to disapp’int me now.”
And Amos played, with a humorous look on his face, and perhaps a sly wink in the direction of the girl, who had resumed her former rapt pose, with her chin buried deep in the cup of her hand.
Crawley could not have been drinking, at least to excess, so it was not liquor that influenced him; but as the music proceeded, his feet began to move in unison, and his arms took to swinging. Almost before Teddy realized it, the bulky form of the trapper was gyrating around the room; he was so wrought up that he could not keep still.