wung clear of the water and far out on the
bank, but the strain on their support was too great. There was a loud
cracking sound, and before they knew what had happened both were
struggling in the water.

"Help! Help!" howled Horatio. "I'm drowning!"

"Hold to the end of the log!" shouted Bo. "I'll swim ashore and tow you
in with the pole!"

He struck out as he spoke and in a few strokes was near enough to seize
some bushes that overhung the water. Suddenly he heard Horatio give
forth a scream so wild that he whirled about to look. Then he saw
something that made him turn cold. In a half circle, a few feet away
from where Horatio was clinging to the end of the broken log for dear
life, there had risen from the water a number of long, black, ugly
heads. A drove of alligators!

"Bo! Bo!" shrieked the wretched Bear. "They're after me! They'll eat me
alive--skin and all! Save me! Save me!"

The little boy swung himself to the shore and dashed up the bank. His
first thought had been to seize the fishing pole and with it to drag
Horatio to safety. But at that instant his eye fell on the violin. He
had learned to play very well himself during the last few weeks and he
remembered the night of the panther dance in the Arkansaw woods. He
snatched up the instrument and struck the bow across the strings.

"Sing, Horatio!" he shouted. "It's your turn to sing!" and Bosephus
broke out into a song that after the first line the Bear joined as if he
never expected to sing again on earth.

[Illustration: Music]

"Oh, there was an Old Bear went out for a swim,
And the alligators came just to take a look at him,

[Illustration: "OH, THERE WAS AN OLD BEAR WENT OUT FOR A SWIM."]

[Illustration: Music]

And the Bear was glad to see 'em, and he wanted them to stay,
And he sang a song to please 'em so they wouldn't go away."

As the music rolled out on the water there rose to the surface another
half circle of dark objects. The Bear shut his eyes and his voice grew
faint. They were snapping turtles.

"Stop, Bo!" he wailed. "It's no use. It only brings more of 'em, and new
kinds."

"No, no; go on," whispered Bo, who had crept down quite to the water's
edge. "Now--ready! sing!"

[Illustration: Music]

"Then 'tis 'Gator, Alligator, we expect to see you later,
If you really have to leave us--if you can't remain to tea--

[Illustration: Music]

Then 'tis Turtle, Mr. Turtle, you will notice we are fer