Lord
an' Mr. Jacobs are; an' when Mr. Lord looks at me with that crooked
eye of his I feel it 'way down in my boots. Do you know" -- and
here Toby put his mouth nearer to the monkey's head and whispered
-- "I'd run away from this circus if I could get the chance. Wouldn't
you?"
Just at this point, as if in answer to the question, the monkey
stood up on his hind feet and reached out his paw to the boy, who
seemed to think this was his way of being more emphatic in saying
"Yes."
Toby took the paw in his hand, shook it again earnestly, and said,
as he released it: "I was pretty sure you felt just about the same
way I did, Mr. Stubbs, when I passed you this noon. Look here" --
and Toby took the money from his pocket which had been given him
-- "I got all that this afternoon, an' I'll try an' stick it out
somehow till I get as much as ten dollars, an' then we'll run away
some night, an' go 'way off as far as -- as -- as out West; an'
we'll stay there, too."
The monkey, probably tired with remaining in one position so long;
started toward the top of the cage, chattering and screaming,
joining the other monkeys, who had gathered in a little group in
one of the swings.
"Now see here, Mr. Stubbs," said Toby, in alarm, "you mustn't go to
telling everybody about it, or Mr. Lord will know, an' then we'll
be dished, sure."
The monkey sat quietly in the swing, as if he felt reproved by what
the boy had said; and Toby, considerably relieved by his silence,
said, as he started toward the door, "That's right -- mum's the
word; you keep quiet, an' so will I, an' pretty soon we'll get away
from the whole crowd.
Pages:
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51