He could not understand the meaning of this strange company, and
it so frightened him that he attempted to hide behind a tree, in
the hope that they might pass without seeing him. But no sooner
had he secreted himself than a strange, shrill chattering came from
the foremost of the group, and in an instant Toby emerged from his
place of concealment.
He had recognized the peculiar sound as that of the old monkey who
had left him a few moments before, and he knew now what he did not
know then, owing to the darkness. The newcomers were the monkeys
that had escaped from the cage, and had been overtaken and compelled
to come back by the old monkey, who seemed to have the most perfect
control over them.
The old fellow was leading the band, and all were linked "hand in
hand" with each other, which gave the whole crowd a most comical
appearance as they came up to Toby, half hopping, half walking
upright, and all chattering and screaming, like a crowd of children
out for a holiday.
Toby stepped toward the noisy crowd, held out his hand gravely to
the old monkey, and said, in tones of heartfelt sorrow:
"I felt awful bad because I thought you had gone off an' left me,
when you went off to find the other fellows. You're awful good,
Mr. Stubbs; an' now, instead of runnin' away, as I was goin' to
do, we'll all go back together."
The old monkey grasped Toby's extended hand with his disengaged paw,
and, clinging firmly to it, the whole crowd followed in unbroken
line, chattering and scolding at the most furious rate, while every
now and then Mr.
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