"
"I'd just as soon carry him, an' a little rather," said Toby, as
he clambered up on the high seat and arranged a comfortable place
in his lap for his pet to sit.
In another moment the heavy team had started, and nearly the entire
circus was on the move. "Now tell me what you've been doin' since
I left you," said Old Ben, after they were well clear of the town
and he could trust his horses to follow the team ahead. "I s'pose
you've been to see the skeleton an' his mountain of a wife?"
Toby gave a clear account of where he had been and what he had done,
and when he concluded he told Old Ben of his determination to run
away, and asked his advice on the matter.
"My advice," said Ben, after he had waited some time, to give due
weight to his words, "is that you clear out from this show just as
soon as you can. This hain't no fit place for a boy of your age to
be in, an' the sooner you get back where you started from, an get
to school, the better. But Job Lord will do all he can to keep you
from goin', if he thinks you have any idea of leavin' him."
Toby assured Ben, as he had assured the skeleton and his wife, that
he would be very careful in all he did, and lay his plans with the
utmost secrecy; and then he asked whether Ben thought the amount
of money which he had would be sufficient to carry him home.
"Waal, that depends," said the driver, slowly.
Pages:
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110