He resolved to take Ben's advice and go into the woods for a short
time, and therefore he must buy some provisions before he started.
As he passed the monkeys' cage he saw his pet sitting near the
bars, and he stopped long enough to whisper, "I'll be back in ten
minutes, Mr. Stubbs, an' you be all ready then."
Then he went on, and just as he got near the entrance one of the
men told him that Mrs. Treat wished to see him.
Toby could hardly afford to spare the time just then, but he would
probably have obeyed the summons if he had known that by so doing
he would be caught, and he ran as fast as his little legs would
carry him toward the skeleton's tent.
The exhibition was open, and both the skeleton, and his wife were
on the platform when Toby entered; but he crept around at the back
and up behind Mrs. Treat's chair, telling her as he did so that he
had just received her message and that he must hurry right back,
for every moment was important then to him.
"I put up a nice lunch for you," she said as she kissed him, "and
you'll find it on the top of the biggest trunk. Now go; and if my
wishes are of any good to you, you will get to your uncle Daniel's
house without any trouble. Goodby again, little one."
Toby did not dare to trust himself any longer where everyone was
so kind to him. He slipped down from the platform as quickly as
possible, found the bundle -- and a good sized one it was, too --
without any difficulty, and went back to the monkeys' cage.
Pages:
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165