ed animals back into their cages was going
on rapidly. Some of the passengers went out to watch, but the Bobbseys
stayed in their seats, Mr. Bobbsey thinking this best. The catching of
the monkeys was the hardest work, but soon even this was accomplished.

The wait seemed very tiresome when there was nothing more to watch, and
Mr. Bobbsey looked about for some railroad man of whom he could inquire
how much longer delay there would be. The conductor came through the
car.

"When will we start?" asked Mr. Bobbsey.

"Not for some time, I'm afraid," spoke the tickettaker. "The wreck is
a worse one than I thought at first, and some of the cars of the circus
train are across the track so we can't get by. We may be here two
hours yet."

"That's too bad. Where are we?"

"Just outside of Whitewood."

"Oh, that's near home!" exclaimed Mrs. Bobbsey. "Why can't we get out,
Richard, walk across the fields to the trolley line, and take that
home? It won't be far, and we'll be there ever so much quicker."

"Well, we could do that, I suppose," said her husband, slowly.

"That's what a number of passengers did," said the conductor. "There's
no danger in going out now--all the animals are back in their cages."

"Then that's what we'll do, children," said their father. "Gather up
your things, and we'll take the trolley home. The moon is coming up,
and it will soon be light."

"I'm hungry," said Freddie, fretfully.

"So am I," added his twin sister.

"Well, I have some crackers and cookies in my bag," replied Mrs.
Bobbsey. "You can eat those on the way. Nan, go tell Dinah that we're
going to take a trolley. We can each carry something."

"I'll carry Snoop," exclaimed Freddie. He hurried down the aisle to
where the cook was now standing, intending to get the box containing
his pet cat.

"Where's Snoop, Dinah?" he asked.

"Heah he am!" she said, lifting up the slatbox. "He ain't made a sound
in all dis confusion, nuther."

The next moment Freddie gave a cry of dismay:

"Snoop's gone!" he wailed. "He broke open the box and he's gone! Oh,
where is Snoop?"

"Ma sakes alive!" cried Dinah. The box was empty!

A hurried search of the car did not bring forth the black pet. Mr. and
Mrs. Bobbsey, and some of the passengers, joined in the hunt. But
there was no Snoop, and a slat that had pulled loose from one side of
the box showed how he had gotten out.

"Most likely Snoop got frightened when the train stop