clinging to the seat with both hands, as if he expected each moment to
be pitched out into the mud.

The driver watched him closely, and each time that he saw him shaken
up and awakened so thoroughly he would indulge in one of his silent
laughing spells, until Toby would wonder whether he would ever recover
from it. Several times had Toby been awakened, and each time he had seen
the amusement his sufferings caused, until he finally resolved to put an
end to the sport by keeping awake.

"What is your name?" he asked of the driver, thinking a conversation
would be the best way to rouse himself into wakefulness.

"Waal," said the driver, as he gathered the reins carefully in one hand,
and seemed to be debating in his mind how he should answer the question,
"I don't know as I know myself, it's been so long since I've heard it."

Toby was wide enough awake now, as this rather singular problem was
forced upon his mind. He revolved the matter silently for some moments,
and at last he asked, "What do folks call you when they want to speak to
you?"

"They always call me Old Ben, an' I've got so used to the name that I
don't need any other."

Toby wanted very much to ask more questions, but he wisely concluded
that it would not be agreeable to his companion.

"I'll ask the old man about it," said Toby to himself, referring to the
aged monkey, whom he seemed to feel acquainted with; "he most likely
knows, if he'll say anything."

After this the conversation ceased, until Toby again ventured to
suggest, "It's a pretty long drive, hain't it?"

"You want to wait till you've been in this business a year or two," said
Ben, sagely, "an' then you won't think much of it. Why, I've known the
show towns to be thirty miles apart, an' them was the times when we had
lively work of it. Riding all night and working all day kind of wears on
a fellow."

"Yes, I s'pose so," said Toby, with a sigh, as he wondered whether he
had got to work as hard as that; "but I s'pose you get all you want to
eat, don't you?"

"Now you've struck it!" said Ben, with the air of one about to impart a
world of wisdom, as he crossed one leg over the other, that his position
might be as comfortable as possible while he was initiating his young
companion into the mysteries of the life. "I've had all the boys ride
with me since I've been with this show, an' I've tried to start them
right; but they didn't seem to profit by it, an' always got sick of the
show