that I sha'n't go to bed again," she said, "and
I'll get you something to eat, and put up a lunch for you, so you can
stay out until you find him."

This offer on Aunt Olive's part seemed doubly kind, since the monkey
had done so much mischief among her pets, and Toby realized that it
would be ungrateful in him to complain, more especially as Uncle Daniel
and Aunt Olive were willing to do all in their power to enable him to
catch the fugitive.

"I'll mend the duck-pen," he said, resolutely putting from his mind the
thought of Mr. Stubbs's brother, who he firmly believed was trudging up
the road in the direction taken by the circus when it left town.

Uncle Daniel thought it would be just as well to remain up also, and he
dragged the wreck of the gun into the house, putting it carefully away
lest some one should be injured by it, before he commenced to build the
fire.

Mr. Stubbs's brother had labored industriously when he set about
reducing the duck-pen to kindling-wood; and although Toby worked as fast
as possible, it was nearly time for the sun to rise before he finished
the job of repairing it.

By that time Aunt Olive had a nice breakfast ready for him, and a
generous lunch done up neatly in paper.

Abner had not wakened, therefore Toby was obliged to go away without
knowing whether he was better or worse; but Aunt Olive told him that she
thought he need have no fear regarding the invalid, for she felt certain
he would be much better when he awoke.

Toby ate his breakfast very hurriedly, and then started down the road in
the direction of his partners' homes, for he thought there would be a
better chance of capturing the runaway if four or five boys set out in
pursuit than if he went out alone.

Fully two hours were spent in arousing his partners, explaining what had
happened, and waiting for them to get their breakfast; but at the end of
that time every one of the circus managers was ready for the search.

There was a decided difference of opinion among them as to which
direction they should take, some believing the monkey had gone one way
and some another, and the only plan by which the matter could be settled
was to divide the force into two parties.

Bob, Reddy, and Ben formed one division, and they started into the woods
in a nearly straight line from Uncle Daniel's house. Toby, Joe, and
Leander, making up the other party, went up the road, Toby insisting on
this course because he was sure that Mr.