f
the curiosities could be seen there, and if old Ben were still with the
company he should ride back with him.

But the boys put very little faith in what he said, seeming to have the
idea that he simply wanted to get rid of them, and, instead of going
away, they surrounded him more closely.

Toby watched anxiously as each wagon came up, and he failed to
recognize any of the drivers. For the first time it occurred to him that
perhaps those whom he knew were no longer with this particular company,
and his elation gave way to sadness.

Fully twenty wagons had come, and he had just begun to think his fears
had good foundation, when in the distance he saw the well-remembered
monkey-wagon, with the burly form of old Ben on the box.

Toby could not wait for that particular team to come up, even though it
was driven at a reasonably rapid speed; but he started towards it as
fast as he could run, and, following him something like the tail of a
comet, were all his friends, who, having come so far, were determined
not to lose sight of him for a single instant, if it could be prevented
by any exertions on their part.

Old Ben was driving in a sleepy sort of way, and paid no attention to
the little fellow who was running towards him, until Toby shouted, and
then the horses were stopped with a jerk that nearly threw them back on
their haunches.

"Well, Toby, my son! I declare, I am glad to see you;" and old Ben
reached down for the double purpose of shaking hands and helping the boy
on to the seat beside him. "Well, well, well, it's been some time since
you've been on this 'ere box, hain't it? I'd kinder forgotten what town
it was we took you from; I knew it was somewhere hereabouts though, an'
I've kept my eye peeled for you ever since we've been in this part of
the country. So you found your Uncle Dan'l all right, did you?"

"Yes, Ben, an' he was awful good to me when I got home; but Mr. Stubbs
got shot."

"No? you don't tell me! How did that happen?"

Then Toby told the story of his pet's death, and, although it had
occurred a year before, he could not keep the tears from his eyes as he
spoke of it.

"You mustn't feel bad 'bout it, Toby," said Ben, consolingly, "for, you
see, monkeys has got to die jest like folks, an' your Stubbs was sich a
old feller that I reckon he'd died anyhow before long. But I've got one
in the wagon here that looks a good deal like yours, an' I'll show him
to you."

As Ben spoke he drew hi