action by the new
phase the chase had assumed. He too held out some food in order to give
Mr. Stubbs's brother the impression that all he had to do was to come
and get it.

In thus trying the coaxing plan, all three of the boys got on one side
of the tree, while the greater part of their provisions was on the
opposite side.

The monkey descended again, first towards one boy and then towards
another, as if it were his purpose to allow all three to catch him, and
all were equally certain they were about to succeed, when Mr. Stubbs's
brother suddenly ran along the branches towards the food. Before it was
possible for any of the boys to intercept him, he had dropped to the
ground, seized two of the very largest pieces of cake, and was up in the
tree again so quickly that but for the cake he had in his paws it might
have been doubted whether or not he had been on the ground at all.

Now Mr. Stubbs's brother could laugh at his pursuers, if it is possible
for a monkey to laugh; for, without any thanks to them, he had a trifle
more than his share of the provisions, and was still at liberty.

"It hain't any use," said Joe, in despair, as he threw himself on the
ground and attacked the luncheon savagely, "I don't believe we shall
ever get him; an' if we don't, it won't be much use for us to have our
show, for every real circus has a monkey."

"We _must_ catch him," replied Toby, mournfully, looking up into the
tree where his pet sat eating the stolen food with the greatest
possible enjoyment. "I wouldn't go home an' leave him here if I had to
stay all night."

"One might watch here while the others went back to the village an' got
every feller there to come out an' help catch him," suggested Leander,
who was famous for having ideas so brilliant that no one could carry
them into execution.

"We're goin' away from home all the time this way," said Toby, after he
had studied the matter carefully, without paying any attention to the
suggestion made by Leander; "now let's get a little ways the other side
of the tree, an' when he comes down again he'll have to go towards home.
Even if we can't catch him, perhaps we can drive him into the village."

Even Leander could see the wisdom of this plan, and the party moved
their luncheon and themselves to the side of the tree opposite to that
on which they had approached it.

Of course there was nothing to do but await Mr. Stubbs's brother's
pleasure in the matter, and he seemed to