Page:Bobbsey Twins at School.djvu/41

Rh "Don't scare the children, Bert," said Mr. Bobbsey, a bit sternly. "Did you really hear something?"

"Yes, father. It's some animal walking behind us. Listen and you can hear it yourself."

They all listened. It was very quiet. Then from down the hard dirt path they all heard the "pit-pat, pit-pat" of the footsteps of some animal. It was coming on slowly.

For a moment Mr. Bobbsey thought of the wild animals of the circus. In spite of what the men had said perhaps one of the beasts might have escaped from its cage. The others in the little party evidently thought the same thing. Mrs. Bobbsey drew her children more closely about her.

"'Deed an' if it's one ob dem elephants," said Dinah, "an' if he comes fo' me I'll jab mah hat pin in his long nose—dat's what I will!"

"It can't be an elephant," said Mr, Bobbsey. "One of the big beasts would make more noise than that. It may be one of the monkeys—I don't see how they could catch