"It's all right," he said, and this time in a gruff voice, as if he were announcing some misfortune; "you're to ride in the women's wagon. Come with me."
Toby followed without a question, though he was wholly at a loss to understand what the "women's wagon" was, for he had never seen anything which looked like one.
He soon learned, however, when old Ben stopped in front—or rather at the end—of a long covered wagon that looked like an omnibus, except that it was considerably longer, and the seats inside were divided by arms, padded to make them comfortable to lean against.
"Here's the boy," said Ben, as he lifted Toby up on the step, gave him a gentle push to intimate that he was to get inside, and then left him.
As Toby stepped inside he saw that the wagon was nearly full of women and children, and fearing lest he should take a seat that belonged to some one else, he stood in the middle of the wagon, not knowing what to do.
"Why don't you sit down, little boy?" asked one of the ladies, after Toby had remained standing nearly five minutes, and the wagon was about to start.
"Well," said Toby, with some hesitation, as he looked around at the two or three empty seats that remained, "I didn't want to get in anybody else's place, an' I didn't know where to sit."
"Come right here," said the lady, as she pointed to a seat by the side of a little girl who did not look any older than Toby; "the lady who usually occupies that seat will not be here to-night, and you can have it."
"Thank you, marm," said Toby, as he sat timidly down on the edge of the seat, hardly daring to sit back comfortably, and feeling very awkward meanwhile, but congratulating himself on being thus protected from the pouring rain.
The wagon started, and as each one talked with her neighbor, Toby felt a most dismal sense of loneliness, and almost wished that he was riding on the monkey cart with Ben, where he could have some one to talk with. He gradually pushed himself back into a more comfortable position, and then had an opportunity of seeing more plainly the young girl who rode by his side.