When Ben went to work he told Joe. Joe agreed that it was very strange. About dark they heard it again. That night they set the trap close by the pig-pen, and put some corn in it. “He will hear the other pig,” said Ben, “and come out after we are all abed, and we shall catch him.”
Charlie was up by daylight in the morning; the trap was sprung. He made sure he had caught the pig. They took the trap over into the pen to let him out. Sally and Joe came out to look. “Father,” cried Charlie, “only see that little rogue of a piggee, he’s lonesome. Only look at him, father, smelling round the trap; he thinks he’s going to have a play-fellow and bedfellow.”
While Charlie was chattering away, Ben opened the trap. Charlie was stooping down, with both hands on his knees, looking at the place where the trap was to open. Out jumped a raccoon, right in his face, and went over the side of the pen in an instant. Charlie was so frightened, that, in trying to jump back, he fell on his back, and the pig snorted and ran to his nest. The rest burst into roars of laughter. Joe was so tickled that he lay down on the ground and rolled.
Charlie got up, looking wild and frightened.
“What was it, father, a wolf?”
“No, Charlie, a coon. That was the creature whose tracks you saw in the snow, and thought they were a little child’s.”
“I wish I could see it. I was so startled I had no time to look. Couldn’t I set the trap again, and catch him, and keep him, and have him tame for a pet?”
“I wouldn’t. You have got a pig, and the little calf that came the other day. He would be apt to kill the chickens, and suck the eggs, and be a great plague.”
The next morning was one of those delightful spring mornings, which one who has witnessed them on the shore can never forget. The trees partly leaved, were reflected in the glassy water and fish and fowl seemed actuated by an unusual spirit of activity. Ben told Charles it was so calm he wanted him to go over to his father’s, and tell him that he was going to begin to work on the timber the next day, and to ask his mother if she would let one of the girls come over and keep house a little while, as Sally wanted to go home and make a visit.
“Well, Charlie,” said Captain Rhines, “have you come after another pig?”