Early in the afternoon Stubbins slipped away from the family and went in search of wild pigs. Tom was right. Back of the house was a field of small pigs. Stubbins gave a shout of joy and started in pursuit. He caught a little pig easily, and carried it, kicking and squealing, to his new home.
The family were in the sitting-room and didn't hear Stubbins when he carried the pig through the kitchen, the dining-room, and up the stairs. Into the attic over the kitchen he thrust the pig, then returned to the field for another. In less than an hour, five pigs were in that attic and Stubbins was happy.
"Now I think I thaw a nithe big pig thomewhere," he remarked, climbing a fence, and looking carefully over the fields of his neighbour. Welcome Hodgkins. Sure enough! Beyond the field in which he caught the five was one big pig. Away flew Stubbins. It wouldn't be so easy to get that pig home because it was too big to carry.
"Come, pig, pig, pig," called Stubbins, "nithe piggie, come pig."
The nice pig looked up, and said, "Ooof—oof—oof! Ugh—ugh—ugh!"
Stubbins ventured nearer, but the pig took alarm and trotted grunting across the field. The pig had four legs and Stubbins only two rather uncertain ones; nevertheless, after rather an exciting chase, the pig was caught.
"Now, mithter, how will I get you home? Hold sthill; here, I geth I'll have to get on and ride the way that boy thed. Geddap over to the gate. Hold sthill till I get hold of your ear. Wait, I thay!"
The pig wouldn't wait, and Stubbins wouldn't let go. Clinging to the creature's ears, he somehow managed to scramble on its back. Then began a wild ride.
"I didn't know a pig could go tho fatht," gasped Stubbins, hanging on for dear life, while the pig squealed and squealed and squealed. "Why, thay! What you trying to do, pig?" grumbled Stubbins, as the animal began rubbing him against the fence corner. "Oh, I thay, get out of thith!"