"That beats Balaam's ass!" said Tom Seddon.
"Get off my back!" shrieked the sow, and Love, in the utmost terror, rolled off into the mud. The sow slowly waded towards the bank and gazed up at the dog with a look of indignation. Her canine persecutor was put to flight by a stone hurled from the hand of Hannibal, when she ascended the bank, and, shaking the mud from her sides, with a grunt trotted off, and was soon seen industriously digging with her nose in a sward of clover.
"Jehosophat! that hog talked," said Hannibal.
"Nonsense!" said Toney.
"'Deed, Massa Belton, that old sow talked. I heerd her talkin' myself," said Cæsar.
"The devil's in the swine," said Seddon.
"I b'lieves that old sow's the debbil," said Hannibal.
"Pshaw!" said Toney, "it was some boy you heard talking. Do you suppose that the hogs in this town have the gift of gab? Here, help Mr. Love out of the pond."
The unfortunate beau sat helplessly in the midst of the mud and water, and was turning his eyes imploringly towards Dove and Bliss, who stood on the bank.