“Come, pig! pig! pig! Nice Jake!” warbled Tubby in the most dulcet voice he could assume.
Jake looked up. His small eyes twinkled. Unsuspectingly he sniffed the air as he perceived a rosy apple temptingly held out toward him.
“It’s a shame,” laughed Rob, half contritely, “if he hadn’t caused a lot of trouble for a mighty nice girl I wouldn’t stand for it.”
“Pig! pig! pig!” chortled Tubby persuasively.
“Unk! unk! unk!” grunted Jake, wiggling his tail.
“Wonderful how they understand each other, isn’t it?” remarked Merritt with a grin. But Tubby was too intent on what he had in hand to resent the gross insult.
Closer and closer shuffled Jake, his greedy little eyes on the apple. All at once he appeared to make up his mind in a hurry. He made a dart for the tempting bait.
“Now,” yelled Tubby.
Quick as a flash, as soon as he heard the preconcerted signal, Merritt flung the looped hitching rope about the pig’s neck. Jake gave a squeal and wriggled with might and main, but his ears held the rope from slipping off.
“Give him the apple to keep him quiet,” suggested Merritt, as Jake squealed at the top of his voice.