So he ate up all the food that the maid had left for him, and then he butted hard against the gate of the pen, and it flew open, and the Sheep went out of the pen and out on the big road.
He followed the road to a neighboring farm, and made his way to a pigsty where was fastened a Pig that he had known on the common.
“Good day, and thanks for our last merry meeting!” said the Sheep. “Do you know why you are fed so well while you stay in this sty?”
“No, that I do not,” said the Pig. “But I am very glad to get the good food and plenty of it, which they have been bringing to me since I was shut up.”
“Ho, there is reason for that,” said the Sheep. “Many a flask empties the cask. They want to make you very fat, for their purpose is to eat you at the winter’s feasting.”
“May they not forget to say grace after meat,” said the Pig. “I can do naught to hinder their eating.”
“If you will do as I do we will go off together into the woods and build a house and set up housekeeping,” said the Sheep. “A home is a home, be it ever so homely.”
So the Sheep and the Pig together butted down the pigsty, and started off on the big road together. “Good company is good comfort,” said the Pig, as they trotted along.
As they entered the big woods they met a Goose, who had come out on the common.
“Good day, and thanks for our last merry meeting,” said the Goose, “where are you going so fast?”